Security testing is a straightforward series of tests that seeks to identify areas of weakness in software security. Its primary advantage is that it can pinpoint vulnerabilities where attackers might be able to alter the software and then existing risks and threats that might already be attacking the software.
Software is repeatedly tested and maintained to ensure that it’s safe for the people who use it. Here are a few of the most common types of application testing.
Penetration Testing
Simulated software attacks can help identify areas where security needs to be amped up. For example, you could test the software by trying to see if any non-secure connections could manage to log onto the system. If they do, then it’s time to make corrections and tighten up security on those connection points.
This type of testing is very helpful to companies who need to make sure their software is going to be secure from attacks.
One of the ways of reducing software costs is transferring almost all testing from manual to automated testing processes. Test automation helps to decrease human participation which in it turn reduces the costs of the IT departments. Despite that automated testing is easier to use and does not require deep knowledge of programming. Compared to manual testing which is not accurate all the time because of human participation, automated testing is more reliable as it uses tools and scripts.
Static Code Analysis
This one is an old one and has existed for just about as long as the software itself. Your software code is going to contain areas of weakness that attackers might be able to exploit, so perhaps the first thing a business is going to do is make sure the static code is up to par.
Sometimes there are problems in the code that would lead to things like injection attacks. When it’s reviewed, the coders catch these vulnerabilities and correct them.
Load Tests
Load testing helps security teams determine how the software performs under pressure when a lot of people are accessing the application. This isn’t a security test in itself, but security admins will sometimes do load testing as well to see if there might be a lot of activity by DDoS attackers. DDoS stands for “Denial-of-Service” attackers.
They often try to take a system down by flooding it with traffic, so if they succeed, it can be very bad for software. Thankfully, when security teams pinpoint that point where a DDoS attack would succeed in taking a system down, they can work to seal up vulnerabilities and ways into the software by people who mean it harm.
Origin Analysis Testing
Thanks to streamlined and integrated software programs these days, it’s common for third-party source code to make its way onto your original software. Security administrators need to ensure that this code is up to the standards of your software, as your security systems may function entirely differently from the third party’s way of creating code.
This is vital to identify threats among source code that don’t necessarily come from your software. Coders will be able to see errors in their own code before everything is put together and released to the public, in the best-case scenario, or security experts can catch coding errors later on. This is one of the most fundamental parts of application security testing.
ASTaaS
App Security Testing as a Service (ASTaaS) is what it says it is. You pay someone else to test your software’s security and make sure that your end-users are going to be safe using your service.
They will do everything for you, no questions asked, and give you full, robust reports that let you audit them and make sure they did everything they said they did.
This is a preference for software business owners use but doesn’t necessarily know a whole lot about it. Just because you use software for your business doesn’t mean you’re going to know the software and all of its security measures inside and out.
Hiring a third party is sometimes much more convenient than hiring an entire team of in-house security experts to monitor your software at every available opportunity. Sometimes it’s much cheaper to outsource in this instance, as security is an ongoing need and in-house security can be exceptionally hard if they’re being hired as a full-time employee.
Conclusion
Securing your software programs and any original software you create for your business is going to make or break your business. Today’s world functions online both at home on desktop computers and tablets and on mobile phones.
People are connected 24 hours a day and share sensitive information. If your software programs aren’t secured, your business could suffer a huge setback if there is a data or privacy breach. Customers could lose money, faith in your business, and even their identity if you fail to protect them while they use your products.
Security testing is vital to any business that wants to get ahead in an era where people are sharing information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, without fail. Thankfully, many of these tests sound complicated, but to a great security expert, they’re simply routine and easy to follow through on.
