The Art and Science of Secure Coding: Key Practices that Stand Out

Flaws in code lines, file system and data input methods make up the core security vulnerability of any application. This is what we address through secure coding practices. Secure coding guidelines stand out as the last battling army before the enemy line of security risks and threats.

Basically, secure coding practices will make developers more capable of addressing security risks by following time-tested principles, make them more efficient through streamlined coding practices and make a qualitative impact on the application in more ways than one.

1. Addressing input validation vulnerabilities

At a time when there are an overwhelming number of web applications, the input from web users exposes every app to a whole range of security threats. But many developers who still just consider security as an add-on feature just fail to understand the proportion and potential of such threats. Only when the security is vandalized by someone publicly do they grope for additional measures leading to security patchworks.

When user inputs make an application vulnerable to security threats, there can be an array of contributory reasons including lousy design, flaws in configuration, vulnerable coding and most importantly unverified user inputs. Among all others, unverified user input is one of the principal reasons that put your application at risk. This is addressed through secure input validation practices as mentioned below.

Any patchwork after developing an app involves a considerable amount of cost and difficulties. The problem is that finding and fixing bugs after the app’s initial development can be as expensive as building a new app. Meanwhile, concurrently testing, finding and fixing bugs in the process of development can lower this cost significantly and allow faster time to market for the product.

The second most important aspect which is often not taken seriously is the little difference that external detection systems (Read more...)