Top Security Tips for Mobile App Developers and Businesses

Mobile apps are now the backbone of nearly every industry and create everything from e-commerce to healthcare to logistics and financial services. While apps enable any organization to harness customer engagement and create operational efficiencies, they also introduce a critical point of failure  security. Cyber risks, data breaches, and unauthorized parties can lead to not only damage to the end user, but also to negative publicity, dwindling reputation, and long-lasting effects on an organization’s bottom-line.

That is why both developers and organizational leaders need to take proactive measures to protect their apps. Our blog explores some key mobile app security ideas that all developers and organizations should honor in order to secure data and ensure compliance, while also earning user trust.

1. Secure Your Code From the Start

The foundation of your app is the security factor around your code. Developers should always program clean, secure, and well-tested code that minimizes exposure to vulnerabilities. If an app code base uses obfuscation and minification techniques, an attacker will have a harder time reverse-engineering your app. Regularly conducting code reviews, penetration testing, and taking advantage of static code analysis tools can help identify weak points in the code before an app goes live. 

Tip: Treat your code as an asset, encrypt it, keep it up to date, and always remediate vulnerabilities.

2. Implement Strong Authentication and Authorization

Attackers are always looking for weak or old authentication mechanisms to take advantage of. Unfortunately, there a few tried and true ways to keep user access secure:

• Deploy multi-factor authentication (MFA) to add additional security.
• Create strong password policies.
• Use the newer authentication mechanisms – OAuth 2.0 or OpenID Connect.
• Be sure to perform all authorization checks on the server and not only at the client.

Tip: Never assume user identity is verified; always verify at every step.

3. Encrypt Sensitive Data

An effective mobile app security strategy is to always keep sensitive data encrypted. This should be a rule whether data is flowing from and to the app or if data is being stored on the device (data at rest). Both data in transit and at rest with strong encryption standards should worry the most about sensitive data whether it is financial or healthcare face. If a hacker intercepts the data nothing can be done until intercepting the data becomes a reality. Provide encryption standards with your app such as AES-256 and transport data using secure communication as HTTPS and TLS.

4. Secure APIs Effectively

Most mobile apps need APIs to communicate with web servers or outside service because APIs store and retrieve all the app’s data. Unfortunately, APIs are primary targets for cyber-attacks. 

• Consider the following to properly secure your APIs: 
• Use API security tokens and API keys to authenticate services. 
• Implement rate limiting to mitigate brute force threats. 
• Always validate input and output data. 
• Always hide your APIs from the public as much as possible. 

Tip: Consider APIs to be doors into a restaurant, be sure that they, like your app, are properly locked.

5. Protect Against Data Leakage

Data leakage is often caused by insecure data, cached files, and other accidental logging. Developers should avoid storing user data on devices unless there is no other option. Instead, use what the operating system considers secure storage solutions (such as Android’s Keystore or iOS’s Keychain). Disable unused permissions and any other permissions that may allow outside services to gain access to the app or sensitive information. 

6. Conduct Security Testing Frequently

Security is not a one time accomplishment; it is a continuous process. Regular penetration testing, vulnerability assessment, and automated scanning should all be part of your app development lifecycle.

Using beta testers to configure user groups can also help uncover vulnerabilities that developers will not consistently uncover.

7. Educate Users About Security Practices

No matter how well-designed the app is, it can still be compromised by users behaving in insecurity. Organizations should invest in training users about safety in mobile apps with onboarding processes (in-person or app), usage of the app, or FAQs.

Let users know that they should be using: rooted or jailbroken devices, only downloading the app from trusted sources, and enabling biometric access when available. Users will feel empowered to protect their data when risks are identified.

8. Secure the Backend Infrastructure

Securing a mobile app is not enough to protect it, proper security of the back-end server and data. At minimum, a business should complete the following:

• Use firewalls and intrusion sensing technologies for data security.
• Enact strict access control to the database.
• Consistently monitor the server log for suspicious activity.

Tip: A secure back-end infrastructure is the foundation for a secure mobile app.

9. Comply With Industry Regulations

Compliance is not only a legal requirement; it offers the users a level of trust. Depending on your business, be sure to meet any requirements for your app, for example, HIPAA for health apps, PCI DSS for financial apps and payment processors, GDPR/CCPA for data privacy and protection.

Compliance will ensure your app stays safe and your business avoids legal implications.

Mobile applications drive your business growth and are a significant spot for security threats. By following these mobile app security tips, developers and businesses will protect their apps from security breaches, be assured their users will trust the app, and help organizations remain in compliance with any regulations.

Strong coding practices, encryptions, secure APIs, consistent updates, user education will create a strong defense mechanism. For businesses, to be assured of such safeguards requires enlisting a qualified development team that will integrate these safeguards from ground up.

At Creatah, our area of expertise is mobile app development, with a strong focus on safety and performance. If you are looking to build a new app or improve an existing one, our team will help you make your digital product safe, scalable, and trusted. Are you ready to secure your business app for the future? Let’s build it together, at Creatah.