Why You Need DevSecOps in Mobile Apps?

Some of the biggest and most successful businesses around the globe adopt a security first strategy right from day one in order to ensure sustainability in growth. When it comes to scalability, faster time to market or competitive advantages, security should and must sit right at the top of business strategy. Security ensures that regular business operations and innovations remain uninterrupted pre or post-production. It is common for a lot of businesses to address security on a case-to-case basis which means they address security issues only after they have been breached or compromised. This post introduces to you why DevSecOps in mobile apps is widely adopted by some of the biggest brands in order to run business with minimum glitches. 

When scaling, growth and profits are your business’s primary objectives, security cannot take a back seat or be gambled upon. In fact, security should be implemented from ‘Day One’. While this might seem like a lot of work, time or resource intensive, it doesn’t necessarily have to be the case.

Automated DeveSecOps in Mobile Apps

DevSecOps in simple words (in this context) is to build mobile apps with the inclusion of security right from the get-go. Traditionally, development teams and security teams worked apart from each other with no real exchange of insights for critical information that held their app’s security together. DevSecOps is now changing tradition to ensuring that both teams work together right from conceptualizing and even during production.

As technology advances, many businesses have been able to reduce efforts and manpower by adopting automated DevSecOps in mobile apps to ensure that security checks run during every step of development. This contributes to a much stronger and secure build of the app before it is released on the app stores.

Continuous integration and delivery technology make possible the automation of DevSecOps. Through this process, mobile apps are put through different security tests right from the start of development to the finish. Continuous integration (CI) on the other hand is a development practice where developers integrate code into a shared repository frequently, mostly several times a day. Each integration can then be verified by an automated build and automated tests.  

One of the key benefits of integrating regularly is that you can detect errors instantaneously and locate them more easily. Which is why it makes even more sense that DeveSecOps be implemented from the start of your development process.

Why DevSecOps in Mobile Apps?

1. Approach Security Holistically

We've said multiple times before that security isn't a one solution approach. You need to have a security framework and a structure that takes care of every component from web apps to mobile apps to network security.

DevSecOps can help your developers work better in a more secure environment. The collateral damage is much higher when security is addressed post-production as opposed to pre-production. It could cost as little as nothing or a fraction of a post data breach fix.

2. Get Compliant with Industry Security Standards

The magnitude of damage in a data breach could go beyond just what hackers may have caused to the business. The safety and privacy of consumers may have been heavily compromised. To top it off, certain governments levy heavy penalties should they find that your business isn't industry security compliant.

Compliance checks like PCI-DSS, HIPPA, OWASP, and GDPR to name a few can be very useful in reporting to not just government authorities but also to the management and investors if adopted and implemented in the right way. DevSecOps is a great way to ensure that all industry compliances are met right from the early stages of development. It also allows and ensures that your app was built

3. No Mounting up of threats

Just like when you leave your chores for days and do not address them immediately, they pile up and leave a lot more for you to do over the course of time. This makes it so much harder to do at one go and may even cause complexities because you may be rushing and not be doing them in the right frame of mind. Security checks are just about the same.

DevSecOps, on the other hand, let's you address security issues right from the get-go with little to no effort addressing every security issue that causes potential risks. This could also be your business's potential competitive advantage for faster time to market and uninterrupted business activities.

How Appknox Takes it Up A Notch

Appknox is a mobile app security testing solution that protects mobile apps from the biggest threats present in the cybersecurity ecosystem. Appknox provides a dashboard for a comprehensive view of all threats present in your mobile app. Businesses usually upload their mobile apps and test it to ensure that all security parameters are sealed from threats. 

When you use Appknox during development, you are basically running DevSecOps at optimal. Your App's build is auto-submitted to the dashboard at regular intervals while continuous integration allows for your app to be tested against updated and evolving threats. Test results are then submitted to the developers to make necessary changes or enhancements.

Most DevSecOps solutions only use static code analysis to perform this function of DevSecOps, however, Appknox adds additional barriers of security with automated Dynamic and API testing in order to fortify the app before release.

 

DevSecOps in Mobile Apps

While DevSecOps is completely essentials for businesses intended to be powered by mobile apps, It is only half the battle won. Yes, you can scale faster, push your app to the market faster, you worry lesser because your app is fortified with great security but what happens after your app is pushed on to the app stores?

Somebody needs to keep a track on your app after it is released. Sounds like more work right? but not quite. Appknox has the capability to pull apps from the app store and ensure that it runs through some vigorous testing in order to keep you secure from threats that plague modern-day app stores. It also keeps a check on apps that may have been replicated by hackers to trick users into downloading fake apps which are designed to steal data from genuine users.

Conclusion 

Given the many benefits for DevSecOps in mobile apps, more and more businesses today are adopting security in their development process in order to ensure hack-proof apps. While DevSecOps ensures security during development, one must ensure security post-development as well. Appknox has the capability to ensure mobile apps are secured both pre and post-production.

Use a holistic approach to security to ensure you've only sent the best version of your app into the market which continues to sustain and secure itself so that you can concentrate on your core business competencies and achieve phenomenal business growth.

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Published on Jun 3, 2019
Harshit Agarwal
Written by Harshit Agarwal
Harshit Agarwal is the co-founder and CEO of Appknox, a mobile security suite that helps enterprises automate mobile security. Over the last decade, Harshit has worked with 500+ businesses ranging from top financial institutions to Fortune 100 companies, helping them enhance their security measures.
Beyond the tech world, Harshit loves adventure. When he's not busy making sure the digital realm is safe, he's out trekking and exploring new destinations.

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