If your brand is just delving into the world of mobile apps for the first time, there are some serious security problems you need to be aware of. The good news is, yes, you can build a secure mobile app. All of the thousands of apps that work perfectly and have never had a security hiccup outweigh the few that have by far. The bad news is, security doesn’t just happen. It has to be built into the app from the design phase forward. Here are the things your app developers need to be aware of in regards to security.
1. How the App Stores Data
How will the app store data? Transfer it? How will it be saved in your database? How will you secure it each step of the way?
Secure data storage is the most important aspect of developing and hosting a mobile app, because that’s exactly where the bad guys are going to want to break into. Carefully consider how the data collected by the app will be stored, transferred between the device and your database, and held in your database. Each of these three areas need specific measures of data protection.
2. What Data the App Stores
There is one solid fact when it comes to security. Data you never collect can never be stolen. While all of the data you can manage to muster on your users holds value, gathering data without a clear purpose puts you at risk without any real gain. If you don’t need it, don’t collect it. You don’t have to sweat someone stealing data that isn’t there.
3. Protect Your Back End Systems to be Accessed by the Mobile App
Most mobile apps mean opening up systems on your back end that have never been made available online before. Most probably, these systems were not built with security in mind, because the system was never developed to be open to the Internet. Rethink and refortify any back end systems that will be exposed to the real world for the first time when the app rolls out.
4. Choose Your Encryption Techniques Carefully
Outdated or unproven encryption protocols and algorithms are a surefire way to assure your app will get hacked. Go with one that’s been tested and proven in real world use.
Old, outdated encryption is a common reason why many modern mobile apps are not secure. Additionally, cryptography is not exactly a good ‘do it yourself’ type project. It is far better to turn to one of the latest encryption algorithms and protocols that has been tested and proven in real world situations than to revert to one that is no longer secure, such as MO5 or SHA1.
5. Consider the Variations Among Mobile Devices
Each mobile operating system (iOS, Android, etc.) has its own vulnerabilities that are inherent in the device’s software. Know what these are before developing for that platform. Close security gaps in the operating system by fortifying your own app. Enable the device’s best security features while disabling those features and functions that are insecure.
Are you ready to begin building a highly secure, impressively functional mobile app to help build your brand and establish a loyal customer base? Visit Glance today to see how it works.
