A guide to integrating application security into any cyber defense strategy

According to IBM’s Cost of a Data Breach Report, the average cost of a cyber attack to US companies in 2024 was $4.88 million. Additionally, Forbes notes that by 2025, cyberattacks are projected to cost businesses approximately $10.5 trillion annually. With such staggering numbers, cyber security problems must become the main problems. Among the most important aspects to consider as part of the security landscape is the integration of application security into the broader security framework, as applications are often entry points for attackers.

However, achieving full application integration comes with challenges. Lack of awareness among management, siled operations between security teams, and limited resources or expertise to bridge the gaps need to be addressed. Raising awareness of senior management, education cooperation in various areas of security and investment in skills development are the inoculations companies need to prevent serious breaches.

Implementing these measures aligns security efforts by creating a coherent defense that protects applications and the public at large IT infrastructure. In this article, we will look at how to achieve this efficiency.

Nipun Mahajan

Nipun Mahajan, Senior Cyber Security Analyst, Lonza.

Definition of information security

The traditional definition of information security includes all strategies and practices designed to protect data confidentiality, integrity and availability of systems. It addresses the risks associated with cyber threats to protect an organization’s assets from unauthorized access, misuse, or failure. Against the backdrop of attack vectors, this definition is overly simplistic, and if we want to harden our networks, this definition must be expanded to include the following areas and considerations:

Access control: only authorized individuals should have access to certain resources. The best practices to ensure this are Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA).
Security of assets: proper classification, handling and protection of physical and digital assets through encryption, secure storage and controlled disposal of sensitive data increases asset security.
Security and risk management: security goals must be aligned with organizational goals. This will include risk assessment, business continuity and disaster recovery planning.
Security architecture and engineering: Systems and networks must be designed with security in mind, which means using cryptographic methods and physical safeguards.
Communication and network security: Secure protocols, VPN and network segmentation will protect data in transit.
Identity and Access Management (IAM): Tools such as single sign-on (SSO) and authentication mechanisms should manage user identification and system access.
Security assessment and testing: Security controls must be evaluated through vulnerability assessment, penetration testing, and auditing.
Security operations: constant monitoringincident response and event management, often supported by a Security Center (SOC), will help achieve operational resilience.
Security of software development: The software development life cycle (SDLC) must be protected. Secure coding and vulnerability testing techniques to reduce application risks will allow this.
Physical security: Protecting physical assets such as servers and staff with tracking and biometric access control will keep physical assets safe.
Compliance with legislation and regulations: Adopting frameworks such as GDPR, HIPAA and PCI DSS will help ensure compliance.
Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Planning: Sustaining operations during failures through redundancy, backup strategies and recovery testing is critical.

When properly addressed, these twelve domains will work together to provide a comprehensive approach to protecting assets and maintaining resilience against constantly evolving threats.

Threats

Nine common data-compromising threats target these domains. These domains should be on the radar of every facet of the organization, from the CEO to IT security, with some directly affecting every employee. These threats include:

Cyber threats: Malware, phishing, and denial-of-service (DoS) attacks are common threats to systems that can disrupt operations or steal sensitive information.
Internal threats: Malicious actions by employees or accidental errors that expose vulnerabilities are threats.
Advanced Persistent Threats (APT): Long-term targeted attacks, often state-sponsored, can penetrate critical systems.
Violation of physical security: Equipment theft or unauthorized access to secure areas may be vulnerable.
Social engineering attacks: flaws in human behavior can threaten confidential information.
Software free of patches, zero-day vulnerabilities, and supply chain attacks: All three can be potential issues due to gaps in the vendor’s system or security that, if left unaddressed, can expose organizations to attack.
Cloud Computing and the Internet of Things (IoT): Misconfigured systems or unsecured devices are often used to access networks or sensitive data.
Cryptographic attacks: Encryption can be targeted to gain unauthorized access, and advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computing will certainly empower threat actors in this regard.
Discrepancy: Regulatory standards such as GDPR or HIPAA can lead to legal and financial consequences.

These threats point to the need for a proactive, multi-layered approach to security to reduce risk and protect an organization’s assets.

Application security

Understanding the twelve domains of information security and the nine existing threats is critical to developing a holistic approach to security. Now we will look at the security of the application.

Application security includes the processes, practices, and technologies used to protect applications from vulnerabilities, threats, and unauthorized access throughout their lifecycle. During development, deployment, and maintenance, measures must be taken to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of application data and functionality. These measures include secure coding, vulnerability assessment, penetration testing and other tools firewallsencryption and multi-factor authentication.

Mitigating risks such as injection attacks, cross-site scripting (XSS), and data leaks by identifying and remediating application design or implementation weaknesses is an important component of application security. Additionally, as applications run in environments such as the cloud or mobile devices, application security becomes essential to prevent attacks.

At the intersection of applied and information security

Information security is greatly impaired if application security is not addressed. A holistic approach is required to protect an organization’s assets. Consider these four areas:

Security architecture and engineering: secure coding practices should be built into the design and development of applications.
Security of software development: Security controls throughout the software development lifecycle (SDLC), which emphasize proactive rather than reactive activities, are critical.
Security assessment and testing: It’s a must! Assessments and tests play an indispensable role. Routine penetration testing and vulnerability assessments are necessary to mitigate potential application risks.
Identity and Access Management (IAM): Strong access controls and authentication mechanisms are required to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive application functions and data.

Integrating application security into an overall risk management strategy improves security across the board. This interconnected approach ensures thorough risk reduction. This integration combines application-specific defenses with broader organizational defenses to achieve a unified and robust security system.

Learn about app security issues

Four important challenges arise when integrating application security into broader information security frameworks. It:

Ignorance of the CISO: CIOs may need help understanding the importance of integrating application security into an overall security strategy.
Lack of leadership: Advocates are needed for the inclusion of application security, as unfortunately the investment here is less of a concern than in other areas.
Refusal of cooperation: Avoid the security of applications running in isolation. The separation from other information security measures creates gaps in risk management and prevents a coherent approach to protecting systems and data.
Lack of resources: Knowledge and tools are needed to align application security initiatives with broader security goals.

Integrating application security into an organization’s overall risk management system requires greater awareness, collaboration, and resource allocation.

Increasing the efficiency of integration

To improve the integration and effectiveness of application security within the broader information security framework, organizations can take the following three strategic steps:

Awareness raising: When CISOs and senior management understand how application security impacts overall risk management, they are more likely to prioritize.
Promote cooperation: Break down silos and join forces across teams. Maintain open communication between application security professionals and other areas of information security.
Development of skills: Organizations should invest in training and development programs. By providing teams with the best knowledge and tools, organizations can ensure they have the expertise to effectively deal with evolving threats.

Together, these three measures will create a solid foundation for integrating application security into an organization’s security strategy.

Conclusion

Integrating application security into a broader information security program is critical to addressing today’s cyber threats. Recognizing the interdependence between software and information security allows organizations to remediate vulnerabilities holistically, helping to strengthen protection across their entire ecosystem. Collaboration, increased leadership awareness, and investment in skills and resources are all steps necessary to align application security with broader security efforts. The goal is to protect mission-critical applications and the overall information infrastructure. Otherwise, your organization could be included in trillions of global costs in 2025 due to cyber attacks.

Bill Oliver, US Managing Director SecurityBridge also contributed to this article.

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