Software Application Security

How can a business know it is secure?

There are a number of different concerns when understanding software security.

• data privacy

 

This has to do with sensitive information that would expose your customers to harm. This could be as simple as social security and birthdays or as complicated as contracts and proprietary processes.


 

• data integrity

 

This would be someone trashing your data to disrupt your business. Anyone from a disgruntled employee to a competing company could be interested in this sort of activity.


 

• data piracy

 

Copying or reporting your customer lists, pricing and processes could result in your business secrets being being sold to a competing company. An employee leaving to start their own business would benefit greatly in having a complete list of your pricing and customers.


 

• software espionage

 

The very process you use to provide the services and products for your customers is mirrored in the settings and screens of your software solution. Taking your software and running it on another PC without permission can be harmful in many ways. If you have paid for the development and have been intimately involved in the development process this would be a greater exposure.

Data on the Internet

The internet has become the single most powerful force for driving business and commerce. As of June 2010 there were 1,966,514,816 world-wide internet users (Internet world stats www.internetworldstats.com Usage and population Statistics). With software as a service (software applications hosted and accessed through the internet) the internet is being used more frequently by companies and organizations as the primary repository for managing corporate data as well as daily operational activities.

A business’s online presence centers around the use of web applications to store, transmit and manage large amounts of confidential information. . IT security is undoubtedly one of the biggest concerns in any business. Cyber attacks are more common than one might imagine . Hackers have become more and more sophisticated as well as better organized. Most attacks occur for financial or political reasons. Most hackers need to remain anonymous. They want to remain under any radar so that they can continue to steal information unnoticed. If you use the internet for external business transactions, e-commerce or you use internal applications for confidential employee or business information then you need to ask yourself some important questions-have I been hacked? Has my company or any of our information been compromised? How can I be sure?

If you use software as a service you leave security in the hands of a third party. Do you know how secure your data really is? If not you need to fully define your security needs and clearly understand your providers’ security measures and protocols. If necessary you may need a customized security solution. Network security has continuously been improved over time making the network layer more and more difficult for hackers to crack. This has diverted hackers from network infiltrations to the application level. Companies generally support hundreds of different applications meaning that this problem is larger than one might expect. Whether you are concerned with Web-based malware threats or attacks that occur via hardware connections, threats are always imminent, waiting to wreak havoc across a company’s IT data infrastructure.

Fortunately, there is a wide selection of solutions that can serve as the first line of defense against these types of security attacks—from your native PC-based software solutions, to the security measures that reside within the network itself. With the expansion of the internet attacks are becoming more prevalent and sophisticated. This is a huge concern for all businesses.

IT support groups must arm themselves with security solutions that are not only robust and scalable, but also feature-rich enough to adapt to newer malware technologies.

While it’s adequate for most organizations to implement base level anti-virus applications, small and medium-sized businesses must leverage multilayer solutions. Here are some things you need to consider when choosing security suites or a custom security solution:

• Compatibility

 

Compatibility is usually one of the major reasons users opt to disable included features in a security product or uninstall the product. This applies to both software and hardware components, especially in a multi-platform working environment. Compatibility is one of the strongest reasons for considering a customized security solution. A security solution is only effective if it is fully operational! Disabling features is a dangerous game that can lead to major security problems.

 

If you are considering an off the shelf security solution look into compatibility issues and test your software options before any large-scale roll-out. List all the equipment including the server, computers and other devices in your workplace that need to hook up to your network. Specify their operating systems, the work-related applications each employee needs to run, and the hardware specifications. Details like hard drive capacities, processor speeds and memory modules installed are also crucial. Comparing this list with the system requirements the security suite or standalone products you intend to purchase can help you determine which ones would be ideal for your office setup.


 

• Customizations

 

Use your IT support department to pinpoint the restrictions of each solution you are considering. No single technology can guarantee a one-size-fits-all solution, so it’s best to consider both the limits each product implementation entails and the customizations they offer.

 

By leveraging readily-available options within the settings and individual features of your security solution you can customize your solution to meet your needs. Sometimes, you may choose to work with a developer directly to create security software tailor-made for your business.


 

• Proprietary Suite vs. Custom Development

 

Employing a security suite solution may answer your security needs with the ease of use that comes from direct integration between applications operating under one user interface. The downside with utilizing an all-in-one solution is that you may be paying for one or more features that are unnecessary for your needs or the nature of your business.

 

Custom designed products may prove more costly but they may also be more robust and scalable ensuring the application can counter your specific threat requirements. With a custom solution you can also eliminate the need for your IT support team having to contend with multiple software license agreements, restrictions like price differences, software compatibility issues and usage limitations. Confused? Overwhelmed by the layers of security that you need to address? Let Accelerated Design help you determine the best security solution for your business. Just call or complete our contact form for additional information and assistance.

Call us at our phone number 770-564-8899 or fill out our contact us to learn more about our services.