Software Security Testing 

While sensitive data is a common target, cybercriminals can hack applications for other reasons, for example:

• To deliver malware to other devices or systems that interact with the app.
• To steal login credentials, which can then be used for unauthorized access to other accounts.
• To overload CPU, memory, or other system resources, aiming to disrupt the app's performance or even the entire IT network.
• To execute phishing attacks or scams, tricking app users into revealing personal information or performing actions that benefit the attacker.

Regulatory standards may not envisage measures for new and emerging threats. Also, attackers can exploit vulnerabilities that compliance checks might not cover. Meeting compliance requirements is just a baseline; additional security measures are often needed to fully protect software.

Following best practices reduces the likelihood of software vulnerabilities but doesn't eliminate them entirely. Here are a few reasons why:

• Best practices that are effective today might be insufficient to counter attackers' evolving tactics.
• Developers might be unable to predict all the creative ways attackers can use, especially considering the wide range of scenarios and user interactions.
• If your software relies on third-party libraries, frameworks, and plugins, vulnerabilities in these external components can also pose security risks.

Security testing is an integral part of development, not an impediment. Integrating security measures from the beginning helps address security vulnerabilities early, reduce technical debt and related costs, ensure compliance, and maintain user trust.

Automated tools are great at detecting many security issues quickly, but they cannot fully replace the deep understanding and skills of experts who perform manual testing. Here's why:

• Automated tools depend on established patterns, potentially overlooking new vulnerabilities that are not in the databases.
• These tools often generate false positives: struggling to grasp an application's unique context and logic, they may confuse intended actions with security threats.
• They disregard human creativity, including advanced hacking methods.

During manual vulnerability exploration, our security testers:

• Use threat modeling to identify potential threats and prioritize testing efforts.
• Probe inputs, interactions, and configurations to uncover security flaws.
• Dig into the application's architecture, code, and logic to identify hidden vulnerabilities.
• Analyze the unique context of the application, including business rules, user roles, and specific functionalities.
• Simulate less common or more sophisticated attacks that go beyond the scope of automated tools, and more.

IT security tests serve as a robust information assurance tool that safeguards information assets in line with core security requirements:

• Confidentiality: Data security testing identifies vulnerabilities that could potentially lead to the exposure of sensitive information.
• Integrity: Information security testing examines vulnerabilities that might result in unauthorized tampering or data changes.
• Authentication: Security tests assess authentication mechanisms to ensure that only authorized users can access the system.
• Availability: IT security tests help prevent cyberattacks that may lead to system crashes or data loss.
• Authorization: Security testing verifies the implementation of proper authorization mechanisms, restricting access based on user roles.
• Non-repudiation: Security testing validates audit trails, logs, and transaction records, ensuring that actions can be traced back to responsible parties.