Providing Data Security in Web Applications

Web applications are  software applications that allow users to to interact with the application's interface, enter and retrieve data, perform actions, and communicate with other users or systems. Various web applications such as e-commerce sites where we can shop online, social media platforms where we can communicate socially, banking applications where we can pay bills make our lives easier. However, while using these applications, we have to use some of our personal data on the internet.

Data security means protecting data against threats such as unauthorized access to data, modification, disclosure and loss of data. Protection of data is important for both personal data and corporate data. Strong passwords are important to prevent data breaches.Complying with a strong password policy is the easiest, cheapest and most effective measure for a data breach. Sometimes, users' data breaches cannot be prevented even if the password is strong.

Depending on the type and size of the web applications, each web application may have different specific requirements to prevent data breach. In this article, we will examine the main responsibilities of users and providers in terms of preventing data breaches in web applications.

What basic precautions should web application providers take to prevent data breaches?

1. Employees should be given security training.
2. Daily logs should be kept on the servers for Detecting suspicious activities and responding quickly. In addition, monitoring systems should be installed.
3. Sensitive data that needs to be stored on the server must be encrypted.
4. Operating systems, databases and other software used on servers must be up-to-date and patched.
5. The servers and network infrastructure hosting web applications should be secured with controls such as firewalls.
6. Secure and sophisticated password algorithms should be used to authenticate users.
7. Appropriate authorization and access controls should be applied to users.
8. Ensuring security is an improving process and it is important to always follow the developments in order to take action against new threats. OWASP has a great importance in this regard. OWASP is a current and volunteer project that provides information and resources on web application security. These OWASP  resources provide web application providers security guidance:

a- OWASP Top 10 lists the most common web application security vulnerabilities and provides information on how to breach them. This information enables web application providers to be aware of such vulnerabilities and take action.

OWASP Top Ten

b- OWASP Testing Guide explains how to perform security tests of web applications. This guide explains testing techniques that web application providers can use to detect and fix application-level security vulnerabilities. Testing Guide

c- OWASP Secure Coding Practices is a guide explaining security coding principles and best practices. This resource enables web application providers to learn secure coding techniques and minimize security vulnerabilities.

OWASP Secure Coding Practices - Quick Reference Guide

d-OWASP Application security verification standard (ASVS) is a standard for web application security. This standard provides a framework for web application providers to evaluate and improve application security.

OWASP Application Security Verification Standard

What basic precautions should web application users take to prevent data breaches?

1. Users should use different and strong passwords for different web applications. Multi factor authentication must be enabled for authentication. The definition of strong password may change due to emerging new threats. A strong authentication step is a simple but very effective measure for a user. Top 10 password policy recommendations for system administrators in 2023 OWASP Authentication Cheat Sheet provides effective and up-to-date advice for the security of users' accounts in web applications. Authentication - OWASP Cheat Sheet Series 
2. Users should use secure internet connections when accessing web applications. Open, unencrypted or insecure Wi-Fi networks should be avoided and sites using the HTTPS protocol should be preferred.
3. Users should keep their operating systems, browsers and other applications up to date. Updates help fix vulnerabilities.
4. Users should be wary of phishing attacks. Emails or communications from suspicious or unfamiliar sources should not be opened or clicked.
5. Users should avoid unnecessarily sharing sensitive or private information. When sharing information is required, reliable and secure platforms or communication methods should be preferred.
6. Users should pay attention to security warnings and notices provided by web applications. Any suspicious activity or signs of security breaches should be reported to the appropriate authorities.

As a result, different positions have different responsibilities when it comes to preventing data breaches in web applications. Each of these responsibilities is very important and should not be overlooked. Although new threats emerge every day for data breaches, many new technologies and information resources are produced to prevent these breaches. For this reason, it is of very importance for both position to follow the developments for the effective protection of data breaches.