Web Hosting Reviews & Ratings

September 11, 2009

The Critical Need for Web Application Scanning

All organizations who run their business online should consider web application scanning.  This type of solution scans applications in search of vulnerabilities that could allow a hacker to gain access to sensitive business data.  Common web applications such as shopping carts, forms and content management systems have proven to be the weakest link in an IT security scheme.  Because of this, hackers now use these applications as their medium for penetrating corporate websites and thieving confidential information.  Web application scanning probably isn’t as widespread as it should be, but this article will explain why it should be a priority within your security infrastructure.

Web Applications are Easily Compromised

In recent times, security vendors have made life much harder for the avid hacker.  The array of intrusion detection systems and other security mechanisms on the market have made it difficult to bypass perimeters and gain unauthorized access to the large corporate networks they seek to compromise.  These days, malware protection software, firewalls and various types security scanners are prevalent in almost all corporate network environments.  Due to such constraints, attackers have been forced to come with alternative ways to breach IT infrastructures.

Unfortunately for online businesses and website owners, hackers have discovered a way around these security mechanisms, targeting the one component organizations overlook the most - the commonly used web application.  These applications are designed to be available to internet users 24/7, a convenience that allows hackers to easily gain access and entry through applications that have not be properly secured.  Although the rapid adoption of web technologies has provided organizations with numerous benefits, it also opened up the doors to a wide range of security gaps that were previously unknown.  According to Pete Lindstrom, Director of Security Strategies at research and consulting firm Hurwitz Group, when not adequately secured and scanned for vulnerabilities, web applications represent the biggest security risk for a company’s IT infrastructure.

What to Look for in a Web Application Scanner

The functionality of web application scanners varies depending on the product and developer.  However, there are some key aspects that all programs should have in common.  When evaluating solutions for your security, keep the following qualities in mind:

- The ability to analyze a wide variety of programming technologies such as ASP, PHP and Python.

- The ability scale in order to support a growing website.

- The ability to generate comprehensive and actionable results regardless of the administrator’s security expertise.

Summary

Web applications are clearly the biggest chink in an organization’s armor.  Due to their nature, they are far more difficult to secure than traditional desktop applications that lie behind the shield of a firewall.  Therefore, web application security should be a priority and one of the first steps to making sure it happens is the use of a reliable scanning solution.  These programs are designed to thoroughly analyze and check for vulnerabilities within the existing applications of your website.  Not only can they access applications such as web forms, but others like your web server, proxy server, operating system and much more.  If you are truly concerned about the security and integrity of your business, give web application scanning a closer look.

Tags: web application scanning,  shopping carts,  sensitive business data,  security scanner,  penetrating website,  malware,  IT security,  hackers,  firewall,  content management systems