For web developers, cybersecurity is an essential component of their job. The threat landscape has changed drastically as the internet continues to evolve and become increasingly complex. It’s more important than ever for web developers to understand how to protect their systems from malicious actors. But cybersecurity is ever-changing, so what exactly should web developers know? 

Traditionally, cybersecurity was thought of as affecting network and system security. But today, web-based applications are part of the larger threat landscape and must be considered. As new security threats pop up, here are some of the things you should know: 

• Importance Of Security Partnership 

Cybersecurity is a continuous process, especially for web-based applications. It requires a partnership between developers and security experts to secure the systems. This helps address any vulnerabilities or flaws in the system quickly. Furthermore, having a security partner can help keep you up to date on the latest threats and trends.

But while many security partners are experts in the cybersecurity space, it’s still essential to research thoroughly the IT company you’re partnering with. You can look at factors such as experience in web security, the technology they use, and the services they offer. Additionally, look at their location. Working with a security partner close to your location is advisable to facilitate on-site services easily. For example, in Jacksonville, Florida, you should focus on finding Jacksonville managed IT services instead of looking for another company in a different state.

• Secure Coding Practices 

Every organization or developer has secure coding standards that guide writing secure codes and mitigating any security threat. You must understand these standards and how to implement them in your code. Some of the top coding practices include the following: 

• Formatting And Encoding: Escaped characters in web application data can cause vulnerabilities such as Structured Query Language (SQL) and format string injections. Therefore, you should practice formatting and encoding to prevent such attacks. Both should be used for data sent to databases and web browsers.
• Input Validation: Input validation is necessary when writing code requiring user input. It ensures that only the appropriate values are accepted in a given field or form. This helps prevent malicious users from exploiting any vulnerabilities by submitting invalid data. Correct data syntax prevents data from malicious sites and users looking to exploit web app vulnerabilities.
• Monitoring And Logging: As it’s common for invalid data and some security threats to escape firewalls and scanners, proper logging can help keep track of such activities. You should be familiar with the different types of logs, such as user activities, network activity, and system integrity. You should also monitor the logs effectively for any intrusion attempts. 
• Encryption Technologies: Encryption is one of the essential aspects of cybersecurity. It allows for the secure transmission and storage of data across systems, networks, and applications. Web developers must know about encryption technologies like Secure Sockets Layer and Transport Layer Security (SSL/TLS) and their applications. 

• Authentication And Access Controls

Authentication is the process of verifying the identity of a user before granting access to an application. It uses usernames and passwords, biometrics such as fingerprint scans, or multi-factor authentication. Access controls determine what operations can user’s account can do. It helps protect against unauthorized access and malicious activity. 

You should know who will have what privileges in the system. You can use the principle of minim privileges. It is a practice where users get only the minimum privileges necessary to complete their tasks. It will also reduce an attacker’s access to your web application, preventing actions that can severely affect the system. 

• Client And Server Side Validation

A client-server architecture is used to create web applications. The client side of this architecture controls how the user interacts with the application, while the server side is responsible for the storage and processing of data. You should be familiar with both sides to write secure code that prevents malicious attacks. 

On the client side, validation is necessary to ensure that the data entered by the user is correct. It helps protect against malicious users who are looking to exploit any vulnerabilities. On the server side, validation ensures that only valid data is sent over the network or stored in the database. Server-side validation works by using scripting languages such as Hypertext Preprocessor and Ruby. 

• Possible Security Threats 

There are several current security threats that web developers must be aware of. These threats target different web application components and require different strategies to deal with them. Here is a detailed breakdown of the top security threats: 

• Cross-Site Scripting (XSS): XSS is an attack where hackers inject malicious code into a web application. It allows attackers to hijack user sessions or steal sensitive data. It’s the most common security threat as it can easily bypass multi-factor authentication, making it dangerous. You can prevent it by using scripting languages such as Ruby On Rails. 
• SQL Injection Attacks: SQL injection attacks allow attackers to gain unauthorized access to the database by sending malicious queries directly to the server. These can be used to modify, delete, or steal data. The best way to prevent SQL injection attacks is by using parameterized queries, typed parameters, and prepared statements.
• Denial-of-Service (DoS) Attacks: DoS attacks overwhelm a web application with requests, making it unable to respond to legitimate ones. It can also be used to steal data or cripple the system. To prevent DoS attacks, you should use firewalls and rate limiters that monitor incoming requests and block malicious ones. 
• Cookie Poisoning: Cookie poisoning is an attack where malicious code is inserted into cookies that store user data. It’s used to steal information such as usernames and passwords or bypass authentication. To prevent it, you should use secure cookies with HttpOnly and secure flags attributes and set proper expiration times. 
• Credential Stuffing: Credential stuffing is an attack where attackers use stolen usernames and passwords to gain access to a web application. They use these credentials from one site to try and gain access to other sites. To prevent such attacks, you should include two-factor authentication and password manager requirements for users to protect their data.

Knowing the different security threats and what strategies to use against them is essential in keeping web applications and user data secure.

Conclusion

Creating a secure website is complex, thorough, and continuous, so you should bring your A-game. You should understand cybersecurity fundamentals and how they apply to web application development to ensure that your websites and applications remain protected against emerging threats. In doing so, you not only protect your own work but also safeguard the sensitive data and information of the users, ultimately fostering trust and confidence in the web applications.