New Year’s Resolutions

Here we are, the start of another year. As we reflect on 2017, this is where we really start to focus on what lies ahead in 2018. The new year is always interesting because it usually doesn’t affect our build cycles or releases. With the exception of accounting for vacations. Yet, this is the time of year where many people get re-focused and motivated to change old habits or try something new.

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As I look back on 2017, there were a lot of news headlines that focused around security. So many of them highlighting breaches, many termed “mega” breaches. The trend of hyped up headlines glorifying monster breaches will likely continue through 2018 and beyond. We know that breaches can, or will, happen. We have seen examples of different techniques used to gain unauthorized access to data. This won’t change, and will most likely become more prevalent going forward. The amount of information available to potential attackers is enormous, making our job of application security that much more important.

One of the biggest lessons to take away from 2017 is that privacy is important. In addition, private data is not limited to PCI or HIPAA. All sorts of data can be considered private and require the custodian to take proper steps to protect it. It doesn’t matter if the data is held by a Fortune 500 company or a one-person shop. To someone, that data is worth something. As we look into 2018, this reminds us that we must understand what data we have. We must know what type of regulations it may fall under, what applications contain it, and how we are protecting it. Just because data may not fall under a regulation doesn’t mean it should be overlooked. In the end, it is the expectation of our customers and clients that we will handle their data responsibly.

Protecting this data is not about how much money you spend or what tools you buy. Every organization is different. Every application development team is different. I encourage everyone to take the time to research and understand what your team needs to be successful. As in the past, throughout the year I will be posting thoughts on different application security topics. If you have any questions or topics, feel free to share them with me. Looking for someone to talk to about application security? Reach out. I have services available to help organizations and individuals reach new heights and solve problems.

What are your New Year’s Resolutions when it comes to application security?