Mobile app security testing identifies and assesses security vulnerabilities in mobile applications, including Android and iOS. It is a part of a more extensive security assessment or penetration test encompassing the client-server architecture and server-side APIs used by the mobile app. Mobile app security testing (MAST) is an afterthought since organizations want to release their apps faster, and development teams are understaffed and overworked. The result?

As 2024 draws to a close, I’m reflecting on a year that has been nothing short of transformative for Appknox. This was a year of bold ideas, breakthrough innovation, and meaningful partnerships. It was a year where we didn’t just meet expectations—we redefined them. In many ways, 2024 was about going back to the fundamentals of why we exist: to make mobile application security simple, scalable, and effective.

Mobile app security standards are the foundation of all effective mobile application security programs. They provide a structured framework for developers and security teams to identify, mitigate, and manage security risks throughout the app development lifecycle. The ubiquitous nature of mobile applications has only exacerbated the risk of data exposure and enterprise infiltration as mobile threats become more sophisticated daily.

Mobile app security testing tools are like a unified command center for enterprise organizations. They automate the detection of potential threats, standardize testing protocols across agencies, help prioritize risks, and enable rapid response to the most critical threats. If your organization has several mobile applications developed by multiple third-party vendors, fragmented security oversight and inconsistencies in app development must be commonly observed.

A dynamic analysis tool for mobile apps is platform and language-agnostic, so you can use the same DAST tools for most applications. As they attack the application externally, they detect configuration issues that other application security testing tools may miss.

Before the introduction of static code analysis tools, securing mobile applications often felt like playing catch-up. Development teams would spend months building features, only to discover critical vulnerabilities late in the release cycle. This last-minute scramble to fix security issues delayed product launches and stretched resources thin—adding more pressure on developers and security teams.

Application security has transformed from being an afterthought to a central focus as threats have evolved. What was once about securing code has expanded to protecting the entire application lifecycle. The rise of cloud-native architectures, microservices, and APIs has broadened the attack surface, requiring security teams to rethink their approaches.

Penetration testing tools are necessary for enterprises that want to protect their applications from real-world cyber attacks. These tools identify vulnerabilities that could lead to breaches, like the 2017 Equifax data breach. These specialized tools help identify gaps in software security posture by simulating real-world attacks that vulnerability assessments may not fully expose.

Some of the biggest and most successful businesses around the globe adopt a security-first strategy right from day one to ensure sustainability in growth. Regarding scalability, faster time to market, or competitive advantages, security must sit right at the top of business strategy. Security ensures that regular business operations and innovations remain uninterrupted pre or post-production.

The Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) provides a systematic framework for developing and maintaining software from conception to modification, producing high-quality software that meets stakeholder and customer requirements within specified time and cost constraints. However, traditional SDLC practices fall short of ensuring thorough application security. Why?