It’s nearly the end of 2024, and we’re taking a look back at the key trends in application security during the year. As businesses and governments become more reliant on software applications, security breaches can cause major financial losses, personal data theft, and serious damage to their reputations.
The global average cost of a data breach in 2024 was USD 4.88M, which is a 10% increase over last year and the highest total ever. It comes as no surprise that application security should be an essential part of every business.
5 Application Security Trends
1. Increased Focus on API Security
Securing APIs is something companies need to pay attention to. They have become major targets for cybercriminals because they’re used so frequently in software development.
Strong authentication and authorization make sure that only the right people or systems can access APIs. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) and OAuth are common ways to add extra layers of security. Encrypting data keeps APIs safe from those looking to exploit them.
Taking a proactive approach is vital, and it’s worth checking out the top API security risks for application security from the Open Worldwide Application Security Project (OWASP). Regular testing and monitoring with automated tools can detect vulnerabilities in real-time so they can be fixed before becoming huge issues.
2. The Rise of AI and ML in Application Security
AI (Artificial Intelligence) and ML (Machine Learning) have been around for a while, but they are still an important aspect of application security and continue to advance. In 2024, these technologies helped security teams spot threats faster and more accurately. As AI can scan large amounts of data, together with ML, they can identify patterns and anomalies that otherwise might be missed.
Gen AI
Generative AI (GenAI) tools that help write code have quickly become indispensable to developers in 2024. They help automate repetitive tasks, streamline coding, and even generate code snippets. While these tools offer huge productivity benefits, they also introduce certain risks, especially when it comes to application security.
The productivity and speed boost that Gen AI-powered chatbots and apps bring reveals increasing gaps in governance, risk, and security. Many CISOs, DevOps leaders, and IT and security teams are finding it tough to adopt a more agile or DevOps approach to development and delivery that can help bridge these gaps.
3. DevSecOps Integration
Speed is essential in today’s development environment, but that doesn’t mean security should take a backseat. Instead of waiting until the end of development to check for security flaws, security is built into every stage of the software development life cycle (SDLC).
The adoption of “shifting left” means developers can catch vulnerabilities while the code is still being written, not after it’s already in production. With DevSecOps, automated security checks and real-time vulnerability scanning are built into the development pipeline so issues can be caught early.
If teams incorporate security into the development process, they can catch vulnerabilities before they become major headaches. Not only can tools automatically analyze code for vulnerabilities before it even reaches production, but developers also need to write secure code from the start. DevSecOps also encourages better collaboration between development, security, and operations teams, making security a team effort from start to finish.
4. The Growing Importance of Supply Chain Security
When building apps, developers are relying more on third-party components such as open-source libraries, APIs, and cloud services. Safeguarding the software supply chain has therefore become a big priority. In 2024, it is estimated that 183 thousand customers worldwide were affected by supply chain cyberattacks.
Protecting the supply chain is about more than just patching flaws in third-party software—it’s about building a secure system where everything, from development to delivery, is tightly monitored and protected. Companies need to take a forward-looking view and choose to adopt security across every phase of the SDLC.
5. The Continued Adoption of Zero Trust Architecture
Zero Trust Architecture has been around for a few years, but in 2024 and beyond, its usage is set to rise. The idea behind Zero Trust is simple: trust no one, whether they’re inside or outside the organization. Every access request, whether it’s from a user, device, or system, needs to be verified, authenticated, and authorized before it’s allowed through.
Zero Trust assumes that any part of the network could be compromised, so it constantly checks access permissions, even after a user is logged in. One of the core principles is the least privilege access, meaning users only get the minimum level of access they need to do their job. By always validating who and what is accessing a system, Zero Trust helps keep unauthorized users out and minimizes the impact of potential breaches.
How SecureFlag Helps Organizations Stay Secure
At SecureFlag, we understand the challenges and changes businesses face when it comes to securing applications. Our practical hands-on labs and structured learning paths make sure teams stay up to date with the latest application security practices.
From lessons in securing APIs to OWASP’s Application Security Verification Standard (ASVS), our training empowers teams to tackle the growing challenges of application security.
Contact us to learn more about our secure coding training programs!
