Business

A Guide to Security Testing

Security is more important than ever, especially with so many online resources and applications. When developing an application, gathering information on security is a top priority for us at ISU Corp.

Our security audit is an analytical approach to measure the informative security assessment for your application. We will perform vulnerability scans, and carefully examine the system configuration and settings, and analyze the network and communication.

When analyzing your application, we take into account what's already been completed with the IT environment when we do an information security audit.

It’s challenging for businesses to stay ahead of the ever-evolving security threats. As a safeguard, it’s important to be prepared and have a Disaster Recovery Runbook in the event a breach occurs. Security hacks are stressful for everyone involved, but a DR runbook can help any IT team stay calm and organized.

Our goal is to understand your application’s information system deficiencies. To do this we will start off by verifying the security level of your Servers, Operating Systems & Databases, Business Applications, Software, and Network & Communications.

We will track any and all of the deficiencies that are found, and then we will come up with recommendations to improve the deficiencies.

By utilizing our testing services, you have the ability to move forward confidently knowing that your applications:

  • Are protected from both known and unknown vulnerabilities

  • The data for them is safe and difficult to hack

  • Are in compliance with security regulations

 

Now, here is the security testing process:

At ISU Corp, our professional Web Application Security Testing Service is used to assist you in recognizing the vulnerabilities. The application testing is completed offsite for external faced web applications, but we will apply identical security properties for all applications that we develop.

Our security testing methodologies were discovered by the Open Web Application Security Project and they include the following processes:

  • Information retrieval

  • Arranged management testing

  • Business logic testing

  • Authentication and authorization testing

  • Session management testing

  • Data validation

  • Denial of service testing

  • Web services testing

  • Ajax testing

 

Regardless of how diligent the testing processes are, new threats and attack vectors will always find a way into your software. Here at ISU Corp, we use our best efforts to put energy and resources into gathering the most recent knowledge for designing effective methods to optimize our security testing services.

We will test for:

  • Injection

  • Cross-site scripting (XSS)

  • Broken authentication and session management

  • Insecure direct object references

  • Cross-Site request forgery (CSRF)

  • Security misconfiguration

  • Insecure cryptographic storage

  • Failure to Restrict URL Access

  • Insufficient transport layer protection

  • Unvalidated redirects and forwards

 

At ISU Corp, we will also provide access to in-depth vulnerability assessments that closely examine every open port, host, and services that have access to the Web. The vulnerability tests will also map the network architecture to check that the network devices are protected from hacker attacks.

Reliant on what’s discovered in the process of the vulnerability test, we will determine and report your network’s security position.

Our diligent research teams at ISU Corp strive to validate the security of your websites prior to potential issues. Our goal is to be your trusted partner for all your web application testing and assessment requirements.

 

Reach out to one of our experts at ISU Corp to get started, or if you have any additional inquiries about security testing!

 
 
 

Financial Verification Software in 2023

One of the biggest challenges facing the growth of financial technology is a lack of control when verifying user information. This is a serious issue, especially considering the role these services play in our day-to-day lives.

With FinTech having transformed the way people manage their money, the need for data safety cannot be overstated. In this article, we will look at why this issue is so significant for companies of all sizes and what can be done to mitigate the risk. 

The Importance of FinTech Security

Fintech security can be compared to a secure home. Just like you wouldn't leave the windows and doors of your house unlocked, fintech companies cannot put their platforms at risk of being broken into. The security systems FinTechs use in this case becomes the home security system except for a millionfold the number of members.

What The Research is Telling Us

Last year, research found that more than 50% of financial institutions were impacted by cybersecurity breaches, which is a 21% increase from the previous year. Additionally, more than 40% of these attacks were aimed at small to mid-sized businesses of which only 14% have the resources to defend themselves.

And lastly, a survey last year found that over 20% of US companies who did face an attack lost between $100,000 to nearly $500,000, with 4% losing over one million dollars.

Options Moving Forward

As we consider the best options for financial firms to maintain the security of their platforms in 2023, one of the most relevant and pressing topics in the sector is KYC (Know Your Customer) software. Before delving into other facets, let's take a closer look at this aspect of fintech security:

Defining KYC: In simple terms, KYC is the process of confirming the identity of your clients and checking that they aren’t involved in any illegal activities. KYC software is an automation tool that supports financial institutions, which includes fintech businesses, in meeting regulations and mitigating any possibility of misconduct.

The software simplifies the customer onboarding process by collecting and verifying their personal information. It then cross-references the information with various databases. 

The process is mandatory when opening/maintaining bank accounts in the United States and Canada, as well as in several other countries. This is certainly for good reason as taking on new customers poses plenty of risk without proper verification processes.

This is why every startup needs to strategize and prepare for these contingencies. Yep, it starts that early, and as we said earlier, it’s the small to mid-size institutions that are targeted the most and impacted the hardest.

Now, although KYC is important, it is not the only component needed to ensure your platform is secure. Other aspects include:

  • Customer Due Diligence (CDD): This is half the process of KYC as this is what collects and cross-references the information financial institutions use to determine the risk customers pose to the institution.

  • Anti Money Laundering (AML): AML goes hand in hand with KYC since KYC is merely a component of AML technology. It’s designed to prevent any illicit activity such as money laundering or other offences alike. 

  • Fraud Detection Software: This technology analyzes transactions and flags anything that comes across as unusual or suspicious based on pre-determined criteria. This helps to quickly identify potential fraud and minimize the risk of revenue loss.

Again, we’ve emphasized that the financial institutions that prioritize meeting regulatory requirements using these processes will be better equipped to handle cyberattacks and reduce the risk of data breaches, financial losses, and damage to the company’s reputation. 

Investing in the right financial verification software not only meets regulatory requirements but also gives clients peace of mind knowing their information is protected. Aside from the direct risks facing firms in terms of security, it’s said that the vast majority of customers won’t stay with platforms that poorly integrate KYC guidelines.

The Takeaway

Financial firms need to consider how KYC fits into their platform. Is it already a high priority? Do your customers find it annoying? The performance of your platform is meaningless if the experience is not enjoyable for your users. This means that consistently evaluating your platform and getting the necessary help will set up any firm for success in the long run. 

Written By Ben Brown

ISU Corp is an award-winning software development company, with over 17 years of experience in multiple industries, providing cost-effective custom software development, technology management, and IT outsourcing.

Our unique owners’ mindset reduces development costs and fast-tracks timelines. We help craft the specifications of your project based on your company's needs, to produce the best ROI. Find out why startups, all the way to fortune 500 companies like General Electric, Heinz, and many others have trusted us with their projects. Contact us here.

 
 

Using Mobile-First CSS: Is It For You?

The emphasis on mobile usage when it comes to designing a website is a recurring topic among most businesses these days. The experience of a website on mobile is just so critical considering that these devices account for over 60% of website traffic in 2023. Additionally, the sheer amount of monthly mobile data traffic (measured in exabytes) has grown dramatically over the last decade and is projected to go up even further in the next decade. For web designers, this means developing an easy-to-navigate website and condensing the page when making changes to the site. For software developers, there’s a bit more involved to ensure a seamless experience for mobile users. 

Enter Mobile-First CSS

Mobile-First CSS is a popular solution for designing websites or web apps specifically for smaller screens. This approach prioritizes the mobile experience by starting with the mobile design, then gradual additions are made to accommodate bigger (desktop) screens. It’s important to emphasize here that this approach doesn’t mean neglecting the experience for desktop users. Simply, it’s creating a seamless mobile look and feel that will then influence the development of the desktop version. 

What Benefits to Expect With Mobile-First CSS in Action

There are many advantages to taking the Mobile-First approach particularly if your analytics suggest the majority of your traffic is coming from mobile users. Here are 4 that you can expect to see on your website:

  • A simpler design: By focusing on the mobile experience first, the design will be simplified and made more user-friendly. This makes the website or app easy to navigate, even on smaller screens.

  • A responsive website or app: With Mobile-First CSS, the design will automatically adjust to different screen sizes, providing a seamless experience for all users, regardless of the device they're using.

  • Improved performance: By creating a streamlined design for mobile users first, you are improving the overall performance of the website or app, making the site perform faster and more efficiently.

We’re not telling you how to design your website or web apps when we’re talking about Mobile-First CSS. These benefits apply to the company that doesn’t have a desktop-focused, legacy, complex, or static website.

The Potential Drawbacks

With that being said, it’s important to know the pros and cons of any system your organization is looking to get involved with. Here are some potential drawbacks of Mobile-First CSS:

  • Requires a mobile-focused mindset: Designers and developers must have a strong understanding of mobile design and development best practices to effectively implement Mobile-First CSS.

  • Increased development time: Creating the mobile version first and then making adjustments for larger screens can take more time compared to designing for the desktop first.

  • Limited creative control: Designers may feel limited in their creative control and ability to showcase their designs on larger screens.

  • Lack of attention to desktop users: There is a risk of neglecting the desktop user experience, which can lead to a subpar experience for these users. However, this can be fixed down the line. 

  • Increased complexity: With Mobile-First CSS, the code becomes more complex as the design is adjusted for different screen sizes. This can make the development process much more difficult.

What’s useful when it comes to weighing the pros and cons of a new software system is that it allows organizations to plan for contingencies. Teams who take on the development process with the mindset of “we know how this has benefitted others, this is how we see it benefitting us, let’s outline the timeline and go from there” will be much better off. Additionally, weighing the potential negatives will be good to bring up when consulting with programmers to see how they plan to solve potential issues.

The Takeaway

Software projects are only made successful with sufficient involvement from both parties which means having realistic expectations and accurate estimations. It comes down to knowing your audience and the goals of your business long-term. If the majority of your audience accesses your website or web app on a desktop, then a mobile-first approach may not be an appropriate solution. Whatever the case may be, proper planning and communication are the keys to a successful software implementation.

Written By Ben Brown

ISU Corp is an award-winning software development company, with over 17 years of experience in multiple industries, providing cost-effective custom software development, technology management, and IT outsourcing.

Our unique owners’ mindset reduces development costs and fast-tracks timelines. We help craft the specifications of your project based on your company's needs, to produce the best ROI. Find out why startups, all the way to fortune 500 companies like General Electric, Heinz, and many others have trusted us with their projects. Contact us here.