Web security protects networks, servers, and computer systems from damage to or the theft of software, hardware, or data. It includes defending computer systems from misdirecting or disrupting the services they are designed to provide.
Web security is crucial to the smooth operation of any business that uses computers. If a website is hacked or hackers are able to manipulate your systems or software, your website—and even your entire network—can be brought down, halting business operations. Businesses need to account for the factors that go into web security and threat prevention.
To comply with internal policies, government-imposed criteria, or Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) standards, security professionals consider a variety of factors when establishing a security posture for their web security gateway. Keeping abreast with OWASP standards helps security staff stay up to date with industry-standard web safety expectations.
In addition to ensuring compliance with various standards and criteria, encryption must be kept up to date, the latest threats in the Web Hacking Incident Database (WHID) monitored, and user authentications properly managed. When vulnerabilities emerge, security personnel must install the most recent patches to address them. To secure data, software development teams have to implement protocols that shield code from being stolen during or after writing it.
Various technologies are available to help companies achieve web security, including web application firewalls (WAFs), security or vulnerability scanners, password-cracking tools, fuzzing tools, black box testing tools, and white box testing tools.