Recent research is a testimony to the fact that mobile applications, be it an Android or IOS platform possess a serious level of security threats. In fact, the concept of RASP security has gone on to emerge to address the ad hoc approaches developers to adopt when they come face to face with such threats.
Rather than diverting your attention on the flaws in an app, RASP is an innovative runtime application that detects threat during the running of an app. The best part is that it does not wait for a threat to attack an app. Rather it focuses on a proactive approach to be dealing with an app.
The reasons why you need RASP
Vector attacks on apps have gone on to take an intelligent route that they cannot be detected by human intervention. An HTTP request that mimics incoming traffic can be put to use for tripping applications or compromise the critical process of a business. A modern application interacts with databases, back end servers of users with the aid of XML, APIS and JSON formats. If you are not able to secure the app and server components then hackers are in a better position to cope with user data, app code or both of them.
The working module of RASP
A RASP aligns in a side by side format along with the application code. It goes on to monitor the incoming traffic to the server or be it the APIs of application. Once a threat is detected RASP is known to apply runtime protection modules and from malpractices, the application is secured. Most of the requests are vetted via a RASP layer that is located between the application and the server. Eventually, it does not have an impact on the performance of the app.
Things have gone on to change drastically with the emergence of cloud computing. You can go on to use the dynamic application code with RASP powerful capabilities. It goes on to detect vector threats just like a WAF. It all depends upon the implementation, it could terminate a user session or the traffic can be analysed during a runtime session.
How deploying RASP is going to be of help
A notable feature of RASP is that it is going to work in the interiors of an application. It is in complete contrast to an isolated protection method be it as a firewall. By this feature, RASP is able to provide a conceptualized service where necessary information is obtained from the system configuration, logic flow, APIS and runtime data.
• The solutions tend to be cost-effective and provide a true value for your money. In a way, it is more focussed than the traditional web application solutions ceasing to be a generalized bet
• It employs the method of prevention is a better option than cure. You go on to monitor the application for unreliable behaviour, reverse engineer, tamper the code or detect any suspected data leakage. With constant monitoring on the agenda, you can guard against maverick hackers.
• To detect loopholes in an application one of the sought out modules is penetration testing. It works out to be of importance in detecting pen-testing module and helps an app owner in aligning their resources to the critical process of a business.
• The developmental team often has a conservative approach when it comes to implementation of security solutions that has an overall impact on the app in an adverse manner. In fact the RASP modules call for minimum usage of resources and the performance expectation is within the latent range. This is a sharp contrast to a traditional security tool that has an impact on the overall performance; the security layer of RASP does have a minimum impact on the performance of an application.
• You might have to convince the stakeholders about the security strategy that is to be adopted. In fact, returns on investment could be a lot easier than RASP as it is mobile friendly and encourages the policy of bringing your own devices with an app owning company.
The points to be aware during the selection of a RASP solution
A developer has to choose a RASP solution keeping the following pointers in mind
• The deployment has to be easy and you require minimum maintenance. Otherwise if threat changes it could become ineffective.
• It should possess a wider broad capability and is in a position to handle various vulnerable features. It has to be unknown and traditional.
• It does have minimum impact associated with the performance metrics. There has to be a security layer otherwise it might end up losing its value. No developer is going to trade the comfort of security for an additional security feature.
• A RASP has to be accurate taking into consideration false positives. It means that you are not going to block genuine traffic.
• In a seamless manner it has to work with security tools like WAF
• Even support for multiple languages and framework has to be there
• A RASP has to provide instant support, autonomous with frequent monitoring. It should be in a position to block malignant requests
• In the overall context it should conceptualize a framework from all the potential threats and take stock of the runtime feature of an application. This is going to protect it from active or passive threats. It is not going to be a major challenge for the stakeholders to outline where their applications stand as far as the handling of security threats evolve. This is taking into consideration that RASP is going to work in the background.
Conclusion
If you apply it in a proper way along with other app sec frameworks and an example is pen-testing. RASP can turn out to be a game-changer that your company is looking in order to reach a higher level. It provides a quick and effective remedial measure if your company is dealing with a sophisticated landscape threat. In a way, RASP goes beyond the traditional boundaries for cost-effective, faster in-app application.
