Important Security Tips for New Web Developers

There are many foundational pillars that make a good web developer, and experienced developers know that security is an essential element of a successful career. Cybersecurity should be a number one priority for aspiring web developers who want to protect sensitive data, their own code and projects, as well as their clients and users.

I probably don’t even need to mention that focusing on security throughout the development process is important for the success of the project itself, but also for your professional growth as a new developer. Cyberattacks cost companies billions of dollars every year, and if you want to acquire and retain high-paying clients, you need to build secure applications for them and their users.

So, without any further ado, here are some important security tips I believe all new developers should keep in mind and implement in every coding project.

Weave security into the web app architecture

Designing and building a web application architecture is one of the essential processes every web developer goes through when defining an app development project. Essentially, the app architecture represents how various web application components interact with each other to deliver a smooth, reliable, and secure experience to the end user.

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However, in order to emphasize security, you need to build a scalable web app architecture that focuses on data management, access control, security testing and probing, infrastructure monitoring, and more. If the architecture itself is not designed around scalable security (meaning you can easily monitor and add security upgrades), you are exposing the entire application (client and server side) to security risks.

Scaling an application means;

• Identifying the performance bottlenecks
• Identifying security risks
• Scaling vertically or horizontally
• Measuring and tracking performance and security changes

The key component here is to identify security risks on the server and client side. As a developer, you will need to tend to the backend (server side) security issues but also brainstorm solutions to elevate frontend security as well.

Secure your remote work environment

In the post-pandemic world, many developers are choosing to work from home, many companies are retaining the world-from-home model, and many new developers are starting their careers from the comfort of their home offices. Remote work has become a part of the new normal, and while that brings numerous benefits when it comes to productivity, output, and developer happiness, it can bring about some unexpected security concerns.

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This is why work from home cybersecurity for remote developers, especially newcomers to the game, should be a top priority in 2022 and going forward. This is about securing your own network, servers, devices, and all user accounts and applications you’re using. Moreover, this includes all of the applications you use for client and team communication, data sharing and storing, collaboration, and more.

To start, developers who are using their home network and devices should use a robust antivirus with VPN as a base security layer that will protect their devices and hide their online identity and location. It’s also important to add security layers like multi-factor authentication, administrative access control and monitoring, password management, and application monitoring.

Experienced developers running serious dev operations from their home networks should also consider hardware firewalls and a secure web gateway with early warning systems.

Know the security risks for your programming languages

No matter how many programming languages you use and how many you plan to add to your dev stack capabilities, you need to remember that all coding languages have their potential security risks. No matter which data types in JavaScript you’re working with currently or how far along you are in the app development process as a whole, being aware of the security risks at every stage is crucial for the success of the project and the app itself.

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If we stick with JavaScript, we can identify several potential security risks, including:

• Source code vulnerabilities
• Encoding user input
• Unintended script execution
• Input validation
• Client side validation
• Filtering input
• Stealing session data
• Prompting users to perform unintended actions

You can eliminate some of these vulnerabilities while other risks may be outside of your control. As a developer, your job is to minimize risk as much as possible by:

• Using SSL encryption to encrypt all data passing between the client and the server
• Setting security cookies
• Setting API access keys
• Using safe methods of DOM manipulation

Make sure to research the possible security risks for all coding languages in your repertoire and start focusing on eliminating vulnerabilities from the start.

Understand the possible AI security risks

Artificial intelligence is everywhere nowadays, and AI-assisted or AI-driven systems help web developers become more productive and elevate their efficiency and output. But for all the benefits that AI brings to the table, are there any security risks you as a developer should be aware of? Absolutely.

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It’s important to keep in mind that AI can be a passage for cyberthieves and cybercriminals if used improperly or if you give it too much power without setting strict security protocols. Some of the potential security risks to keep in mind are:

• Some AI actions can be difficult to understand and interpret
• AI algorithms are typically open source
• AI cybersecurity measures may lull IT experts into complacency
• Hackers can also use AI malware and AI-driven cyber-attacks
• AI in general can increase the surface of attack

There are many ways hackers can try to exploit AI systems, which is why developers need to be careful when granting access to and using third-party AI software for their app.

Here are the types of attacks targeted specifically at AI systems you should be aware of:

• Data extraction attacks on machine learning systems
• Online system manipulation
• Transfer learning attacks
• Data poisoning and corruption
• Malicious inputs and system manipulation

Control access to your code and projects

Access control is one of the most important cybersecurity best practices that will help you safeguard your data, especially when developing apps for healthcare, finance and banking, Ecommerce, and other industries that rely on sensitive user data.

Access control also protects your devices, systems, infrastructure, and all client-facing programs when working from home. As a new developer, you might not think that you need all of these security measures we’re talking about today, but it’s important to remember that your career relies on your ability to eliminate the risk of security breaches of any kind.

After all, the clients and companies you develop apps for expect nothing less. Whether you’re working for a dev studio, an app investor, or an enterprise, you should be provided with a remote access solution that will allow you to control and manage access to your work and all IT resources.

This includes but is not limited to:

• Role-based access controls. Allows access to individuals based on their roles and responsibilities.
• A virtual private network. Encrypts the data between the end-user and any relevant business data to secure traffic.
• Single sign-on (SSO). Users can only input their password once per session.
• Multi-factor authentication. Users must provide additional evidence to prove their identity.
• Zero trust network access. Set up specific access control policies to ensure secure remote access.

Integrate third-party software wisely

As a new developer, you need to be careful when integrating and working with third-party software. There’s no way of avoiding using third-party software during development, when trying to secure your monitoring infrastructure or when using various AI tools, or avoiding software integration after releasing the app - but you can control which software you use.

Oftentimes, though, you will have only a supplementary role when it comes to choosing and allowing integrations when the app hits the market, depending on your level of seniority. You may need to work with the upper management to choose the best helpdesk software to integrate with the app, or the best chatbot integration, and any other third-party software solution to enhance the user experience.

Third-party software integration during development and after rollout is a joint effort, and you won’t have to do it alone. Nevertheless, new developers should educate themselves on third-party software security and choose their integrations, tools, and platforms wisely.

Wrapping up

Security should be one of the primary talking points in any web development seminar or coding workshop for beginners. Oftentimes, though, we tend to focus on the more “important” aspects of programming, relegating security to a more secondary role in the app development process.

I believe that, especially for newcomers who want to build a thriving career, security should be a primary concern. Focusing on security means that you are aligned with the needs of companies, experienced dev teams, and the users. If you want to build web apps for the modern consumer, you need to secure sensitive data, protect your work, and manage access to your projects carefully.