Application Security

Application Security, often abbreviated as AppSec, is a specialized discipline within cybersecurity that focuses on finding, fixing, and preventing security vulnerabilities within software applications. It involves integrating security measures and practices throughout the entire software development lifecycle (SDLC)—from initial design and coding to testing, deployment, and maintenance. The primary goal of AppSec is to protect applications, including web and mobile platforms, and their underlying data from a wide range of threats such as unauthorized access, data breaches, and modification, by building security directly into the software itself rather than adding it as an afterthought.

1. Introduction to Application Security
   1. Defining Application Security
      1. Core Definition and Scope
      2. Application Security vs. Infrastructure Security
      3. Application Security vs. Network Security
   2. Types of Applications
      1. Web Applications
      2. Mobile Applications
      3. Desktop Applications
      4. Cloud Applications
      5. API-Based Applications
   3. Security Objectives
      1. Confidentiality
         1. Data Classification
         2. Access Controls
         3. Encryption Requirements
      2. Integrity
         1. Data Validation
         2. Digital Signatures
         3. Audit Trails
      3. Availability
         1. Service Continuity
         2. Performance Under Attack
         3. Recovery Procedures
   4. Business Impact of Application Security
      1. Financial Consequences of Breaches
         1. Direct Costs
         2. Indirect Costs
         3. Revenue Loss
      2. Legal and Regulatory Implications
         1. Compliance Violations
         2. Litigation Risks
         3. Regulatory Penalties
      3. Reputation and Brand Impact
         1. Customer Trust
         2. Market Position
         3. Public Relations Consequences
   5. Fundamental Security Terminology
      1. Vulnerabilities
         1. Technical Vulnerabilities
         2. Business Logic Flaws
         3. Configuration Weaknesses
      2. Threats
         1. Internal Threats
         2. External Threats
         3. Advanced Persistent Threats
      3. Threat Actors
         1. Script Kiddies
         2. Organized Crime
         3. Nation-State Actors
         4. Insider Threats
      4. Risk Assessment Concepts
         1. Risk Identification
         2. Risk Analysis
         3. Risk Evaluation
      5. Exploits and Attack Vectors
         1. Remote Exploits
         2. Local Exploits
         3. Zero-Day Exploits
      6. Attack Surface Analysis
         1. Identifying Entry Points
         2. Attack Surface Mapping
         3. Surface Reduction Strategies