What mobile app security standards and guidelines should you follow?

1 OWASP Mobile Top 10

The Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) is a global non-profit organization that provides resources and best practices for web and mobile app security. One of their most popular publications is the OWASP Mobile Top 10, which lists the most common and critical security risks for mobile apps. The OWASP Mobile Top 10 covers topics such as data storage, authentication, encryption, code quality, network communication, and permissions. You can use the OWASP Mobile Top 10 as a reference to identify and mitigate the most likely threats to your mobile app.

2 NIST SP 800-163

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is a U.S. federal agency that develops and publishes standards and guidelines for various fields, including cybersecurity. One of their publications that is relevant for mobile app security is the NIST Special Publication (SP) 800-163, which provides a framework for vetting the security of mobile apps. The NIST SP 800-163 defines the process and criteria for evaluating the security posture of mobile apps, based on their functionality, data sensitivity, and risk level. You can use the NIST SP 800-163 as a guide to perform security testing and validation on your mobile app.

3 ISO/IEC 27034

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) are two leading bodies that develop and publish international standards for various domains, including information technology. One of their standards that is applicable for mobile app security is the ISO/IEC 27034, which specifies the principles and processes for application security. The ISO/IEC 27034 covers the entire lifecycle of application security, from planning and design to development and maintenance. You can use the ISO/IEC 27034 as a framework to establish and implement an application security management system for your mobile app.

4 GDPR and CCPA

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) are two of the most prominent and influential data privacy laws in the world. The GDPR is a regulation that applies to the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA), while the CCPA is a law that applies to California. Both of them aim to protect the personal data and privacy rights of individuals, and impose strict requirements and penalties for data controllers and processors. If your mobile app collects, stores, or processes personal data of users in the EU, EEA, or California, you need to comply with the GDPR and CCPA, respectively. You can use the GDPR and CCPA as guidelines to ensure that your mobile app respects the data protection and consent principles of your users.

5 Mobile App Security Checklist

In addition to the standards and guidelines mentioned above, you can also use a mobile app security checklist to help you review and improve the security of your mobile app. A mobile app security checklist is a list of questions or items that cover various aspects of mobile app security, such as data protection, encryption, authentication, authorization, code quality, network security, and vulnerability management. You can use a mobile app security checklist as a tool to audit and verify the security of your mobile app, and to identify and fix any gaps or issues. You can find various mobile app security checklists online, or create your own based on your specific needs and objectives.

Mobile app security is a crucial and challenging topic that requires constant attention and improvement. By following the standards and guidelines discussed in this article, you can enhance the security of your mobile app and protect your users from potential threats. However, remember that mobile app security is not a one-time task, but an ongoing process that requires regular updates and reviews. Therefore, you should always keep yourself informed and educated about the latest trends and best practices in mobile app security.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?