Applications are vulnerable—that’s a fact. In fact, the majority have access control and authentication issues. However, within the last several years, runtime application self-protection has become a larger part of the security conversation. Explore this security protocol and how it can fit into your overall approach to security.
Runtime application self-protection (RASP) is a security method that is designed to provide applications with personalized protection. In most cases, developers custom-build RASP functionality directly into the app using specialized code that acts as sensors to detect unusual activity.
Applications with RASP can detect attacks as they happen. They can also analyze behavior contextually to determine whether users are making common mistakes or actively trying to bypass security measures.
These are some of the core components of a typical RASP program.
It’s practically right in the first letter of the term: Runtime. RASP programs actively search for malicious behavior or suspicious resource calls while your application runs. These applications also provide immediate feedback and can take action based on the types of threats they detect.
For example, suppose you have a hacker actively trying to use SQL injection. Normally, the hacker would insert their own SQL statements into active queries.
As a cybersecurity feature, self-protection allows the application to monitor itself by installing sensor-like features within the code base. These sensors allow your application to detect potential breaches or high-risk activities.
Without having to wait for an external entity to take action, your application can more easily shut down potential threats or send alerts to your team so they can respond quickly.
RASP tools are used to analyze the context in which strings of code are running. They can more accurately detect malicious activities based on user and application context. These types of contextual recognition allow runtime app self-protection tools to more easily distinguish between genuine threats and benign deviations from intended user behavior.
Because your application’s RASP tools are embedded directly into the code while you’re building it, you can design them to reflect your application’s functionality. This reduces the reliance you might have on more generic rules if you try to retrofit network traffic analysis systems or external vulnerability scanners to work for your app.
Leveraging RASP for your application is an effective way to protect your app and your trade secrets. Here are some of the top benefits of using RASP to keep your application safe.
One key benefit of using RASP for your application is that it bolsters your security posture without sacrificing context. It enables your application to easily shut down potential attacks on its own or allows you to respond quickly if it cannot do so by itself.
Furthermore, because you don’t have to rely as heavily on external resources, you also don’t have to worry as much about potential defects in third-party security programs from cascading down to your application.
Because RASP testing is designed with context in mind, it tends to produce fewer false positives than other forms of application security testing. It can adapt to the changes within your application and minimize the amount of alerts the system sends that warrant investigation.
By reducing the number of false positive alerts you receive, you and your team will be able to recognize legitimate threats more easily and respond accordingly.
By integrating your security controls directly into the application’s runtime environment, RASP enables you to detect and respond to threats as they occur—rather than hours or days after an attack starts.
RASP’s adjustable approach to security policies also gives your app a more dynamic way to analyze user behavior and recognize emerging threats. This helps you adapt to potential new attack vectors and address issues in real-time.
Staying compliant with industry standards and government regulations is a full-time process. However, runtime security tools make it easier to maintain compliance because they allow you to take corrective actions as soon as suspicious activities start to happen.
As a result, you can respond to incidents immediately and receive results just as quickly. Ultimately, this makes it easier to comply with the regulations and standards your app must adhere to.
Whereas traditional security solutions like intrusion detection systems (IDS) rely on external data sources to work, RASP operates directly within your application. With this embedded approach, you can minimize the amount of noise that would otherwise be created by working with a third-party security program.
Unlike traditional IDS or external vulnerability scanners, runtime app self-protection programs have an internal focus. Because of this, the system is also less likely to produce false positives.
RASP also offers more targeted threat detection than some types of security programs. For example, it can help you detect potential issues within more sensitive areas of your application, such as at either end of your API. This reduces the likelihood of triggering false positives in less vulnerable app parts.
RASP tools can be an impactful way to protect your application from within. However, they shouldn’t be treated as the be-all and end-all approach to app security because they don’t automatically turn your application into a fully armed hacker-fighting machine that can deflect every type of security vulnerability.
For example, not all RASP programs are created equal. Some only cover certain platforms, and others are little more than just blacklist- or signature-based tools that behave like subpar web application firewalls (WAFs). However, they can be an effective tool as part of your security stack.
The most effective way to use RASP tools is to treat them as just one part of your arsenal. Using it alongside application hardening tools like Dotfuscator, DashO, and JSDefender makes it easier to protect your application from all types of attacks. This allows you to mitigate everything from unauthorized SQL injections to debugging and tampering attempts from rooted devices.
PreEmptive offers a suite of tools to protect your application in real time. Some of the tools we offer that protect your application’s source code include:
Incorporating an effective RASP program becomes easier when you have other tools that harden your application. Request a free trial of Dotfuscator, DashO, JSDefender, or Defender for iOS today to see how it can support your security posture.