The editors at Solutions Review map out some Mobile App Security best practices every enterprise should consider in their network security strategies.

The widespread use of mobile applications has made them a lucrative target for cyber-criminals seeking to exploit vulnerabilities for financial gain, data theft, or unauthorized access. Given that mobile apps often handle sensitive user information, including personal details, financial data, and authentication credentials, a security breach can lead to severe reputational damage and loss of trust among users. Moreover, as organizations increasingly rely on mobile apps to conduct business operations, any compromise in the security of these applications can result in disruptions, financial losses, and legal consequences.

Furthermore, with the growing prevalence of remote work and the use of mobile devices for corporate tasks, the attack surface expands, making robust mobile app security vital for safeguarding sensitive corporate data. Organizations must also address compliance requirements related to data protection and privacy regulations, imposing legal obligations to secure user information adequately. Mobile app security is crucial for preventing unauthorized access, data leakage, and the exploitation of vulnerabilities that could compromise the integrity of business transactions.

15 Mobile App Security Best Practices for Organizations

Here are some mobile app security best practices that developers and organizations should follow:

1. Secure Code Practices:
   • Use secure coding standards and follow best practices such as OWASP Mobile Top 10.
   • Regularly update and patch third-party libraries and dependencies.
   • Conduct static and dynamic code analysis to identify and fix vulnerabilities.
2. Authentication and Authorization:
   • Implement strong authentication mechanisms, such as multi-factor authentication (MFA).
   • Use secure password storage techniques, like hashing and salting.
   • Enforce proper session management to prevent session hijacking.
3. Secure Data Storage:
   • Encrypt sensitive data both in transit and at rest.
   • Avoid storing sensitive information on the device unless absolutely necessary.
   • Implement secure essential management practices for encryption.
4. Network Security:
   • Use secure communication protocols (e.g., HTTPS) to protect data in transit.
   • Implement certificate pinning to enhance the security of SSL/TLS connections.
   • Avoid sending sensitive information over unsecured networks.
5. Secure API Usage:
   • Authenticate and authorize API requests properly.
   • Validate and sanitize input data to prevent injection attacks.
   • Implement rate limiting and throttling to mitigate potential abuse.
6. Mobile App Encryption:
   • Encrypt sensitive data stored on the device, including databases and files.
   • Leverage hardware-backed encryption provided by mobile platforms.
7. Code Obfuscation and Minification:
   • Use code obfuscation and minification techniques to make it harder for attackers to reverse engineer the app.
   • Remove or obfuscate debug information in the production version.
8. Secure Push Notifications:
   • Implement secure push notification mechanisms.
   • Avoid including sensitive information in push notifications.
9. User Input Validation:
   • Validate and sanitize user input to prevent common vulnerabilities like SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS).
10. Device Security:
    • Encourage users to keep their devices updated with the latest security patches.
    • Implement a secure session timeout to protect against unauthorized access.
11. Secure File Handling:
    • Apply proper file permission settings to prevent unauthorized access.
    • Validate file types and implement checks to prevent file-based attacks.
12. Monitoring and Logging:
    • Implement comprehensive logging to capture security-related events.
    • Regularly review logs to detect and respond to security incidents promptly.
13. User Education and Awareness:
    • Educate users about security best practices, such as avoiding insecure Wi-Fi networks and regularly updating their devices.
14. Incident Response Plan:
    • Develop and regularly test an incident response plan to respond effectively to security incidents.
15. Compliance with Regulations:
    • Ensure compliance with relevant data protection and privacy regulations, such as GDPR or HIPAA.

Ultimately, investing in mobile app security is not just a matter of safeguarding digital assets but also a strategic imperative for maintaining a trustworthy brand image and ensuring the seamless functioning of critical business processes in an increasingly mobile-centric landscape. By integrating these best practices into the development lifecycle, organizations can enhance the security posture of their mobile applications and protect sensitive data from potential threats. Regular security audits and testing are also essential to identify and address new vulnerabilities as they emerge.

This article was AI-generated by ChatGPT and edited by Solutions Review editors.

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The editors at Solutions Review lay out some mobile security best practices enterprises should consider when deploying a new solution.

Mobile security refers to the measures and practices that protect mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, from cyber threats and attacks. With the increasing use of mobile devices for personal and professional activities, mobile security has become a critical concern for individuals and organizations alike. Mobile security is important because mobile devices store and transmit sensitive information such as personal contacts, financial information, and confidential business data. As mobile devices become more integrated into our daily lives, they become attractive targets for cyber-criminals looking to steal this valuable information. Cyber-attacks on mobile devices can range from malware infections and phishing attacks to theft or loss of the device, exposing personal and sensitive data.

Mobile security is also important because mobile devices are often used in unsecured environments such as public Wi-Fi networks, making them more vulnerable to attacks. Additionally, mobile devices are easily lost or stolen, making it essential to implement measures to secure the device and the data stored on it. Without proper mobile security, cyber-criminals can quickly access sensitive data, causing financial losses, identity theft, and reputational damage. Furthermore, organizations can be subject to regulatory fines and legal penalties for data breaches, leading to significant financial and reputational damage.

10 Mobile Security Best Practices to Consider

With mobile security more critical than ever, here are some mobile security best practices to consider:

1. Use a strong password: A strong password is the first line of defense against unauthorized access. Ensure that your password is complex, lengthy, and unique. You can also use password managers to generate and store complex passwords securely.
2. Keep your device up-to-date: Regularly update your device’s operating system and security patches to protect against known vulnerabilities and security threats.
3. Use Two-Factor Authentication: Two-factor authentication (2FA) provides an additional layer of security for your device. It requires a secondary verification, such as a code or biometric data, to access your device.
4. Install reputable apps: Only download and install apps from trusted sources, such as the official app stores. Avoid downloading apps from unknown or third-party sources, as they may contain malware.
5. Review app permissions: Before downloading and installing an app, review its required permissions. Avoid apps that require excessive permissions or access to sensitive information such as contacts, the camera, and location.
6. Use a VPN: Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) provide a secure connection between your device and the internet. VPNs encrypt your internet traffic and protect your data from interception.
7. Avoid Public Wi-Fi: Avoid using public Wi-Fi networks as they are often insecure and prone to attacks. If you must use public Wi-Fi, use a VPN to secure your connection.
8. Lock your device: Always lock your device with a passcode, fingerprint, or facial recognition. This prevents unauthorized access to your device and personal information.
9. Enable Find My Device: Enable your device’s “Find My Device” feature. This feature allows you to locate your lost or stolen device and remotely wipe your data if necessary.
10. Backup your data: Regularly backup your data to a secure cloud storage or an external drive. This ensures you can recover your data if your device is lost, stolen, or damaged.

Mobile security is crucial to protecting personal and sensitive data stored on mobile devices. By implementing mobile security best practices, individuals and organizations can reduce the risk of cyber-attacks and defend themselves from the potentially devastating consequences of data breaches.

This article on mobile security best practices to consider was AI-generated by ChatGPT and edited by Solutions Review editors.

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Solutions Review’s Contributed Content Series is a collection of contributed articles written by thought leaders in enterprise software categories. Manish Mangal of Tech Mahindra dives into detail AI’s unprecedented role in revolutionizing 5G connectivity.

The development and standardization of 5G connectivity has been a long time coming. The groundwork for 5G started before 2015, when companies and researchers were exploring new technologies that could improve upon 4G and LTE. Little did they know that by the time 5G was ready for commercial rollout, artificial intelligence (AI) would be available to help ensure successful deployment and operation of the network.

The convergence of AI and 5G networks has ushered in a new era of possibilities for the telecom industry. By combining the immense processing power of AI with the lightning-fast connectivity of 5G, operators can unlock a host of opportunities to optimize network performance, streamline operations, and pioneer innovative services. As the technology matures, its impact on the telecom industry is likely to be even greater.

5G Connectivity and the Role of AI

Intelligent Network Planning

AI plays a pivotal role in network management, particularly in the context of modern and complex 5G networks. AI-powered systems can monitor network health, detect anomalies, and proactively address issues. AI can also be instrumental in network planning, helping operators make informed decisions about infrastructure and capacity requirements. By analyzing historical data and predicting future demand, AI algorithms optimize network planning while reducing costs.

AI algorithms analyze data from various sources, such as geographical information systems (GIS) and customer demand patterns, to determine the best placement of network equipment and efficient deployment strategies. This speeds up network deployment, minimizes errors, and optimizes resource utilization.

Cognitive & Secure Network Operations

AI enhances the security of 5G networks, enabling the telecom industry to protect data and combat threats. AI algorithms can detect and mitigate security breaches by identifying anomalous behaviors and patterns of malicious activities in real-time. This proactive approach helps safeguard sensitive information, maintain user privacy, and preserve network integrity.

AI facilitates predictive security analytics, empowering operators to anticipate vulnerabilities and strengthen network defenses. By analyzing data and identifying potential risks, AI-driven security systems enable the telecom industry to stay ahead of cyber-criminals, ensuring trust and confidence from customers and businesses.

Energy Management

The growing demand for data and connectivity raises concerns about energy consumption in the telecom sector. Integrating AI into 5G networks offers innovative solutions for energy efficiency, empowering operators to optimize power usage, reduce their carbon footprint, and enhance sustainability.

AI algorithms analyze real-time data from network components like base stations, switches, and routers to identify energy inefficiencies and optimize power use. They dynamically adjust power levels based on traffic patterns, minimizing unnecessary energy consumption during low-activity periods. AI also optimizes network operations to reduce energy use while maintaining service quality. For example, AI algorithms can predict network traffic and then adjust data transmission routing to save energy and improve overall network efficiency.

AI is pivotal in integrating renewable energy into 5G networks. By analyzing weather patterns and energy forecasts, operators can optimize the use of renewable sources like solar panels and wind turbines. AI-driven energy management systems prioritize renewable energy, reducing reliance on non-renewable sources and lowering the industry’s carbon footprint. The benefits of AI-powered energy management extend beyond cost savings and environmental sustainability. By efficiently managing energy consumption, operators can ensure uninterrupted network services during power outages or emergencies. It maximizes network uptime, prioritizes critical elements, reroutes traffic, and allocates power resources efficiently, improving user experiences.

Optimize Network Performance

The integration of AI into 5G networks brings significant advancements in network performance. AI algorithms can analyze network traffic, predict demand fluctuations, and allocate resources effectively. This results in improved network utilization, reduced latency, and increased bandwidth availability. These enhancements enable the telecom industry to offer superior user experiences, such as seamless video streaming, immersive virtual reality, and responsive gaming on mobile devices. AI also helps optimize network coverage through intelligent beamforming and antenna configurations. By adapting to user needs, AI ensures high-quality signals, even in crowded areas. This optimization opens the door to innovative services like smart cities, autonomous transportation, and remote industrial applications. This creates new revenue streams for the industry.

Empowering Edge Computing

Combining AI with 5G networks opens up new opportunities for edge computing. AI algorithms at the network’s edge enable instant data analysis, reducing delays and improving efficiency— this benefits applications like autonomous vehicles, remote healthcare, and smart infrastructure that require low latency. The telecom industry can utilize this collaboration to provide real-time insights and rapid responses. For instance, AI-powered edge computing transforms healthcare with remote diagnostics, reducing emergency response times. Local data processing at the edge eases the load on centralized cloud systems, resulting in cost savings and better network performance.

Clearly, the convergence of AI and 5G networks presents significant potential for the telecom sector to transform its operations and services. By embracing AI-driven technologies, telecom providers can lead the industry, drive innovation, generate new revenue streams, and offer unparalleled user experiences. To harness this potential, telecom operators need to invest in infrastructure, collaborate with AI experts, and foster an innovative culture. These efforts will enable them to leverage the synergy between AI and 5G networks, creating a more connected, efficient, and innovative future.

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Solutions Review’s Contributed Content Series is a collection of contributed articles written by thought leaders in enterprise software categories. Johnny Lam of Perforce examines the impact of mobile accessibility on businesses and why yours can’t do without it.

Estimations reveal that 15 percent of the global population lives with a disability, while approximately 85 percent of Americans own smartphones. The question arises: how do these statistics intertwine? The imperative is clear— everyone should have the ability to utilize and relish the apps on their devices. In today’s world, where mobile applications cover nearly every facet of life, not all apps, however, are born equal. Prioritizing a user experience that caters to all is of paramount importance for developers.

More recently, governments and regulators have begun acknowledging the significance of accessible applications. Several countries, like Canada, have implemented regulations that impose fines on organizations failing to meet specific requirements, such as WCAG 2. The number of accessibility-related lawsuits has also risen. Businesses lacking processes to tackle these issues not only encounter adverse publicity but are also susceptible to fines and potential business loss.

The Impact of Mobile Accessibility

Mobile accessibility testing serves as a safeguard, ensuring that defects are identified within the software development cycle, but businesses are still figuring this out today. First-hand experience indicates that most development teams are still figuring out their strategy, with some still treating accessibility testing as an afterthought. It’s imperative that project managers allocate adequate time and resources to fix any defects; one option to address this is by automating critical use cases during the development cycle.

State of Mobile Accessibility Testing Maturity

Based on experience, organizations’ mobile accessibility practices can be categorized into the following phases:

• Phase 1 – Zero Awareness: At this phase, accessibility is not even a topic of discussion. Businesses have not put any thought into this, nor is it found in any initiatives, epics, or stories. As a result, these organizations are left unaware of the impact of alienating a significant portion of their customer base and have no way to measure it. Moreover, on the occasion that the organization is hit with an accessibility lawsuit, they have no process in place to address these issues. These situations often cause an “all hands on deck” scenario, completely paralyzing the development team’s ability to work on anything else. Unfortunately, most development teams fall within this category.
• Phase 2 – Testing on Major Events: Here, teams are aware of the importance of accessibility. However, due to funding and prioritization, they do not have the bandwidth and expertise to test accessibility frequently. As a result, teams conduct a dedicated sprint or two focused on accessibility, primarily done through manual testing or by hiring third-party contractors. The issues found typically take several sprints to resolve and are put on the backlog. Organizations with such practices are gambling on the assumption that no issues arise between major events. They have some understanding of the risks they take; however, when a severe issue arises, they find themselves back in the war room, once again paralyzing the team’s ability to work on anything else. This pattern is quite prevalent among mid- to large-sized enterprise customers.
• Phase 3 – Moving Toward Automation: Teams are focused on achieving faster feedback at this phase by leveraging scanners and plugins to automate the detection of accessibility issues. Quality assurance teams often prioritize automating accessibility regression testing first, aiming to execute these tests as frequently as possible, typically once a night. They still perform audits at certain milestones to achieve compliance. This is typically seen as a monumental achievement, as teams have significantly shortened the feedback loop and provided developers with enough time to triage and fix issues within sprints. This greatly reduces the risk of non-compliance, and now they have a process in place to address issues should defects leak into production without affecting development timelines. A handful of large enterprise organizations achieve this level of maturity.
• Phases 4 & 5 – Incorporating into CI/CD and Achieving Compliance in the Process: Accessibility is now part of code reviews and the definition of done. Automated tests are categorized into smoke, sanity, and regression tests. Accessibility quality gates are incorporated into the continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) process for early detection. Developers can self-serve and triage any defects. In the ideal state, organizations often describe the need to map out and achieve compliance within this process.

Criteria to Consider When Implementing Mobile Accessibility Practices

Organizations encounter significant challenges when striving to establish a robust mobile accessibility testing strategy. Some factors to consider when evaluating a solution include:

1. Seamless Integration with Existing Automation: Many development teams have heavily invested in functional test automation using open-source frameworks like Appium, Espresso, and XCUITest. Instead of creating new tests specifically for accessibility, a more efficient approach involves adopting accessibility scanners and plugins that can ride along with existing tests.
2. Staying Current with Evolving Rules and Regulations: Governing bodies frequently update their accessibility guidelines. W3C, for instance, has introduced new guidelines several times in the last few years. Development teams must remain cognizant of what their accessibility scanners should uncover and how these align with the regulations.
3. Comprehensive Reports: A viable solution should facilitate developers in comprehending defects and provide actionable steps for triage and issue resolution.
4. Wide Device Compatibility: Organizations often need to test against a multitude of mobile devices—sometimes more than 24 distinct OS and device combinations. Development teams should opt for a tool capable of conducting tests across multiple platforms at scale.
5. Integration with the Development Workflow: The ability to seamlessly integrate with existing Continuous Integration and Deployment processes holds pivotal importance. This integration ensures teams can readily embrace a solution.

Overall, there has been a growing awareness and heightened investment among organizations to enhance mobile accessibility, but to keep this trend moving in the right direction, evangelism is crucial, as this is still very much in the early adopter phase. Businesses must understand the significance of accessibility, as well as have the proper tools and practices in place to adopt and implement these principles effectively.

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Mobile security knowledge is in high demand among organizations that are looking to maintain and secure their organization’s mobile devices. The pandemic and subsequent ‘new normal’ of remote work are furthering demands for mobile device security knowledge and skills. Online courses and training are great resources who those who want to learn more about network monitoring

With this in mind, the editors at Solutions Review have compiled this list of top-rated mobile security courses on Coursera to consider taking. This is not an exhaustive list, but one that features the best courses and training from trusted online platforms. This list of the best mobile security courses on Coursera below includes links to the modules and our take on each. Courses are listed in no particular order.

5 Mobile Security Courses on Coursera

Course Title: Cybersecurity and Mobility

OUR TAKE: Dr. Humayun Zafar, a Professor of Information Security and Assurance and FinTech Coordinator at Kennesaw State University, discusses how cybersecurity applies to mobile devices including hackers, Internet of Things security, and Bring Your Own Device.

Description: This course is for you if you are interested in transitioning toward a managerial role in cybersecurity and mobility. Through interviews with industry experts in this area, you will be able to analyze innovations powering the rapid spread of information technology and how they present new challenges for protecting data. For example, mobile devices increase convenience but often bypass traditional security measures. After this course, you will be able to describe how the nature of the threat evolves, as culprits employ a burgeoning set of sophisticated tools to take advantage of our growing reliance on networks for critical-data exchange.

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Course Title: Enterprise and Infrastructure Security

OUR TAKE: This course on modern cybersecurity topics covers everything you need to know about enterprise and infrastructure security, including securing mobile devices. Emerging security issues in blockchain, the Internet of Things (IoT), and critical infrastructure protection are covered.

Description: This course introduces a series of advanced and current topics in cybersecurity, many of which are especially relevant in modern enterprise and infrastructure settings. The basics of enterprise compliance frameworks are provided with an introduction to NIST and PCI. Hybrid cloud architectures are shown to provide an opportunity to fix many of the security weaknesses in modern perimeter local area networks.

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Course Title: Systems and Application Security

OUR TAKE: Designed and administrated by (ISC)², this course teaches students about malicious code and how it can affect endpoint devices, including mobile devices. You will be able to identify malicious code and the various countermeasures you can use to combat it.

Description: In the Systems and Application Security Course, you will gain an understanding of computer code that can be described as harmful or malicious. Both technical and non-technical attacks will be discussed. You will learn how an organization can protect itself from these attacks. You will learn concepts in endpoint device security, cloud infrastructure security, securing big data systems, and securing virtual environments.

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Course Title: Cybersecurity and the Internet of Things

OUR TAKE: The Internet of Things is one of the biggest aspects of modern mobility, and as such, any IT professional who wants to learn about securing IoT devices should consider this course. IoT-related security and privacy concerns are major topics of the course.

Description: This course is for you if you are curious about the most recent trends and activities in the Internet capabilities and concerns about programmed devices. There are complexities and areas of necessary awareness when the industrial sector becomes connected to your home. Security policies and practices have not yet caught up to the internet capabilities of some of our most common products. The “connected home”, “consumer wearables”, or even an employee’s HVAC system may cause an unanticipated threat to your business environment.

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Course Title: Networking and Security in iOS Applications

OUR TAKE: iOS developers should absolutely consider this course on networking and security for iOS applications. Data security, coding, notifications, secure application interaction, App Store best practices, and other topics related to iOS app security are covered.

Description: You will learn to extend your knowledge of making iOS apps so that they can securely interact with web services and receive push notifications. You’ll learn how to store data securely on a device using Core Data. You’ll also learn to securely deploy apps to the App Store and beta users over-the-air. The format of the course is through a series of code tutorials. We will walk you through the creation of several apps that you can keep as a personal app toolbox. When you make your own apps after this course, you can bring in these capabilities as needed. When necessary we pop out of the code tutorials to talk about concepts at a higher level so that what you are programming makes sense.

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Looking for more info on the benefits of mobility management? You should check out our free Mobility Management Buyer’s Guide. We profile the top vendors in the mobility management field, list their key capabilities, and determine our Bottom Line for each.

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Application development knowledge is in high demand among organizations that are looking to create and manage mobile apps and services. The pandemic and subsequent ‘new normal’ of remote work are furthering demands for application development knowledge and skills. There are few resources that can match the in-depth, comprehensive detail of one of the best books for mobile application developers on Amazon.

The editors at Solutions Review have done much of the work for you, curating this list of the best books on Amazon for mobile application developers. These books have been selected based on the total number and quality of reader user reviews and ability to add business value. Below, you will find a library of titles from recognized industry analysts, experienced practitioners, and subject matter experts spanning the depths of mobile application development. This compilation includes publications for practitioners of all skill levels.

Note: Titles are listed in no particular order.

5 Books on Amazon for Mobile Application Developers

Book Title: Designing Data-Intensive Applications

OUR TAKE: Author Martin Kleppmann covers everything you need to know about adopting data storing and processing for application development purposes. This book contains plenty of useful info for software engineers, software architects, and technical managers.

Description: Data is at the center of many challenges in system design today. Difficult issues need to be figured out, such as scalability, consistency, reliability, efficiency, and maintainability. In addition, we have an overwhelming variety of tools, including relational databases, NoSQL datastores, stream or batch processors, and message brokers. In this practical and comprehensive guide, author Martin Kleppmann helps you navigate this diverse landscape by examining the pros and cons of various technologies for processing and storing data. Software keeps changing, but the fundamental principles remain the same. With this book, software engineers and architects will learn how to apply those ideas in practice, and how to make full use of data in modern applications.

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Book Title: iOS 13 Programming for Beginners

OUR TAKE: This book is the perfect resource for those looking to learn the basics of programming for iOS 13. Author Ahmad Safar also designs training courses for macOS and iOS, macOS Support Essentials certification courses, and iOS Development courses.

Description: This edition is updated and revised to cover the new iOS 13 features along with Xcode 11 and Swift 5. The book starts with an introduction to the Swift programming language, and how to accomplish common programming tasks with it. You’ll then start building the user interface (UI) of a complete real-world app, using the latest version of Xcode, and also implement the code for views, view controllers, data managers, and other aspects of mobile apps. The book will then help you apply the latest iOS 13 features to existing apps, along with introducing you to SwiftUI, a new way to design UIs. Finally, the book will take you through setting up testers for your app, and what you need to do to publish your app on the App Store.

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Book Title: Enterprise Application Development with C# 9 and .NET 5

OUR TAKE: Written by four IT and software development professionals at Microsoft, this title explores the fundamentals of creating enterprise applications through C# 9 and .NET 5. Other concepts touch on include Visual Studio 2019 and the Entity Framework Core.

Description: Throughout the book, you’ll work on creating an enterprise app and adding a key component to the app with each chapter, before finally getting it ready for testing and deployment. You’ll learn concepts relating to advanced data structures, the Entity Framework Core, parallel programming, and dependency injection. As you progress, you’ll cover various authentication and authorization schemes provided by .NET Core to make your apps and APIs secure. Next, you’ll build web apps using ASP.NET Core 5 and deploy them on the cloud while working with various cloud components using Azure. The book then shows you how to use the latest Microsoft Visual Studio 2019 and C# 9 to simplify developer tasks, and also explores tips and tricks in Visual Studio 2019 to improve your productivity.

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Book Title: Android App Development

OUR TAKE: Author Hervé J. Franceschi delivers all the info you need to know about Android application development. Each print copy of this book unlocks a complete eBook, Study Center, homework and Assessment Center, and a dashboard that reports actionable data.

Description: Using innovative, engaging methods, Android App Development cultivates student knowledge of app development through a progressive, building block approach. Each chapter includes a classroom-friendly, meaningful app that illustrates the concepts covered at the chapter level. Model View Controller architecture is used throughout the book to promote good software engineering practice. Students will be engaged by essential as well as specialized topics such as XML resources, event-driven programming, animation, sounds, making a game, voice recognition, and more.Each new print copy of Android App Development includes Navigate 2 Advantage Access that unlocks a complete eBook, Study Center, homework and Assessment Center, and a dashboard that reports actionable data.

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Book Title: Full Stack Serverless

OUR TAKE: Author Nader Dabit is a developer advocate at Amazon Web Services specializing in building cross-platform and cloud-enabled applications. In this book, he covers serverless development and cloud computing as it relates to application development.

Description: Cloud computing is typically associated with backend development and DevOps. But with the rise of serverless technologies and a new generation of services and frameworks, frontend and mobile developers can build robust applications with production-ready features such as authentication and authorization, API gateways, chatbots, augmented reality scenes, and more. This hands-on guide shows you how. Nader Dabit, developer advocate at Amazon Web Services, guides you through the process of building full stack applications using React, AWS, GraphQL, and AWS Amplify. You’ll learn how to create and incorporate services into your client applications while learning general best practices, deployment strategies, rich media management, and continuous integration and delivery along the way.

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Solutions Review’s Contributed Content Series is a collection of contributed articles written by thought leaders in enterprise software categories. Ashley Leonard of Syxsense examines the current and future state of Generative AI, while posing the question, “Is your security stack ready?”

According to analysts, ChatGPT has the fastest-growing user base in history. Just two months after launch, it reached more than 100 million active users. Not surprisingly, businesses everywhere have joined the AI revolution, with many integrating AI into their products or deploying new AI applications across the organization. In fact, according to a recent survey, 59 percent of companies have purchased or plan to purchase at least one generative AI tool in 2023.

Businesses are eager to unlock AI’s full potential to easily create new content (through text, audio, images, synthetic data, and more), and to some extent, quicken the technological evolution of their existing products and services. While the craze is understandable, there are also concerns about transformative technology – especially when it comes to cybersecurity. For example, there have already been reports of threat actors abusing generative AI through indirect prompt injections that compromise LLM-integrated applications. And Meta’s 65-billion parameter language model was also recently leaked, enabling threat actors to carry out more personalized spam and phishing attacks, and a host of other fraudulent cyber activities.

But misusing technology is just one item on a long list of concerns associated with generative AI and cybersecurity. Sadly, integrating the technology could also leave your business susceptible to copyright infractions, efficacy issues, employee displacement, and ethical missteps. However, the upside of AI in security is too big to ignore and when applied responsibly, it can accelerate and enhance your security posture (or offering).

Generative AI: Is Your Security Stack Ready for It?

As you consider how to integrate generative AI into your security stack, consider these three key areas.

Use generative AI as a starting point rather than an ending point.

The United States Copyright Office recently ruled that only work created by human authorship can be privy to copyright protections; excluding all AI output. The reality is, generative AI like LLMs are trained on millions of public domain texts from across the internet. Technically, the model computes all that text to extrapolate ‘new’ or ‘unique’ content based on an input request.

For IT and security professionals who might want to leverage generative AI, it’s likely best to use AI as a starting point rather than an endpoint. For example, you might use ChatGPT to generate a sample code. Treat that as inspiration on how to approach a problem rather than as completed code that you can claim as intellectual property. This eliminates the ownership issue and prevents you from exposing sensitive information about your business that might lead to further compromises.

The technology is fallible, so have a quality assurance plan in place.

By now, we’ve all heard of ChatGPT’s hallucinations. Well, there are hundreds of other stories about chatbots going rogue, being racist, or spreading misinformation. In fact, AI has a long history of painting a dystopian image of its application in society (facial recognition, decision-making, self-driving cars).

Sadly, there is limited room for inaccuracies when it comes to the security of your business. AI lapses like false-positive alerts or blocking of otherwise valid, important traffic, or a mistaken AI-generated configuration, etc., can mean billions of dollars in lost revenue, or expenses, months after a snafu. Put simply, the technology isn’t perfect, so it is crucial to have a backup plan in the case of AI failure and a recovery plan to withstand a potentially damaging fallout with your brand-new chatbot. Be sure to ask vendors with AI-enabled solutions for details on their AI quality assurance plan. Be aware that some human-AI collaboration will also be necessary to perform oversight to monitor for any AI-generated risks or shortcomings in your security stack.

Promote more human-AI collaboration instead of replacement.

The narrative around AI replacing jobs isn’t unwarranted. As technology shifts to take over more routine security tasks like reviewing security logs for anomalies, monitoring operations, or threat mitigation, there is some fear about it replacing human expertise. However, consider that these tasks are probably better suited for a machine that can process millions of inputs for hours on end with maximum accuracy. The reality is your security expert just got back hours in their day to prioritize high-risk remediation. Ideally, this shift wouldn’t remove the need for experts, but promote and require greater human-AI partnership to guarantee quality assurance and extend the capabilities of experts.

Sadly, the rise of generative AI also means that organizations should brace for an onslaught of AI-enabled attacks. In a matter of months, IT and security teams will be overwhelmed with synthetic ID fraud courtesy of deepfakes; more convincing and personalized phishing emails, text messages, and even voice mail messages. Soon we can expect polymorphic malware or craft spam messages that are difficult to detect by antivirus software or spam filters; enhanced password hacks; and the poisoning of data used to train programs. The next cybersecurity milestone will be our ability to quickly identify and successfully counteract AI-enabled attacks- -having the right tools and expertise will be the game changer.

Final Thoughts on Generative AI

Amidst the craze to integrate generative AI across your business, try not to move fast and break things. It’s important to come to terms with the shortcomings of AI and assess how it could compromise your business if used without proper oversight and planning. But there is no need to start from scratch. Leveraging these recommendations to create a solid security strategy that works for your business’ security priorities, will give you the head start needed when integrating generative AI into your security stack.

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The editors at Solutions Review examine some common mobile device management mistakes made by enterprises to be aware of and avoid.

Mobile Device Management (MDM) is paramount for enterprises because it ensures efficient operations, safeguards sensitive data, and maintains a robust security posture. In today’s interconnected and mobile-centric business landscape, where employees increasingly use diverse devices to access corporate resources, MDM offers a centralized framework to manage, monitor, and secure these devices. This capability is crucial for preventing unauthorized access, data breaches, and malicious activities, mitigating potential financial and reputational losses. MDM empowers enterprises to establish and enforce comprehensive policies tailored to their needs, regulating device configurations, application installations, and data access privileges. Moreover, MDM facilitates seamless deployment of updates and patches, enhancing the overall resilience of the IT ecosystem.

However, there are common mistakes that organizations can make when implementing MDM solutions. The editors at Solutions Review look at some of these common mobile device management mistakes and what can be done to avoid them.

10 Common Mobile Device Management Mistakes to Avoid

Here are some of the common MDM mistakes and steps to avoid them:

1. Lack of Clear MDM Strategy: Implementing MDM without a well-defined strategy can lead to confusion, inefficient device management, and security vulnerabilities. Before implementing MDM, create a comprehensive approach that outlines the goals, policies, user roles, and expected outcomes. This strategy should align with the organization’s overall IT and security objectives.
2. Ignoring User Experience: Overly restrictive MDM policies can impede user productivity and lead to frustration. Balance security needs with user experience. Involve end-users in policy creation to ensure that MDM policies don’t hinder their ability to perform their tasks effectively.
3. Poor Communication: Not communicating MDM policies and changes to employees can result in misunderstandings and non-compliance. Clearly communicate MDM policies, expectations, and changes to all relevant stakeholders. Provide training and support to help users understand and comply with the policies.
4. Inadequate Privacy Consideration: Intrusive MDM policies infringing on employees’ privacy can lead to legal and ethical concerns. Implement MDM policies that respect employee privacy, such as separating work and personal data, and obtaining explicit consent for specific actions on personal devices.
5. Not Addressing Diversity of Devices: Failing to accommodate various device types, operating systems, and models can limit the effectiveness of MDM. Choose an MDM solution that supports a wide range of devices and operating systems, and tailor policies to different device types to ensure consistent security across the board.
6. Overlooking App Management: Neglecting app management can lead to security vulnerabilities through unauthorized app installations. Implement app management policies restricting app installations to trusted sources and perform regular app security assessments to identify potential risks.
7. Not Having a Response Plan: Failing to plan for security breaches or device loss can leave the organization vulnerable to data leaks. Develop a comprehensive incident response plan that outlines steps to take in case of a security breach, device loss, or other emergencies.
8. Neglecting Updates and Patches: Ignoring regular updates and patches for MDM solutions can expose vulnerabilities to potential threats. Keep the MDM solution up-to-date with the latest security patches and updates to ensure optimal protection against emerging threats.
9. Insufficient User Training: Not providing adequate training to end-users on MDM policies and best practices can result in unintentional policy violations. Conduct regular training sessions to educate employees about MDM policies, security practices, and how to use their devices safely within company guidelines.
10. Underestimating Monitoring and Reporting: Failing to monitor and generate reports on device activities continuously can lead to missed security threats. Utilize MDM tools to monitor device activities, generate security reports, and identify unusual behavior patterns that might indicate a security breach.

Enterprises should approach MDM implementation with a well-thought-out strategy, a focus on user experience and privacy, and a commitment to ongoing communication, training, and security updates. Organizations can effectively manage and secure their mobile devices by avoiding these common mistakes and adopting a proactive approach while ensuring optimal productivity and data protection.

This article on common mobile device management mistakes to avoid was AI-generated by ChatGPT and edited by Solutions Review editors.

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The editors at Solutions Review look at some mobile device management best practices enterprises should consider in 2023.

Mobile Device Management (MDM) is the comprehensive approach to securely managing and controlling mobile devices used within an organization. It encompasses a set of policies, procedures, and technologies that enable administrators to monitor, configure, and safeguard mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops. MDM plays a crucial role in the modern enterprise landscape, where the proliferation of mobile devices has become an integral part of business operations. MDM is vital for supporting Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies, allowing employees to use their personal devices for work purposes while keeping corporate data separate and protected.

Implementing MDM best practices ensures that company data remains protected and that employees can work efficiently and safely on their mobile devices. The editors at Solutions Review map out some best practices to consider implementing in your own MDM strategy.

16 Mobile Device Management Best Practices

Here are some common MDM best practices that enterprises should follow:

1. Establish MDM Policies and Guidelines: Define clear and comprehensive MDM policies that cover device enrollment, security settings, acceptable use, data access, and data handling. Communicate these policies to all employees and ensure they understand the guidelines.
2. Choose the Right MDM Solution: Select an MDM solution that aligns with your organization’s needs, such as supporting multiple device types (iOS, Android, etc.), scalable to accommodate the number of devices, and offering essential security features.
3. Enforce Device Enrollment: Mandate that all company-owned and Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) devices used for work purposes must be enrolled in the MDM system. This allows centralized management and control over these devices.
4. Use Strong Authentication Methods: Require strong passcodes, biometrics, or multi-factor authentication to unlock devices. This prevents unauthorized access to sensitive company data.
5. Implement Device Encryption: Ensure that mobile device data is encrypted at rest and in transit. This protects sensitive information in case the device is lost or stolen.
6. Enable Remote Wipe and Lock: Configure the MDM system to enable remote wipe and lock capabilities. This allows administrators to erase data or lock lost or compromised devices remotely.
7. Keep Software and Firmware Updated: Require regular updates for operating systems, firmware, and applications on mobile devices. Outdated software can be vulnerable to security threats.
8. Segment Corporate and Personal Data: Implement containerization or separation of corporate and personal data on BYOD devices. This ensures that company data remains protected even if the personal section of the device is compromised.
9. Use Mobile App Management (MAM): Implement MAM policies to control and secure mobile applications used for work purposes. This includes whitelisting approved apps and blacklisting prohibited ones.
10. Monitor Device Compliance: Continuously monitor devices’ compliance with MDM policies. Alert administrators or take automated actions when devices deviate from the established security standards.
11. Provide Mobile Security Training: Educate employees about mobile security best practices and potential risks. Encourage them to report any suspicious activities or potential security incidents promptly.
12. Regular Security Audits and Assessments: Conduct periodic security audits and assessments to evaluate the effectiveness of your MDM implementation and identify potential vulnerabilities.
13. Prepare for Lost or Stolen Devices: Have a clear process in place for reporting lost or stolen devices promptly. Activate remote wipe or lock measures to safeguard company data.
14. Enable Mobile Device Monitoring and Tracking: If needed, enable device tracking capabilities to locate lost or stolen devices or enforce geographical restrictions.
15. Comply with Privacy Regulations: Ensure that your MDM practices comply with relevant privacy regulations and respect employee privacy rights.
16. Have a Business Continuity Plan: Include MDM-related scenarios in your business continuity plan to address potential disruptions caused by device issues or security incidents.

By following these MDM best practices, enterprises can protect their sensitive data, minimize security risks, and create a secure and productive mobile work environment for their employees. In regulated industries, MDM is instrumental in ensuring compliance with data protection and privacy regulations. By centralizing control and monitoring, enterprises can demonstrate adherence to relevant standards and avoid potential legal and financial repercussions. In today’s technology-forward world, MDM has become vital to modern enterprise management, providing enhanced security, efficiency, and compliance in the mobile-centric business environment.

This article on mobile device management best practices to consider was AI-generated by ChatGPT and edited by Solutions Review editors.

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The editors at Solutions Review examine and debunk some common UEM myths that might be plaguing your workplace.

Myths and misconceptions around solutions such as Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) software can lead to misuse, underuse, and potentially catastrophic failure in successfully deploying such software. Enterprises must debunk myths surrounding UEM because misinformation can lead to misunderstandings and missed opportunities. By clarifying the realities of UEM, organizations can make informed decisions and fully leverage the benefits offered by this comprehensive endpoint management solution. Debunking common UEM myths enables organizations of all sizes to recognize that UEM is not limited to large enterprises. Smaller businesses may assume that UEM is beyond their scope or budget, missing out on its advantages. Understanding that UEM can be tailored to suit their needs allows smaller enterprises to adopt a holistic approach to endpoint management, enhancing efficiency, security, and scalability.

The editors at Solutions Review look at some of the more common UEM myths and break down how they can prove dangerous to you and your team.

7 Common UEM Myths That Hurt Businesses

Here are some common UEM myths:

1. UEM is only for large enterprises: This is a common myth that UEM solutions are only suitable for large organizations. In reality, UEM can be implemented by businesses of all sizes, including small and medium-sized enterprises. UEM offers scalability and flexibility to meet the needs of different organizations.
2. UEM is limited to mobile devices: While UEM originated as a mobile device management (MDM) solution, it has evolved to encompass all endpoint devices, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, desktops, and even Internet of Things (IoT) devices. UEM provides a unified approach to managing and securing diverse endpoints.
3. UEM is complex and challenging to implement: UEM solutions have become more user-friendly and streamlined over time. They offer intuitive interfaces and centralized management consoles, making deployment and administration more accessible. UEM providers often provide comprehensive documentation and support to assist with implementation.
4. UEM is an unnecessary cost: Some organizations may consider UEM as an unnecessary expense. However, the cost of managing and securing endpoints individually can be higher in the long run. UEM provides a consolidated and efficient approach, reducing the complexity and cost of managing multiple tools and platforms.
5. UEM invades user privacy: One concern is that UEM solutions invade user privacy by allowing organizations to monitor and control devices. While UEM does offer management capabilities, including remote wipe and application management, it can be implemented with privacy considerations. Organizations can define policies that balance security needs with user privacy concerns.
6. UEM is only about device control: UEM goes beyond device control and management. It enables organizations to enforce security policies, manage application lifecycles, ensure compliance, and protect data across endpoints. UEM offers comprehensive endpoint security and management capabilities.
7. UEM eliminates the need for other security tools: UEM is a powerful tool for managing endpoints, but it does not replace the need for additional security tools. UEM can integrate with existing security solutions, such as antivirus software, firewalls, and threat detection systems, to provide a layered defense approach.

Debunking UEM myths is vital for enterprises to make informed decisions, embrace the full potential of UEM, and unlock its benefits. By dispelling misconceptions surrounding UEM, organizations can optimize endpoint management, improve security, enhance productivity, and position themselves for success in today’s digital landscape.

This article on common UEM myths was AI-generated by ChatGPT and edited by Solutions Review editors.

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