Ensuring your organization’s online security is imperative in the current digital era. It is essential to undertake appropriate measures to safeguard your application against malicious attacks.
As per expert analysis, cybercrime incidents witnessed up to 600% increase in the previous year and are projected to result in damages worth USD 10 trillion by 2025. Despite technological advancements, numerous businesses worldwide face challenges in safeguarding their mobile applications against security threats.
Inadequate protections could allow a security breach on your app or software. Hackers may take advantage of gaining access to client data or even use the app to launch attacks on other networks. One of the best ways to prevent this is with enterprise Code Signing, which encrypts sensitive data to protect customers and their information.
Learn more about how to streamline your business with enterprise code signing and why it is important for your business.
What Is Enterprise Code Signing?
A Code Signing SSL Certificate is a security measure businesses or government organizations use to encrypt online data digitally.
When you implement code signing, you can prevent third-party access while downloading software from the original owner. It is an indispensable attribute for any software developer/company, as it preserves its reputation and intellectual property.
With enterprise code signing, consumers can easily authenticate online software before downloading. This instills confidence in consumers that the code is authentic and originates from a credible source.
Why Should Enterprises Use Code Signing?
Code signature serves two purposes: it verifies the software developer’s identity and demonstrates that malware hasn’t been installed in the code since it was signed.
Both are crucial for establishing customer confidence and distributing software securely on an industrial scale, such as e-banking, e-government, mobile apps, POS terminals, and medical and avionic devices. Firms can use code signing to:
- Authenticate the developer’s identity.
- Prevent internal misuse by developers
- Foster trust in both parties of a transaction.
- Provide evidence that the software does not contain malware
- Prevent financial, human, and reputational loss due to hacking
Beises there can be numerous other reasons depending upon the nature of the organization.
How to Streamline Your Business with Code Signing?
Implementing code signing with adherence to security best practices can be a highly effective cyber security defense mechanism to combat threats and safeguard your software supply chain.
However, inadequate management of code signing can compromise your organization’s and your customers’ security, becoming a vulnerable source.
Here are essential best practices to follow when implementing code signing:
1. Restrict Access to Private Keys
It is imperative that developers adopt safety measures to protect their private keys and signing certificates during the implementation of their code-signing process.
Limit key distribution and track who has access to code signing keys. Insuring tight responsibility for key use is facilitated by this measure. Make sure the device is protected using a PIN or passphrase that is long enough and complicated enough to prevent guessing.
2. Store Private Keys with Cryptographic Hardware
Private keys can be kept using a hardware wallet, which secures your private keys utilizing smartcards, USB, or Bluetooth-enabled devices.
If the storage device is portable, such as a USB Token or a Smart Card, do not leave it connected. Avoid leaving necessary storage devices out in the open where they might be easily stolen or duplicated, such as on desks or in unlocked drawers.
3. Store Keys in a Local File
It is impractical to employ Hardware Storage in some situations. What if you run many web servers that are physically or digitally deployed, and the cost of Hardware Storage is expensive? In this case, the ideal alternative is to generate and store the private key on a local file system.
The key must be generated on the same system and local filesystem as the storage location. Creating the key on a server, transferring it to the local system, and storing it introduces another point of vulnerability. Why would you want to increase your private key’s likelihood of being compromised?
In Conclusion
Software publishers, device manufacturers, and in-house development teams have widely adopted code signing to safeguard their intellectual property, company brand, and end-users. The security of your keys is crucial for ensuring the trust and integrity of code signing.
A singular breach in the “chain of trust” can impede your business’s operation. Revoking and re-issuing certificates, notifying customers, and deploying a newly signed code can incur significant costs. This leads to decreased revenue and incurs expenses in rebuilding trust with your users, partners, and investors.
The recent incidents of code-signing attacks highlight the significance of managing reputational risk. It is imperative for all business leaders, whether they are consumers or sellers of software, to prioritize investing in the trust associated with their digital brand.
