Security Best Practices for Web Applications

Introduction

Security is not optional. This guide covers the essential security practices every web application needs.

OWASP Top 10

Familiarize yourself with the most critical security risks:

• Injection: Prevent SQL injection with parameterized queries.
• Broken Authentication: Implement strong authentication mechanisms.
• XSS: Sanitize user input and use Content Security Policy.
• CSRF: Use CSRF tokens for state-changing operations.

Best Practices

• Use HTTPS everywhere.
• Implement proper input validation.
• Use security headers (CSP, X-Frame-Options, etc.).
• Keep dependencies updated.
• Implement proper logging and monitoring.
• Use environment variables for secrets.

Testing

• Perform regular security audits.
• Use automated security scanning tools.
• Conduct penetration testing.

Conclusion

Security is an ongoing process. Stay informed, follow best practices, and test regularly.