mobile app represented by mobile phone displaying app icons

Mobile App Failures and Security Breaches

Mobile apps are useful tools. They can provide extra features on mobile devices, offer shortcuts for performing tasks, and more. The proliferation of the mobile app benefits us on the whole. There are some pitfalls when it comes to usability and security.

Businesses can come up with the concept for the perfect mobile app only to have it fail when it comes to testing. Developers cannot thoroughly test for all errors and vulnerabilities if they are strapped for time and resources. What is worse is that most companies don’t know there is a problem with the app until users try to get their money back or when users vent their frustrations online.

The Problem for Business Users

The makers of the app can lose money because of faulty designs and improper testing –  a poorly-tested app equates to more risk for the actual users. A study by Gartner warned of the unregulated use of mobile apps by organizations. While mobile apps assist with critical business functions, they’re not always completely secure.

The study indicates that “most security tools in the market are built to support web access from on-premises.” In other words, they are built to solve “yesterday’s problem.” Gartner suggests that companies are vulnerable to security breaches if they don’t have them tested for security.

Most companies don’t have the resources or the experience necessary to perform these tests. Mobile devices experience attacks more than desktops (3 to 1, in fact) which makes organizations even more vulnerable to potential security breaches. This is especially true today because we live in an age with BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) in the workplace.

Why You Might Need to Outsource Mobile App Testing

Gartner recommends testing both the client and server layers to reduce the risk of lost data and breaches. Most companies do not have the staff or the time to perform such tests. Outsourcing quality assurance testing is the best and most cost-efficient avenue for most businesses.

iBeta acts in conjunction with your in-house team to find potential vulnerabilities in your system before they can become an issue. Contact us to learn more about our mobile app testing.