Java Meetup Central Germany | Leipzig Volume 1
With Java Meetup Central Germany | Leipzig Volume 1, a new platform for in-depth, hands-on Java exchange launches in the region Leipzig/Halle.
Web Security: Everyone Writes Code, Including Your AI
Security has always been a core component of quality assurance, but more and more of our customers asked us to include security testing in our test portfolios as dedicated focus.
Good Enough Security Is No Longer Enough
Security has always been a core component of our quality assurance process. However, our traditional testing portfolio—comprising functionality, performance, accessibility, and device testing—is no longer sufficient to meet all our clients' needs. The escalating threat landscape, coupled with the fundamental shift in how software is developed, mandates a broader perspective. This shift includes not only AI agents generating code but also developers using AI for guidance and the seamless integration of external code snippets.
From Suggestion to Production
While AI accelerates development, caution remains essential. Because AI models are trained on the open web, their output can inadvertently introduce both sound and unsound coding practices. The rapid, confident delivery of AI-generated code can make subtle flaws easy to overlook. Consequently, increased reliance on these assistants presents a growing risk of 'silent vulnerabilities' entering production systems.
Many organizations maintain stacks of custom software with distinct histories and complex dependencies. When these legacy systems meet the new 'AI world'—with its accelerated pace for updates, patches, and decentralized hosting—the risk of vulnerabilities entering production systems increases significantly.
End-to-End Assurance
Our test plan is not a reinvention of the wheel, but an application of the industry-standard OWASP Testing Guide, enhanced by our project experience. Effective security testing requires an approach that goes beyond automated tools:
- Beyond Scanners: Automated tools must be supplemented by manual, contextual review.
- Systemic Flow Analysis: Assurance focuses on the end-to-end flow of information, not just isolated security controls (e.g., individual token or encryption use).
- External Oversight: Independent review by security specialists—a 'Second Pair of Eyes'—significantly improves resilience.
- Conceptual Depth: Success is rooted in conceptual knowledge and the ability to reflect on and guide architectural decisions.
Many organizations—particularly small-to-midsize teams integrating diverse software components—lack dedicated security staff to oversee every line of code. Given this complexity, delaying security until the final stages is counterproductive; it is always more cost-effective to address findings early. Security must be a continuous process integrated into every change cycle, rather than a massive, one-off effort at the finish line. Our service provides this guiding process, distinguishing it from traditional penetration testing or formal certification paperwork. Ultimately, while absolute security is unattainable, our goal is to achieve better, more conscious security.