As an application development leader, you’ll want to continuously improve your team's processes and outcomes. The cloud marketplace has become a popular way for enterprises to buy software, but with the increasing amount of sensitive data being processed, stored, and transmitted in the cloud, security has become a critical concern for both cloud service providers and their customers. In this blog post, we will discuss the importance of security in a cloud marketplace and why it is important for enterprises who are buying software from it.
The Atlassian Marketplace is a cloud-based platform offering a wide range of third-party add-ons, plugins, and extensions for Atlassian's suite of software development tools, including Jira, Confluence, and Bitbucket. SmartBear, for example, has a number of products, or apps that add value to the Atlassian product ecosystem – like Zephyr Scale Test Management for Jira or SwaggerHub Integration for Confluence.
For any enterprise buying software from a cloud marketplace, security is crucial. Let’s review the top five reasons security matters on a cloud marketplace.
Data Protection
Protection of data is a top reason for security on a cloud marketplace like Atlassian Marketplace. Sensitive data, such as personal information, financial data, and confidential business information, is exchanged on these platforms. This means proper security measures are necessary to prevent data breaches, unauthorized access, or theft.
One example is when Microsoft, in 2020, discovered a series of malicious extensions on the Microsoft Edge Add-ons marketplace, which is a cloud marketplace that hosts extensions for the Microsoft Edge web browser. The malicious extensions were designed to steal sensitive user data, including login credentials and credit card information, by injecting phishing forms into legitimate websites.
The attackers were able to bypass Microsoft's security measures and upload the malicious extensions to the marketplace by using stolen developer credentials. Once the extensions were published, they were downloaded and installed by unsuspecting users, who were then vulnerable to the phishing attacks.
Microsoft responded quickly to the incident, removing the malicious extensions from the marketplace and revoking the affected developer credentials.
Compliance
Many organizations relying on cloud marketplaces might operate in regulated industries or governments. Maintaining compliance is an important reason for security in a cloud marketplace. Regulatory requirements often mandate specific security measures for handling certain types of data. Therefore, a secure cloud marketplace like Atlassian Marketplace must ensure compliance with these requirements to avoid legal liabilities, costly fines, and damage to its reputation.
Trust
Trust is a critical element for a successful cloud marketplace. Security measures help establish trust with users and customers by making them feel comfortable sharing their data and using the services provided. A secure cloud marketplace can build trust and confidence with users, leading to increased customer loyalty and engagement.
Buying software from a cloud marketplace introduces a new set of risks. Enterprises must ensure that the software they buy is secure and does not introduce new vulnerabilities or risks. Ensuring the security of the software is essential to decrease these risks, such as data breaches, malware infections, or unauthorized access.
One real-world example of a security issue involving a cloud marketplace is the 2019 Capital One data breach. In this incident, a hacker gained access to the personal information of over 100 million Capital One customers, including names, addresses, credit scores, and Social Security numbers. The breach occurred through a vulnerability in the cloud infrastructure of Capital One.
The hacker was able to exploit a misconfigured firewall in the cloud infrastructure to gain access to Capital One's data. The firewall was supposed to restrict access to certain parts of the system, but it was not configured correctly, allowing the hacker to bypass it and gain access to sensitive data.
This incident highlights the importance of proper configuration and security measures for cloud marketplaces. It also emphasizes the need for cloud marketplace providers to work closely with their customers to ensure their systems and applications are properly secured and compliant with industry standards.
Reputation
Reputation is tied to trust and is a vital concern for customers exploring the purchase of software or services on a cloud marketplace. A security breach has a significant impact on reputation, resulting in the loss of customers, revenue, and credibility. Therefore, a secure cloud marketplace must implement strong security measures to protect customer data and prevent security breaches, helping to uphold their reputation.
Business Continuity
Lastly, business continuity is another reason for security on a cloud marketplace like Atlassian Marketplace. A security breach can cause a disruption of services, leading to significant financial losses and damage to the marketplace's brand. A secure cloud marketplace can ensure business continuity by implementing disaster recovery and plans, which can minimize the impact of security breaches and reduce downtime.
Security for Apps on Atlassian Marketplace
Cloud marketplace providers must ensure the applications and plugins available on their platforms undergo thorough security testing and are regularly monitored for vulnerabilities. It's also essential for users to practice proper security hygiene by keeping their software up-to-date and applying security patches promptly.
SmartBear works with Atlassian to ensure its products meet the security requirements of their cloud marketplace. Zephyr Squad- Test Management for Jira has received the Atlassian Cloud Security designation. It is important for an app to this designation because it ensures the app has undergone rigorous security testing which include secure coding practices, data encryption, vulnerability management, incident response, and access controls. By receiving this designation, the app demonstrates it meets the high-security standards of Atlassian Marketplace.
Moreover, an Atlassian cloud security designation can enhance the app's reputation and increase customer confidence. It can also help the app stand out among the thousands of other apps available on Atlassian Marketplace, increasing its visibility and potential customer base.
Conclusion
As an application leader, you have a responsibility to ensure the cloud marketplace apps your organization purchases are secure and that you're able to respond quickly to any security incidents that may arise. The consequences of failing to ensure the security of your cloud marketplace apps can be severe, including data breaches, loss of confidential information, financial losses, and damage to your organization's reputation.
Additionally, it's important to remember that security is an ongoing process, not a one-time event. Security threats are constantly evolving, so it's essential to remain vigilant and proactive in your approach to security. This means regularly reviewing your security measures, monitoring your apps for vulnerabilities, and keeping your users educated on the latest security best practices.
Ultimately, the security of your cloud marketplace apps is an essential aspect of your organization's overall security posture. By taking a proactive approach to security, you can help ensure that your organization is well-protected against the many security threats that exist in today's digital landscape.