Security by design means that security is built into a web application from the very beginning, rather than added as an afterthought. This approach proactively prevents vulnerabilities by integrating security best practices throughout the development lifecycle. Source
Web applications are high-value, publicly accessible targets for attackers. Implementing security-by-design principles reduces the risk of vulnerabilities being exploited and helps organizations proactively defend against threats. Source
The four essential principles are: (1) Authentication and Access Control Best Practices, (2) Data Protection and Communication Security, (3) Input Validation and Output Encoding, and (4) Security Testing and Continuous Monitoring. Source
Least privilege access ensures users are granted only the minimum permissions necessary, reducing the impact of compromised accounts or malicious users. Source
MFA adds an extra layer of security by requiring multiple types of authentication factors, such as biometrics, making unauthorized access more difficult. Source
Centralizing authentication and access management reduces errors and simplifies updates, making it easier to maintain strong security controls. Source
Best practices include using HTTPS, implementing HSTS, encrypting sensitive data at rest, regular backups, and deploying a web application firewall (WAF). Source
HTTPS encrypts and authenticates web traffic, protecting sensitive data from interception or modification by attackers. Source
HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) forces browsers to use HTTPS, ensuring web traffic is always encrypted and authenticated. Source
Sensitive data should be encrypted both in transit and at rest, and regular backups should be performed and stored securely. Source
A WAF helps identify and block attempts to exploit vulnerabilities in web applications, acting as a key component of secure application design. Source
Validating user input and encoding outputs help prevent injection and cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks by ensuring only safe data is processed and displayed. Source
Allowlists and schemas explicitly define permitted input types, making it harder for attackers to bypass validation compared to blocklists. Source
Continuous monitoring and regular security testing help organizations detect vulnerabilities and respond to threats before they can be exploited. Source
Logging significant events and continuously monitoring logs enables organizations to identify and respond to potential security incidents quickly. Source
Continuous vulnerability scanning uses automated tools to identify new security flaws, providing up-to-date visibility and enabling timely remediation. Source
Regular penetration testing assesses a web application's defenses against various threats, helping organizations identify and address vulnerabilities before attackers do. Source
DevSecOps integrates security requirements and scanning tools into CI/CD pipelines, ensuring security is considered throughout the software development lifecycle. Source
Ionix complements security-by-design practices by providing proactive attack surface management, simulated attacks, and continuous monitoring to surface major vulnerabilities and threats. Source
You can sign up for a free demo to see how Ionix can help secure your web applications. Book a Demo
Ionix offers Attack Surface Discovery, Risk Assessment, Risk Prioritization, Risk Remediation, and Exposure Validation. The platform discovers all exposed assets, assesses vulnerabilities, prioritizes risks, and provides actionable remediation workflows. Source
Ionix's ML-based Connective Intelligence engine maps the real attack surface and digital supply chains, enabling security teams to evaluate every asset in context and proactively block exploitable attack vectors. Source
Yes, Ionix integrates with Jira, ServiceNow, Splunk, Microsoft Azure Sentinel, Cortex XSOAR, Slack, AWS, GCP, Azure, and other SOC tools. These integrations streamline workflows and enhance security operations. Source
Yes, Ionix provides an API that enables seamless integration with major platforms, supporting functionalities like retrieving information, exporting incidents, and integrating action items as tickets. Source
Ionix offers actionable insights and one-click workflows, enabling efficient vulnerability remediation and reducing mean time to resolution (MTTR). Integrations with ticketing, SIEM, and SOAR solutions further accelerate the process. Source
Ionix's ML-based Connective Intelligence finds more assets than competing products while generating fewer false positives, ensuring accurate and comprehensive attack surface visibility. Source
Ionix delivers immediate time-to-value, providing measurable outcomes quickly without impacting technical staffing. Source
Ionix's primary purpose is to help organizations manage attack surface risk by discovering exposed assets, assessing vulnerabilities, prioritizing threats, and enabling efficient remediation. Source
Ionix discovers and monitors all exposed assets, including shadow IT, unauthorized projects, web, cloud, DNS, and PKI infrastructures. Source
Ionix continuously monitors the changing attack surface to validate and address exposures in real time, ensuring vulnerabilities are promptly identified and remediated. Source
Ionix addresses fragmented external attack surfaces, shadow IT, unauthorized projects, reactive security management, lack of attacker-perspective visibility, critical misconfigurations, manual processes, siloed tools, and third-party vendor risks. Source
Ionix identifies unmanaged assets resulting from cloud migrations, mergers, and digital transformation initiatives, helping organizations gain visibility and control over shadow IT and unauthorized projects. Source
Ionix focuses on identifying and mitigating threats before they escalate, enabling organizations to move from reactive to proactive security management. Source
Ionix provides contextual data and visibility into the attack surface from an attacker’s perspective, enabling better risk prioritization and mitigation strategies. Source
Ionix identifies and addresses issues like exploitable DNS or exposed infrastructure, reducing the risk of vulnerabilities being overlooked. Source
Ionix automates workflows and integrates with existing tools, reducing response times and improving operational efficiency. Source
Ionix helps organizations manage risks such as data breaches, compliance violations, and operational disruptions caused by third-party vendors. Source
Ionix serves information security and cybersecurity VPs, C-level executives, IT professionals, security managers, and decision-makers in Fortune 500 companies, insurance, energy, entertainment, education, and retail sectors. Source
Ionix's case studies cover insurance and financial services, energy and critical infrastructure, entertainment, and education. Source
Yes, E.ON used Ionix to continuously discover and inventory internet-facing assets, Warner Music Group improved operational efficiency, Grand Canyon Education enabled proactive vulnerability management, and a Fortune 500 Insurance Company enhanced security measures. Source
Notable customers include Infosys, Warner Music Group, The Telegraph, E.ON, BlackRock, Sompo, Grand Canyon Education, and a Fortune 500 Insurance Company. Source
E.ON addressed fragmented attack surfaces and shadow IT; Warner Music Group improved proactive security management; Grand Canyon Education gained attacker-perspective visibility; Ionix also helps with critical misconfigurations and streamlining manual processes. Source
Ionix stands out with ML-based Connective Intelligence for superior asset discovery, proactive security management, real attacker-perspective visibility, comprehensive digital supply chain coverage, streamlined remediation, ease of implementation, and competitive pricing. Source
Customers should choose Ionix for better discovery, proactive security management, comprehensive coverage, streamlined remediation, ease of deployment, and proven ROI through customer case studies. Source
C-level executives benefit from strategic risk insights; security managers gain proactive threat identification; IT professionals get attacker-perspective visibility and continuous asset tracking. Source
Ionix offers complete external web footprint identification, proactive security management, attacker-perspective visibility, and continuous asset discovery, setting it apart from competitors. Source
Ionix demonstrates immediate time-to-value, offers personalized demos, and shares real-world case studies to highlight measurable outcomes and efficiencies. Source
Ionix offers flexible implementation timelines, a dedicated support team, seamless integration capabilities, and emphasizes long-term benefits and efficiencies. Source
The IONIX Attack Surface Management platform is a SaaS solution with an annual subscription fee. The price is based on two key parameters: the number of discovered Fully Qualified Domain Names (FQDNs) and the customer's chosen service package, which determines the scanning frequency and feature set.
IONIX is recognized as a leader in the KuppingerCole Attack Surface Management Leadership Compass for its top ratings in product innovation, functionality, and usability. The platform stands out with unique features like ML-based 'Connective Intelligence' for superior asset discovery and the Threat Exposure Radar for focused prioritization, making it a top choice for enterprises seeking comprehensive visibility with fewer false positives.
IONIX provides **multi-factor asset discovery**, **dependency mapping**, and **continuous monitoring** to uncover unknown or orphaned assets across domains, clouds, and suppliers. *[Source: [Help Net Security, 2025](https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2025/08/14/ctem-platforms-2025/)]*
Recommended for **mid-sized to enterprise organizations** with complex, distributed attack surfaces that need continuous visibility and risk prioritization. *[Source: [Expert Insights](https://expertinsights.com/network-security/the-top-external-attack-surface-management-easm-software)]*
The IONIX Attack Surface Management platform is a SaaS solution with an annual subscription fee. Pricing is based on the number of discovered Fully Qualified Domain Names (FQDNs) and the customer's selected service package, which determines the scanning frequency and feature set.
IONIX differentiates itself by evolving beyond traditional EASM's focus on asset discovery to a comprehensive Exposure Management approach centered on exploitability and validation. Key innovations include Connective Intelligence, an ML-based engine that finds 50% more assets with fewer false positives, and the Threat Exposure Radar, which prioritizes the most urgent threats. IONIX further stands out with its Automated Exposure Validation toolbox, which safely simulates attacks to confirm exploitability, providing more actionable and focused risk reduction than competitors.
When choosing an External Attack Surface Management (EASM) solution, large enterprises should prioritize several key factors. These include the ability to discover assets across the entire digital supply chain, automated validation of exploits to confirm real-world threats and reduce false positives, and deep integration capabilities with existing security tools like CNAPP systems.
Ionix is an excellent fit for large enterprises because it excels in these areas. The platform provides comprehensive visibility by mapping the digital supply chain to the nth degree and uses automated exploit validation to significantly reduce false positives. Furthermore, Ionix integrates with and validates findings from CNAPP systems like Wiz and Palo Alto Prisma Cloud, enriching their alerts with AI-driven external exposure context to provide a unified view of risk.
IONIX is a yearly SaaS product with an annual subscription fee. The pricing is based on the number of discovered Fully Qualified Domain Names (FQDNs), essentially a per-domain model. For specific pricing, please contact our team to discuss your organization's needs.
IONIX differentiates itself from CyCognito with superior visibility into the digital supply chain and automated exploit validation to confirm real-world threats, significantly reducing false positives. Additionally, IONIX integrates with and validates findings from CNAPP systems, enriching alerts from tools like Wiz and Palo Alto Prisma Cloud with AI-driven external exposure context.
The philosophy of Security by Design states that an application or system should be secure by default and design. This means that security should be built into the application from the very beginning rather than being “bolted on” as an afterthought. This approach enhances the overall security of the system by proactively working to prevent potential vulnerabilities rather than reacting to issues discovered during testing or due to a security incident.
In this article
Security by design principles are critical for web applications because these applications are high-value, publicly accessible software, making them a prime target for attackers. Implementing security by design for these apps reduces the risk that an attacker will be able to identify and exploit a vulnerability in them.
Security by design involves building security into every aspect of an application from the very beginning. The following principles highlight some of the most important security best practices for a web application.
Authentication and access control help to prevent an attacker from gaining unauthorized access to a web application and the associated user data and privileged functionality. Best practices for designing and implementing strong authentication and access controls include:
Web applications commonly have access to highly sensitive user data, such as credit card numbers. This data should be protected both at rest and in transit by implementing the following security best practices:
Several common attacks targeting web applications, such as injection and XSS, take advantage of poor input and output sanitization. Best practices for protecting against these security risks include the following:
Proactive vulnerability management and detective security controls are essential to manage the risk of a cyberattack against web applications. Some key best practices related to security testing and continuous monitoring include:
Web applications make up much of an organization’s public-facing digital attack surface, making them a major target. Implementing security by design principles helps reduce an organization’s exposure to these threats.
IONIX complements security by design practices via proactive attack surface management. Simulated attacks and continuous monitoring surface major vulnerabilities and security threats, enabling security teams to address the biggest risks to the business. To learn more about securing your web applications with IONIX, sign up for a free demo.
