As digital transformation seizes businesses globally, new trends like low-code and no-code application development platforms gain attention. These platforms offer opportunities for increased agility and democratized development, marking a substantial shift in software engineering. However, they also raise concerns about application security. Balancing the adoption of these platforms while maintaining robust cybersecurity forms a crucial part of today’s digital transformation framework.
The Rise of Low-Code/No-Code Technologies
Low-code and no-code technologies are changing the software development landscape. According to a Gartner forecast, the low-code application platform (LCAP) market will have doubled its revenue from 2021 by next year, and the broader low-code segment will reach nearly $32 billion. These platforms offer graphical user interfaces that simplify the design and deployment of applications, enabling faster, more adaptable solutions for evolving business use cases.
These technologies empower not only traditional developers but also a new class of citizen developers – business users who create their own applications without needing technical resources. Gartner predicts that by 2026, citizen developers and nontraditional application designers will make up 80% of low-code users.
However, this explosion of low-code and no-code platforms brings along its share of challenges, particularly in terms of security.
Security Concerns: Low-Code and Cybersecurity
With the acceleration of low-code platforms, potential risks to application security and cybersecurity posture loom. Michael Bargury, author of the Low-Code/No-Code OWASP Top 10, identifies permissioning patterns as one of the biggest security risks associated with these platforms. He highlights the issue of credential-sharing-as-a-service, where low-code/no-code platforms allow business users to build applications using their own credentials and identities, potentially undermining existing role-based access controls and creating huge compliance risks.
Addressing these concerns requires a holistic approach to secure the digital transformation process without hindering the innovation that low-code platforms bring. It calls for cybersecurity measures to be integrated into the low-code/no-code deployment strategies, educating citizen developers on security best practices, and continuously monitoring application activities for potential threats.
Digital Transformation and the Manufacturing Sector
The manufacturing sector provides a case study of effective digital transformation. As manufacturers embrace IoT-based monitoring systems, they must also ensure robust cybersecurity measures to protect the plant data. For instance, Schneider Electric’s decision-making process for digitizing its plants serves as a roadmap, which underlines the importance of process and people, not just technology.
Schneider Electric emphasizes a lean program as the first pillar of digitization success. It focuses on capturing and analyzing overall labor efficiency (OLE) and overall equipment efficiency (OEE) data, and sharing performance information through daily meetings. Such lean programs can lay a solid foundation for the adoption of more advanced IoT systems in the future.
Digital Transformation in the Age of SaaS
Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) plays a significant role in the current digital transformation landscape. However, there is a prevailing misconception that SaaS inherently offers complete security. This belief can lead to complacency, leaving systems vulnerable to cyberattacks.
As businesses adopt SaaS platforms, they must also ensure robust cybersecurity measures, particularly for low-code platforms built on top of SaaS. Businesses need to be diligent in selecting SaaS software that integrates well with their digital transformation objectives and offers secure data integration, automation, and management features. Multi-instance architecture, high performance, low cost, and pre-configured connectors are also important factors to consider.
Enter StrataFlows
The rise of low-code and no-code platforms signifies a transformative period in the digital age. It offers unprecedented agility and democratizes the development process, driving the digital transformation across industries. However, with these opportunities come challenges in ensuring robust cybersecurity. Businesses must not only embrace these emerging technologies but also prioritize the integration of security measures into their digital transformation strategies. In the rapidly evolving digital landscape, a balanced approach will ensure that organizations can innovate securely and effectively.
This is where StrataFlows comes in. It offers a powerful and reliable solution that not only provides a platform for efficient application development but also takes the necessary steps to mitigate security risks inherent in low-code development.
Firstly, StrataFlows offers robust, flexible, and secure access control mechanisms to ensure that users have the right access permissions to data stores and systems. It restricts users from granting permissions beyond their scope, thereby preventing reckless access control actions.
Secondly, StrataFlows features an extensive log management system. This keeps track of every action performed within the system, allowing for greater transparency and traceability. It mitigates the risk posed by the opacity of low-code/no-code platforms, offering visibility into who did what, when, and where within the system.
Lastly, StrataFlows provides an environment where developers can collaborate and share best practices without exposing sensitive data or credentials. It encourages a culture of secure development, empowering developers while ensuring that security isn’t compromised.
StrataFlows is more than just another low-code/no-code platform. It provides a solution to one of the biggest challenges posed by this development trend – the security risk. With its commitment to secure development and user flexibility, StrataFlows is leading the way in secure, efficient, and responsible digital transformation.
Remember, digital transformation isn’t just about implementing new technology; it’s about making a cultural shift in the way organizations are run. It requires a clear understanding of the business transformation objectives and a controlled rollout program. StrataFlows can help you in every step of this process, ensuring that your digital transformation journey is not just swift, but also secure.
If you would like to learn more, Visit StrataFlows website or Schedule a Brief Web Call with one of our product specialists.
