Mobile App Security Best Practices for Enterprise Applications

Mobile applications handle sensitive enterprise data—from customer information to financial transactions. Yet authentication flaws remain the third most common vulnerability in OWASP's mobile security risks. Here is how to build mobile apps that enterprises can trust.

Auth Vulnerabilities

in OWASP Mobile Top 10

$4.5M

Breach Cost

average mobile data breach

67%

MFA Adoption

of enterprises now require MFA

82%

Biometric Auth

of users prefer biometrics

The Mobile Threat Landscape

Mobile apps face unique security challenges. Devices are lost or stolen. Networks are untrusted. Users install apps from unknown sources. Your security model must assume the device itself is compromised.

Never Trust the Client

The golden rule of mobile security: perform all authentication and authorization server-side. The client can be reverse-engineered, modified, or running in an emulator. Only load sensitive data after server verification.

Threat	Risk Level	Mitigation
Insecure Authentication	Critical	Server-side validation, MFA, biometrics
Data Storage Leaks	High	Encryption at rest, secure keychain
Network Interception	High	Certificate pinning, TLS 1.3
Reverse Engineering	Medium	Code obfuscation, tamper detection
Session Hijacking	High	Short-lived tokens, secure refresh

Authentication Security

Authentication is your first line of defense. Follow OWASP MASVS-AUTH requirements to build authentication that withstands real-world attacks:

Strong Password Policies

Minimum 8 characters with MFA, or 15 characters without. Maximum 64 characters supported.

Biometric Authentication

Use platform APIs that unlock keychain—never event-based true/false checks.

Token Management

Short-lived access tokens (15 min), secure refresh tokens, server-side revocation.

Session Monitoring

Automatic timeout after inactivity, terminate sessions on logout, device tracking.

OAuth 2.0 for Enterprise

Use OAuth 2.0 with PKCE for mobile apps. Never store user passwords on the device—use device-specific tokens that can be remotely revoked if the device is compromised.

Data Protection Strategies

Classify Data

Identify sensitive data types and regulatory requirements

Encrypt at Rest

Use platform keychain/keystore with hardware backing

Encrypt in Transit

TLS 1.3 with certificate pinning

Minimize Storage

Only store what is necessary, purge when possible

For regulated industries like healthcare and finance, data protection is not optional. HIPAA requires encryption of PHI, while PCI DSS mandates specific controls for payment data.

Healthcare App Development

We build HIPAA-compliant mobile applications with enterprise-grade security controls.

Secure Communication

Practice	Implementation	Why It Matters
TLS 1.3	Enforce latest protocol version	Prevents downgrade attacks
Certificate Pinning	Pin server certificates in app	Blocks MITM attacks
No HTTP	Reject all non-HTTPS connections	Prevents eavesdropping
API Authentication	Bearer tokens on every request	Validates each call

Frequently Asked Questions

Use encrypted local tokens that expire quickly. Require full re-authentication after extended offline periods. Never cache passwords—use device-bound credentials that can be invalidated server-side.

Yes, when implemented correctly. Use platform biometric APIs that unlock hardware-backed keystores, not simple true/false checks. Always provide PIN fallback, and require step-up authentication for sensitive operations.

Perform penetration testing before major releases and at least annually. Use automated security scanning in CI/CD pipelines for every build. For regulated industries, quarterly assessments are common.

OWASP MASVS provides the baseline. Add HIPAA for healthcare, PCI DSS for payments, SOC 2 for enterprise SaaS. Most enterprises also require SOC 2 Type II certification for vendor apps.

Building a Secure Enterprise App?

Our security-first development approach ensures your mobile app meets enterprise requirements from day one.

Discuss Your Security Needs

Learn

Tools

Compare