Prioritizing Security in Low-Code SaaS Solutions for Accelerated Application Delivery and Elevated Experiences

Low-code platforms, apps, and solutions have become crucial in software development and business process management, enabling faster integrations, accelerated software delivery, and elevated user experiences. While not new, low-code technology has experienced a surge in demand over the past two years, driven by the need for greater digital transformation.

As companies adopt low-code tools, they can expand their digital transformation efforts through rapid business application delivery and drastically reduce time-to-innovation. According to a recent Gartner report, by 2025, the use of low-code and no-code technologies will nearly triple, with an estimated 70% of newly developed applications utilizing these technologies. This represents a significant increase from less than 25% in 2020.

Despite the undeniable advantages that low-code SaaS solutions provide, organizations must prioritize security when implementing these tools. In this article, we’ll explore the importance of built-in security in low-code and no-code solutions and discuss ways to address potential risks.

With organizations expanding their product and service offerings, a higher demand for low-code, platform-based solutions is inevitable. Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) and Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) solutions focused on low-code can be incredibly effective for organizations seeking quicker functionality, with the added benefit of pre-built models and templates that can be easily replicated for flexibility and versatility.

A critical feature of leading low-code platforms is the ability to create seamless integrations with other applications using graphical user interfaces (GUI) and industry-standard interfaces such as JSON and APIs within vendor-supplied environments. The intuitive visual user interfaces and drag-and-drop capabilities offered by platforms like AppMaster enable businesses to customize solutions to suit their specific needs and preferences.

Maintaining security must be a top consideration for organizations using low-code tools for application development or integrating no-code SaaS solutions for business process automation. When introducing third-party applications or API integrations to an environment, organizations rely heavily on the vendor’s security implementation, especially when combining various solutions to form a unified product or service. If a vendor neglects security, other areas of a solution might be exposed to risks due to weaknesses elsewhere.

For example, the recent Apache Log4j vulnerability demonstrated how a flaw in a widely used piece of software can expose systems to cyberattacks. Aspects like these necessitate that organizations practice due diligence in evaluating security throughout the software development pipeline or when deploying third-party apps or tools.

Organizations need to take several critical steps to address security risks in low-code and no-code solutions. One essential measure is incorporating DevSecOps and shifting security left within the software development pipeline. The Log4j vulnerability emphasized the importance of DevSecOps and showed how adopting a shift-left approach and implementing security early in the DevOps process can help detect vulnerabilities before they become an issue.

Introducing security early in the development cycle is essential, as all code needs to be scanned for vulnerabilities. Organizations must also apply due diligence when exploring various solutions and options to incorporate into their environment. Thus, priority should be given to solutions with security at their core and thorough examination of the vendor’s security approach before integrating a low-code solution.

Here are some security measures to consider when assessing vendors or solutions:

Platforms like AppMaster and other low-code tools have the potential to revolutionize digital transformation efforts and reduce developers' reliance on hand-coding and on-premises solutions. While the associated time and cost savings are highly attractive, organizations must ensure they are not compromising their security when adopting these new low-code SaaS solutions.