Like the rest of the world, European firms have been forced to pivot to digital experiences in the last year, even, as in the case of Italian luxury goods businesses, when digital went against long-standing cultural norms. As their firms pivot, European security leaders would do well to remember that vulnerable web applications are a common way in for external attackers. This year, for the first time, we analyzed application security trends specifically for the European market. We looked at how European firms are prioritizing application security, which application security technologies they have already adopted, and where they plan to invest further. Our analysis found that:

  • European CISOs still face an uphill battle in application security. While many security leaders in Europe list application security as a top tactical priority, it’s much less common than in North America or Asia Pacific. As we enter yet another wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, online interactions aren’t going anywhere, so European CISOs will need to pick up the pace on application security.
  • API security is taking hold. With so many firms leveling up their customers’ digital experiences, it’s not a surprise that APIs are in the mix. APIs have become the foundation for many modern applications and offer customers and partners new ways to interact with a business or product. API-related breaches are incredibly common, however, so European firms are sensibly prioritizing tools that protect APIs throughout the software development lifecycle.
  • Europe is behind on bot management. Whether they are conducting credential stuffing attacks, engaging in web scraping, or trying to hoard gaming systems and toilet paper, bots continue to evolve and challenge businesses. Bot management solutions can detect and defend against bots far beyond what web application firewalls can manage, but bot management is among the least adopted application security tool type in Europe.

For more information, check out our report, The State Of European Application Security, 2021, and please set up an inquiry if you’d like to discuss it further.