Key Security Practices for Laravel Applications
Thanks to out of the box security features, such as the authentication system or protection against cross-site scripting, Laravel is already claimed to be more secure than other frameworks available on the market today. However, it is a good idea to never underestimate cyber threats and make your application even more secure. Implementing a few simple steps may help safeguard your platform against hacker attacks, malicious code injections, and other threats. Let’s take a closer look at the Laravel best security practices to create a safer digital environment for your end users.
Always update to the latest Laravel version.
Simple as is, always keep your web app updated to the latest framework version. Sounds easy, however, the number of web app owners who neglect this rule is terrifying. The most recent updates offer bug fixes, security patches, and overall performance improvements. Updating Laravel to the latest version is not just the next milestone in the project's life cycle. This is a significant step towards continuous web app improvement, security enhancement, and growth of a positive user experience.
Use an SSL certificate.
A Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificate is used for encrypting data exchange between the client and the server by enabling HTTPS connection. Adding an SSL certificate for your web application ensures secure communication for your users.
Enable two-factor authentication.
Safe authentication is the crucial step in web application security. Laravel supports two-factor authentication out of the box. Enable it for users to provide an additional layer of security.
Include built-in cross-site request forgery (CSRF) protection.
Laravel possesses cross site request forgery (CSRF) protection out of the box. Ensure that the @csrf directive is included in your forms.
Limit login attempts.
Hacker attempts to guess user credentials are a common type of attack. Laravel provides an in-built limiting functionality used for limiting login attempts during a certain time period.
Validate user input.
Always validate user input in order to avoid SQL injections, hacker attacks, and other cyber threats.
Validate file uploads.
Validate and sanitize users’ file uploads in your web application to avoid malicious files uploads to the server.
Control access to specific routes.
It may be useful to develop custom middleware to control access to specific routes according to user roles and permissions.
Ensure API security.
If your web app is integrated with any 3rd party services via APIs, create API authentication and use tokens for more secure access.
Maintain regular audits and updates.
Regular security audits and updates is a must-have process that has to become a routine part in the project’s life cycle.
Learn more about why to choose Laravel for web development in our recent blog post.
Implement Laravel Security Practices Today!
Laravel focuses on the security and safety of web applications, as well as users’ data. Although it offers a wide array of in-built security features, additional security measures against cyber threats obviously will not be superfluous. Entrust a team of Laravel professionals improving the security of your Laravel web app and protect your project against malicious code injections and vulnerabilities. Contact us today to discuss the specific details of your outsourcing project.
