25+ Application Security Statistics and Trends in 2024

In this article, we present an analysis of current statistics in the field of application security. Our focus is on providing a clear and concise overview of the latest data, reflecting key trends and insights in this critical area of cybersecurity.

The statistics compiled here are drawn from reputable, and up-to-date sources. We consider a reputable and up-to-date source as one that is recognized for its credibility and expertise in its field, and regularly updates its content to reflect the most current information and research. These statistics cover a range of topics including:

• the prevalence of common vulnerabilities, 
• the effectiveness of various security practices,
•  and the impact of security breaches on organizations. 

This information is essential for professionals in the cybersecurity field, as it offers a factual basis for understanding the current state of application security and for making informed decisions about protective strategies.

25+ Application security statistics 

Application security market

1. The Application Security market is expected to generate approximately $6.97 billion in 2024, according to Statista.¹
2. Statista forecasts a yearly growth rate of 14.14% from 2024 to 2028, predicting a market size of $11.83 billion by 2028.²
3. Fortune predicts the global information security market will reach $366.1 billion by 2028. ³

For a list of application security tools, check our data-driven list.

Application Security and Vulnerabilities

1. Application breaches, which often consist of stolen credentials and vulnerabilities, accounted for 25 percent of all breaches. This emphasizes the critical need for securing applications, especially in an increasingly digital world.⁴
2. Over 75 percent of applications have at least one flaw. ⁵
3. The number of disclosed vulnerabilities reached 26,447, exceeding the count from the previous year by more than 1,500 CVEs. ⁶
4. A survey by Forrester Research found that 42% of companies suffering from external attacks attributed these incidents to vulnerabilities in software security. Additionally, 35% of these organizations identified the cause as defects in web applications. ⁷
5. 61% of the applications tested were found to have at least one vulnerability of high or critical severity that was not included in the OWASP Top 10 list.⁸
6. 83% of applications exhibit at least one security issue during their initial vulnerability assessment.⁹
7. 32% of security decision-makers adopted Interactive Application Security Testing (IAST) in their development environments.¹⁰
8. Unpatched vulnerabilities were involved in 60% of data breaches. ¹¹
9. 37% of organizations intend to conduct Software Composition Analysis (SCA) during the development phase to mitigate risks associated with vulnerable open-source components.¹²
10. According to the State of DevOps Report by Contrast Security, over 99% of technologists report that applications in production have a minimum of four vulnerabilities.¹³

Data breaches

1. IBM reports the highest recorded average data breach cost is $4.35 million, while the average ransomware attack cost is $4.54 million. ¹⁴
2. Verizon’s analysis shows that 70% of 2021 breaches were for financial gains, with less than 5% for espionage.¹⁵
3. On average, it takes about nine months (277 days) to detect and control a breach, according to IBM. ¹⁶
4. Check Point and Verizon indicate that 43% of breaches involve insiders, and 30% of breaches involve internal actors. ¹⁷
5. Mastercard states that 95% of data breaches result from human errors. ¹⁸
6. IBM highlights that breaches identified and contained within 200 days cost $1.02 million less than those taking longer.¹⁹
7. Organizations that utilize AI’s and automation programs were able to identify and contain a breach 28 days faster than those that didn’t. ²⁰

Read more: Data breach incident response.

Cost of cyberattacks

1. CNBC reports that GDPR fines reached $1.2 billion in 2021.²¹
2. IBM mentions a 41% increase in ransomware-caused breaches, which take 49 days longer than average to manage. ²²
3. DDoS attacks worldwide in 2023 are estimated to be 15.4M. ²³
4. Artificial intelligence can mitigate costs in data breaches, saving organizations up to $3.81M per breach.²⁴

For more on cybersecurity practices, tools and comparisons:

• Top 7 DAST Tools: Analysis of 400+ Reviews
• IAST Vs DAST
• DAST Vs SAST
• Vulnerability Testing: Importance, Process & Use Cases

Application Security Frequently Asked Questions

What is Application Security?

Application Security refers to the measures and practices taken to protect applications from threats including code injections, data breaches, and other forms of attack. It encompasses the security considerations that happen during application development and design, but it also involves systems and approaches to protect apps after they get deployed.

Why is Application Security Important?

With the increasing reliance on software applications in business and government, security breaches can result in significant financial losses, theft of personal information, and damage to the reputation of the entities involved. Application Security helps mitigate these risks by ensuring that applications are as secure as possible.

What are Common Application Security Threats?

Common threats include SQL injection, Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), security misconfigurations, sensitive data exposure, broken authentication, and software vulnerabilities.

How Can Application Security be Implemented?

Implementing Application Security involves various practices like regular code audits, adopting secure coding practices, using security tools like Static Application Security Testing (SAST) and Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST), and ensuring proper access controls and authentication measures.

What is the Difference Between SAST and DAST?

SAST (Static Application Security Testing) analyzes source code for security vulnerabilities without running the program, whereas DAST (Dynamic Application Security Testing) tests an application’s security in a running state, simulating attacks against a web application.

Is Application Security Only Necessary for Web Applications?

No, Application Security is essential for all types of applications including web, mobile, and desktop applications. Each type of application has unique security concerns that need to be addressed.

Can Application Security Guarantee a Completely Secure Application?

While Application Security significantly reduces the risk of security breaches and data leaks, no application can be 100% secure. Continuous monitoring and updating are necessary as new vulnerabilities are discovered.

What is the Role of Encryption in Application Security?

Encryption plays a crucial role in protecting sensitive data. It ensures that even if data is intercepted or accessed by unauthorized individuals, it remains unreadable and secure.

How Often Should Application Security Testing be Conducted?

Security testing should be an ongoing process. Ideally, it should be integrated into the development cycle, allowing for continuous testing and improvement as the application evolves.

What are the Best Practices for Application Security?

Best practices include conducting regular security audits, staying updated with the latest security trends and threats, implementing a secure development lifecycle, training developers in secure coding practices, and using automated tools for security testing.

If you have further questions, reach us:

External Links

• 1. “Application Security – Worldwide” Statista
• 2. “Application Security – Worldwide” Statista
• 3. “Cybersecurity Market Size” Fortune
• 4. “2023 Data Breach Investigations Report” Verizon
• 5. “State of Software Security” Veracode
• 6. “NVD” National Security Institute
• 7. “State of Application Security” Forrester
• 8. “Application Security Risk Report” Micro Focus
• 9. “State of Software Security” Veracode
• 10. “State of Application Security” Forrester
• 11. “Costs and Consequences of Gaps in Vulnerability Response” Ponemon Institute
• 12. “State of Application Security” Forrester
• 13. “The State Of DevSecOps Report” Contrast Security
• 14. “Cost of a Data Breach Report 2023” IBM
• 15. “2023 Data Breach Investigations Report” Verizon
• 16. “Cost of a Data Breach Report 2023” IBM
• 17. “2023 Data Breach Investigations Report” Verizon
• 18. “Mastercard Trust Center” Mastercard
• 19. “Cost of a Data Breach Report 2023” IBM
• 20. “Cost of a Data Breach Report 2023” IBM
• 21. “Fines for breaches of EU privacy law spike sevenfold to $1.2 billion, as Big Tech bears the brunt” CNBC
• 22. “Cost of a Data Breach Report 2023” IBM
• 23. “Cisco Annual Internet Report (2018–2023) White Paper” Cisco
• 24. “Cost of a Data Breach Report 2023” IBM