WHAT IS AN APPLICATION?

Simply put, an app is a type of software that allows you to perform specific tasks. Applications for desktop or laptop computers are sometimes called desktop applications, while those for mobile devices are called mobile apps.

When you open an application, it runs inside the operating system until you close it. Most of the time, you will have more than one application open at the same time, which is known as multi-tasking.

App is a common term for an application, especially for simple applications that can be downloaded inexpensively or even for free. Many apps are also available for mobile devices and even some TVs.

FEATURES OF AN APPLICATION

Must have mobile app features include:

• Simplicity. Many people have short attention spans and if you make you app difficult to navigate then they will lose interest fast. …
• Speed. Fast loading screens are vital. …
• Good image resolution. …
• Flexibility. …
• Security. …
• Search options. …
• Bright and bold colour schemes. …
• Push notifications.

WHAT IS APPLICATION ENDPOINT

What is an API Endpoint?

Simply put, an endpoint is one end of a communication channel. When an API interacts with another system, the touchpoints of this communication are considered endpoints. For APIs, an endpoint can include a URL of a server or service. Each endpoint is the location from which APIs can access the resources they need to carry out their function.

APIs work using ‘requests’ and ‘responses.’ When an API requests information from a web application or web server, it will receive a response. The place that APIs send requests and where the resource lives, is called an endpoint.

Why Are API Endpoints Important?

All over the world, companies leverage APIs to transfer vital information, processes, transactions, and more. API usage will only increase as time goes on, and making sure that each touchpoint in API communication is intact is vital to the success of each API. Endpoints specify where resources can be accessed by APIs and play a key role in guaranteeing the correct functioning of the software that interacts with it.  In short, API performance relies on its ability to communicate effectively with API Endpoints.

APPLICATION ENDPOINT SECURITY

Endpoint security is the practice of securing endpoints or entry points of end-user devices such as desktops, laptops, and mobile devices from being exploited by malicious actors and campaigns. Endpoint security systems protect these endpoints on a network or in the cloud from cybersecurity threats. Endpoint security has evolved from traditional antivirus software to providing comprehensive protection from sophisticated malware and evolving zero-day threats.

Organizations of all sizes are at risk from nation-states, hacktivists, organized crime, and malicious and accidental insider threats. Endpoint security is often seen as cybersecurity’s frontline, and represents one of the first places organizations look to secure their enterprise networks.

As the volume and sophistication of cybersecurity threats have steadily grown, so has the need for more advanced endpoint security solutions. Today’s endpoint protection systems are designed to quickly detect, analyze, block, and contain attacks in progress. To do this, they need to collaborate with each other and with other security technologies to give administrators visibility into advanced threats to speed detection and remediation response times.

Endpoint security components

Typically, endpoint security software will include these key components:

• Machine-learning classification to detect zero-day threats in near real time
• Advanced antimalware and antivirus protection to protect, detect, and correct malware across multiple endpoint devices and operating systems
• Proactive web security to ensure safe browsing on the web
• Data classification and data loss prevention to prevent data loss and exfiltration
• Integrated firewall to block hostile network attacks
• Email gateway to block phishing and social engineering attempts targeting your employees
• Actionable threat forensics to allow administrators to quickly isolate infections
• Insider threat protection to safeguard against unintentional and malicious actions
• Centralized endpoint management platform to improve visibility and simplify operations
• Endpoint, email and disk encryption to prevent data exfiltration

How endpoint protection works

Endpoint security is the practice of safeguarding the data and workflows associated with the individual devices that connect to your network. End point protection platform(EPP) work by examining files as they enter the network. Modern EPPs harness the power of the cloud to hold an ever-growing database of threat information, freeing endpoints of the bloat associated with storing all this information locally and the maintenance required to keep these databases up to date. Accessing this data in the cloud also allows for greater speed and scalability.

The EPP provides system administrators a centralized console, which is installed on a network gateway or server and allows cybersecurity professionals to control security for each device remotely. The client software is then assigned to each endpoint—it can either be delivered as a SaaS and managed remotely, or it can be installed directly on the device. Once the endpoint has been set up, the client software can push updates to the endpoints when necessary, authenticate log-in attempts from each device, and administer corporate policies from one location. EPPs secure endpoints through application control—which blocks the use of applications that are unsafe or unauthorized—and through encryption, which helps prevent data loss.

When the EPP is set up, it can quickly detect malware and other threats. Some solutions also include an End point detection and response(EDR) component. EDR capabilities allow for the detection of more advanced threats, such as polymorphic attacks, fileless malware, and zero-day attacks. By employing continuous monitoring, the EDR solution is able to offer better visibility and a variety of response options.

EPP solutions are available in on-premises or cloud based models. While cloud- based products are more scalable and can more easily integrate with your current architecture, certain regulatory/compliance rules may require on-premises security.

Choosing an API Monitoring Tool

Similar to web monitoring, API monitoring provides crucial performance data from which developers and operations teams alike can use to improve user experience. There are a variety of tools available, but selecting an API Monitoring solution that can provide actionable data is essential, not only to increase your ROI, but to get genuinely useful performance data. When choosing a solution, it’s good to keep these functionalities in mind:

1. Intuitive – You won’t use a tool you don’t understand. You especially won’t be able to take full advantage of the functionalities if you don’t like the tool. Finding an API monitoring tool that is easy to use and instinctual will reduce your ramp up time as well as increase the probability of your reliance on this tool.  
2. Reuse – Find a tool that lets you use what you’ve got. Reuse scripts from the tools your API developers and testers use to avoid doing the same tasks twice.
3. Run Options – Keeping your API monitors on a schedule that fits your needs is essential. Making sure you can run monitors in intervals of your preference or set blackout periods can be especially helpful when trying to gage performance over time. Almost just as important is the ability to run a monitor on demand – as either a test or a real run.
4. Sequencing and Assertions – Accuracy is key. APIs transactions that require sequential functionalities should be able to be monitored, so you receive monitoring data that takes into account the big picture functionalities with the detailed step validations. While it’s imperative to understand the speed and availability of your API, functional correctness is even more important. If your API is returning the wrong data, you’ve fallen into the trap of the illusion of availability, where your customers encounter a broken system and you’re blissfully unaware. Making sure you can add assertions and validate the data the API returns is an essential functionality for an API monitoring tool.  
5. Consumable and Shareable – A tool that can communicate data easily, swiftly, and clearly is vital to any operation. API performance is no exception. Selecting a tool that aggregates data and visualizes the data properly can help provide instant actionable insights for you to share with your teams to reduce your MTTR (mean-time-to-resolution).
6. Adaptable – Tool stacks can include all sorts of software. Make sure you have a tool that is adaptable and flexible, so it can fit into your stack, whatever your preferences may be.
7. Alerts – You have to actually know when something is wrong in order to fix it. Find a tool that prioritizes this, and you will be good to go!

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