Filestack users have a significant ally at their side when it comes to proactive protection for their application – one that takes the form of the platform itself. Virus detection is an organic part of Filestack’s workflows in a way that allows you to not only detect infected content in the files your users are uploading, but that lets you do so instantly after those files hit storage.
File Upload Security From Filestack: Breaking Things Down
At its core, Filestack’s low code solution is a mechanism that scans and detects infected content found within a file as it is uploaded into an application. Everything is handled via Filestack Workflows, and indeed you can use the Workflows user interface to configure both tasks and the logic that connects them.
As an example, the virus detection task would return a response similar to the following:
{
<strong>"infected"</strong>: <strong>true</strong>,
<strong>"infections_list"</strong>: [
"content.malicious.ait-trojan-nymeria-315"
]
}In that scenario, the “infected” parameter would indicate whether or not a file was infected and the “infections_list” parameter would list the names of any malware found in the file (if present). At that point, you can build logic that specifies to the workflow how dependent tasks should be executed based on current information. You can select another task to automatically run if a virus is detected, or you can proceed with whatever it was you were doing if one wasn’t. You could choose to quarantine the infected file via Workflows until you’ve had a chance to review it further, for example.
The most important takeaway from all of this is that because everything is handled through Filestack Workflows, there is a very low barrier to entry due to the minimal code involved. You don’t need to be a programmer with years of experience (or have the money to hire one) in order to safeguard your app, your users and your business. At that point, a secure upload is more or less a foregone conclusion. Even if malware is detected, you’re already well on your way to handling and remedying the situation.
All of this is critical because malware or a virus doesn’t just represent potential downtime for your app. Even one such incident can easily begin to erode user confidence, which can have a dramatic impact on the reliability and trustworthiness of your brand. Likewise, you also need to think about how that compromised data can flow throughout your app if left unchecked. If you’re not careful, viruses may be able to easily propagate through the software and at that point, there’s potentially no limit to the amount of long-term damage that can be caused.
But more than just offering secure file upload capabilities, Filestack’s intelligent solution protects the upload gateway itself. In other words, at the time a virus was detected (and the associated file was rejected), it never had a chance to compromise your app because everything happens asynchronously immediately after the file hit storage.
Additional Considerations
All told, this type of virus detection should be employed at any and all points in which files are uploaded into your app. This can include but is not limited to things like profile pictures, shared community content, document attachments and more. The low code virus detection itself, coupled with the consistent, automated workflow, don’t just help you mitigate risks and protect the integrity of your brand. They also go a long way toward eliminating any points of weakness that may exist.
In truth, the “break/fix” approach to dealing with cyber security was never effective, but it has become especially inadequate thanks to the ways in which information is rapidly exchanged in the modern era. By the time you realize that virus has been uploaded to your app, the damage has likely already been done. Downtime will immediately cost you both money and users. If that virus evolves into a legitimate breach, you may find yourself among the 60% of smaller organizations that close entirely within just six months of a cyber incident.
Things have gotten to the point where anything less than a proactive, comprehensive approach to application security just won’t cut it. But luckily, getting to this point has never been easier thanks to the functionality that was baked into the DNA of Filestack from the start.
If you’re interested in finding out more information about how to detect viruses by way of Filestack’s innovative, low code solution, or if you have any additional questions that you’d like to get more detailed answers to, please don’t hesitate to call us today at (888) 415-1885 or contact us:
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Filestack is a dynamic team dedicated to revolutionizing file uploads and management for web and mobile applications. Our user-friendly API seamlessly integrates with major cloud services, offering developers a reliable and efficient file handling experience.