OWASP MASVS
The OWASP Mobile Application Security Verification Standard (MASVS) is the industry standard for mobile app security.
What is OWASP MASVS?
OWASP MASVS is a security verification standard that establishes baseline security and privacy requirements for mobile applications. It provides a structured framework to measure, guide, and verify the security of mobile apps throughout their lifecycle. It is a core component of the OWASP Mobile Application Security (MAS) project ecosystem.
Mobile app developers, security professionals, application owners, and procurement teams who need a standardized approach to mobile app security verification and compliance.
Developers choose MASVS because it is an industry-recognized, community-driven standard that provides clear, measurable security requirements and integrates seamlessly with complementary OWASP resources like MASWE and MASTG for a comprehensive security approach.
Overview
The OWASP MASVS (Mobile Application Security Verification Standard) is the industry standard for mobile app security.
Use Cases
Best For
- Establishing a security baseline for new mobile app development
- Comparing the security posture of existing mobile applications
- Guiding security practices during mobile app development and testing phases
- Setting security requirements for mobile app procurement and vendor assessment
- Integrating with the OWASP MAS ecosystem for comprehensive mobile security
- Educating teams on mobile application security best practices and standards
Not Ideal For
- Teams seeking automated, real-time security scanning tools that require no manual verification
- Projects exclusively focused on web or desktop applications with no mobile component
- Organizations with very limited security budgets needing quick, plug-and-play security solutions
- Developers looking for code libraries or SDKs to directly embed security features without a framework
Pros & Cons
Pros
As an OWASP flagship project, MASVS is trusted by major platform providers and institutions, providing credibility and widespread adoption, as shown in the 'Trusted by' section of the README.
It seamlessly works with OWASP MASWE and MASTG, forming a complete framework from requirements to testing, highlighted in the README's description and linked resources.
Provides clear, measurable security requirements for all phases of mobile app development and testing, helping teams integrate security from the start, as stated in the key features.
Serves as a standard for verifying mobile app security during procurement, making it useful for vendor assessments and compliance, directly mentioned in the README's usage scenarios.
Cons
MASVS is a verification standard that requires significant manual effort to apply and check compliance, unlike automated security tools, which can slow down development processes.
Understanding and implementing all MASVS requirements demands expertise in mobile security, potentially overwhelming teams new to security frameworks without dedicated resources.
For full effectiveness, MASVS must be used with MASWE and MASTG, adding complexity and requiring additional time to master the entire OWASP MAS ecosystem.
Frequently Asked Questions
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