The Importance of Security Controls for Web Applications

C.

The MOST effective approach for justifying the cost of adding security controls to an existing web application is to use a business case (option C).

A business case is a comprehensive document that outlines the benefits, costs, and risks of a proposed project or investment. In the context of adding security controls to an existing web application, a business case would typically outline the potential costs of a security breach, the costs of implementing the security controls, and the expected benefits of implementing the security controls (such as improved customer trust and reduced risk of data breaches). By presenting this information in a clear and concise manner, a business case can help stakeholders understand the importance of investing in security controls and make informed decisions about funding.

Vulnerability assessment results (option A) and internal audit reports (option D) can also be useful in justifying the need for security controls, but they may not be as effective as a business case. Vulnerability assessment results provide information about the current state of security in the web application and can help identify specific vulnerabilities that need to be addressed. However, this information may not be as compelling to stakeholders who are not familiar with security issues. Internal audit reports may provide a more comprehensive overview of the security risks facing the web application, but they may not be as persuasive as a business case in terms of demonstrating the potential benefits of investing in security controls.

An application security policy (option B) is a set of guidelines that outline how an organization will secure its web applications. While an application security policy can help ensure that security controls are implemented consistently across all applications, it may not be as effective as a business case in terms of justifying the cost of adding new controls to an existing application.