Securing Jakarta EE Application Servers Needs Executive Attention

If your organization runs Jakarta EE applications, securing the application server they rely on is not a one-time project. Risks repeat unless leadership sets clear priorities, funds the right controls, and expects steady progress. This post distils the key points from the Securing Jakarta EE (Java EE) Application Servers: An Executive Guide so you can align strategy with day-to-day engineering work.

Jakarta EE applications and the application servers they run are not immune to security vulnerabilities. Common issues include insufficient transport layer protection, cross-site scripting (XSS) and server-side request forgery, among others. To maximize the robustness of your Jakarta EE applications and runtimes, a number of security best practices should be followed.

Key Application Server Security Takeaways

• You need a single view of the most common server-side risks and the plain fixes that reduce them.

• A supported, well-maintained runtimes is a security measure and additional control in itself. Running on unsupported software increases exposure and slows response.

• Consistent policies for input validation, session safety, network filtering and encryption cut recurring incidents.

• A set of hardening actions can reduce the potential attack surface and help clarify ownership across teams.

• Compliance alignment becomes easier when configuration follows known standards and best practices.

Choosing a Jakarta EE Application Server Based on Security

When selecting an application server, consider the following security factors:

• Security Features: Evaluate the built-in security features of the application server, such as 
• authentication mechanisms, authorization frameworks, and encryption capabilities.
• Compliance: Ensure the application server supports the required security standards for 
• your application.
• Vulnerability Management: Consider the application server's track record for addressing 
• vulnerabilities and the availability of security updates.
• Commercial Enterprise Support: Opt for an application server with a reliable commercial 
• support offering, including guaranteed service-level agreements (SLAs), dedicated support 
• engineers, and timely security updates for production environments.

What You Can Do Right Now

1. Read the full executive guide and agree with your team on the first ten control measures to standardize across environments.

2. Ask teams to confirm transport security, input validation, session practices and dependency patching on a defined schedule.

3. Ensure you rely on a supported runtime, with monthly patch updates. If not, use the guide’s buying checklist to select or validate your application server platform.

4. Set up a quarterly hardening review with your team.

Final Thoughts

Securing Jakarta EE application servers is an ongoing process that requires a comprehensive 
approach. Understanding the potential vulnerabilities, implementing security best practices and 
using security hardening techniques significantly enhance the security of application servers and 
sensitive data protection. Use the strategies a to align leadership and engineering on a small set of repeatable controls that harden your Jakarta EE platform while keeping delivery on track.

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