Cyberthreats

5 security challenges to API protection

Let’s face it, APIs are everywhere and that makes protecting your APIs challenging at best. To be effective, security must be safe and secure. Discover 5 security challenges to API protection.

1. APIs have risks – that’s a fact!

APIs are not all the same. Many challenges lie with APIs because there are many moving pieces to the puzzle. When a developer sets out to design an API, they sometimes set their sights on specific requirements to make the API more seamless and robust. But with structural integrity, come risks.

Enter hackers! They are cunning and are chomping at the bit to get around an APIs robust format. Hackers work strenuously to figure out how to break the API code for their wicked purposes. APIs have to think “all around the box” instead of just “inside the box.” Protecting one’s APIs is the key to better security — bar none.

Additionally, APIs tend to expose a plethora of data, so additional processes need to be taken to ensure safety for the user.

2. Bad coding equals a bad day!

Bad coding! We hear the term all the time. With bad coding comes serious exposure to API security risks. APIs can be compromised if APIs coding isn’t up to snuff.

Developers need to take it one step further and protect their APIs. With a complicated journey at best, reading the code and sorting out the difficulties is a crucial step.

Many distinguished variations go into designing an API, so addressing bad coding is necessary.

Sometimes, codes need to be examined numerous times to get the right combination. Developers cannot take chances! Formal stages need to be in place to adhere to better code possibilities.

3. Endpoint clarification

To protect an API, security teams need to understand fully API endpoints from start to finish. Developers need to be onboard with communication steps to make sure endpoint clarification is clear.

API documentation is necessary. If API documentation is unreliable, it’s because a developer didn’t write it carefully.

Going the extra mile to ensure that the API security team is on top of all the details is necessary for API protection. If these parts don’t come together, API security is compromised.

4. Internal APIs and protection

Even though APIs connect two different systems, they are also used internally to the pace of an API. Since internal APIs are used to manage individual microservices to send data back and forth, new security measures are needed.

API security has to be both internal and external. This means security measures need to be stepped up to have equal consideration as the external APIs. Internal APIs can be more critical, requiring extra security in the scheme of things.

 5. Accountability: step it up

The big question is: Who takes responsibility for API security? The answer is two-fold. One, start with the developer! At the end of the day, it’s the developer’s job to design a solid and seamless API.

Yet, number two, accountability also is in the hands of the user of the API. This means that the user needs to go the extra step and have additional protection layers in place.

The user needs to have strong security layers such as Transport Layer Security (TLS). Keep in mind, if you don’t take extra precautions, you are wide open to hackers getting hold of your APIs. Take this seriously and go the added step for protection. Don’t forget to have an encryption process at your disposal to protect your APIs.

In these modern times, nothing is 100% risk free. But having the right blend of API security processes to protect your APIs is the way to better API security protection. Read more about API security best practices for better coverage.

Download the white paper to discover 10 more API security considerations.