Over the last couple of years, the API security landscape has significantly shifted and expanded due to growing threats and the evolving lifecycle for deploying, managing, testing and operating APIs. During this period, much of the API security conversation has focused on authentication, authorization, rate limiting and other foundational features provided by the API management sector. And while API management solutions provide an important set of foundational security tools, the conversation should not end here. This whitepaper looks at how we got here, where things are going, and how the landscape is beginning to rapidly shift and evolve.
The State of API Security
Much of what we’ve learned about securing web applications can apply to securing APIs. Yet, our security practices need to evolve and consider the unique needs of API usage across mobile, voice, and other emerging applications. Rather than focus on how web security practices help API security, we should analyze how these practices differ from the needs of API security. For example, API clients are often mobile devices and applications, whereas website clients are primarily browsers and search engine bots. API security is about striking a balance between making valuable data, content, media, algorithms, and other digital assets accessible to authorized users, while preventing unauthorized users from gaining access. APIs go beyond simple web publishing and provide deeper engagement
with data and applications, requiring a new security paradigm.
Over the last decade, API management has become synonymous with API security. Authentication and rate limiting are considered core API management security features and ensure resources are securely accessible by internal groups, partners, and third-party developers. In an evolving threat landscape, we must build on the established base of healthy API management and security practices by expanding our toolbox according to the unique needs of APIs.
