Widespread API use heightens cybersecurity risks
A new Imperva survey showed a heightened concern for cybersecurity risk related to API use. Specifically, 63 percent of respondents are most worried about DDoS threats, bot attacks, and authentication enforcement for APIs.
APIs power the interactive digital experiences users love and are fundamental to an organization’s digital transformation. However, they also provide a window into an application that presents a heightened cybersecurity risk. The survey shows that 69 percent of organizations are exposing APIs to the public and their partners and that organizations are on average managing 363 different APIs.
Public-facing APIs are a key security concern because they are a direct vector to the sensitive data behind applications. Eighty percent of organizations use a public cloud service to protect the data behind their APIs with most people using the combination of API gateways (63.2 percent) and web application firewalls (63.2 percent).
“APIs represent a growing security risk because they expose multiple avenues for hackers to try to access a company’s data,” said Terry Ray, CTO for Imperva. “To close the door on security risks and protect their customers, companies need to treat APIs with the same level of protection that they provide for their business-critical web applications.”
Ninety-two percent of IT professionals believe that DevSecOps, the combination of development, security and operations, will play a part in the future of application development. This highlights an increased desire from many organizations for security to be built-in from the very beginning of software development rather than as an after-thought.
“It is very encouraging that the majority of respondents to our survey expect DevSecOps to be involved in the future of application development. Cybercrime is pervasive, and it is vital that organizations keep their applications safe from hackers. Embracing DevSecOps provides organizations with the building blocks needed for defense against some of the most serious cybersecurity threats,” continued Ray.