Best API Security Tools
API security tools identify any vulnerabilities before your code hits production. Explore the top API security solutions, their key features, and their ideal use cases.
Written by
Alex Zawalnyski
Technical Review by
Laura Iannini
Quick Summary
If you manage large API estates and need to reduce false positive noise, Invicti API Security proof-based scanning confirms exploitable vulnerabilities with actual evidence.
For teams building security testing into their deployment pipeline, Acunetix delivers incremental vulnerability reporting during scans with proof-of-exploit documentation for faster developer triage.
If you want unified visibility across code, cloud, and runtime threats, Aikido Security consolidates API discovery, cloud misconfigurations, and runtime vulnerabilities in one platform.
APIs are your attack surface now. Shadow APIs, undocumented endpoints, and forgotten integrations accumulate faster than your team can track them. Finding vulnerabilities is only half the battle, This is where it gets hard: spotting exploitable flaws without drowning your developers in false positives that slow deployment pipelines.
The API security market split decades ago. Vendors built either testing tools focused on development workflows or runtime protection for production traffic. Increasingly, organizations need both, which means either juggling multiple platforms or settling for tooling that does one thing well and the other half-heartedly.
We evaluated 13 API security platforms across development-focused scanning, runtime protection, bot defense, and threat detection. We evaluated each for accuracy (how well they surface real issues without false noise), ease of integration into existing pipelines, and whether the scanning results translate to actionable remediation work. We reviewed customer feedback and tested deployments in controlled environments simulating real enterprise API footprints with REST, GraphQL, and legacy SOAP endpoints.
Our Recommendations
The right platform depends on whether you want standalone API testing or unified code, cloud, and runtime coverage.
- Best For Discovery and Automation: Invicti API Security proof-based scanning confirms exploitable vulnerabilities, dramatically reducing false positive investigation time.
- Best For Enterprise-Scale Visibility: Acunetix incremental reporting delivers vulnerability alerts during scans, not just after completion.
- Best For Speed to Deployment: Aikido Security single platform eliminates tool sprawl across code, cloud, and runtime security.
- Best For Specialized Compliance: 42Crunch API analyzes 300+ aspects of API definitions with specific, actionable remediation guidance.
- Best For Alternative Workflows: APISec offers custom attack playbooks catch BOLA, privilege escalation, and business logic flaws.
Invicti API Security finds and tests APIs across your development lifecycle. It targets organizations running large API estates who need accurate vulnerability detection without drowning in false positives.
Proof-Based Scanning That Cuts Through Noise
We found the proof-based scanning approach makes a real difference. Instead of flagging every potential issue, Invicti confirms vulnerabilities are actually exploitable. Your team spends time fixing real problems, not chasing ghosts.
The platform covers REST, SOAP, and GraphQL APIs with automated discovery. It catches shadow APIs and forgotten endpoints that accumulate over time. AI-powered detection adds another layer for identifying risks before they become incidents.
What Customers Are Saying
Customers consistently praise the accuracy. Onboarding is straightforward, and the low false-positive rate keeps security teams focused on what matters. The UI, reporting, and RBAC controls get high marks for usability.
Some customers have flagged support quality as inconsistent.
Right Fit for API-Heavy Environments
We think Invicti works best if you’re managing a substantial API footprint and need tight developer workflow integration. The accuracy alone justifies evaluation for teams tired of alert fatigue.
If your API estate is small or you need extensive hand-holding during implementation, weigh the support feedback carefully. For mid-to-large organizations ready to operationalize API security testing, this platform delivers where it counts.
Strengths
- Proof-based scanning confirms exploitable vulnerabilities, dramatically reducing false positive investigation time
- Automated discovery identifies shadow and forgotten APIs across your entire development environment
- Strong integration support fits naturally into existing CI/CD pipelines and developer workflows
- Effective scanning on legacy applications where other tools often struggle
Cautions
- Some customer reviews note that support quality varies; some customers report needing to escalate for adequate attention
- Some customer reviews flag that cloud solution has limited MFA login options, which may conflict with your security policies
Acunetix is a web application and API security scanner built for development teams who want vulnerability detection without breaking their build process. It targets organizations looking to shift security left with minimal friction.
Fast Results Without the Wait
We found the combined DAST and IAST approach gives you broader coverage than either method alone. The platform automatically discovers hidden and undocumented APIs, which is where vulnerabilities love to hide. Support spans REST, SOAP, and GraphQL.
What stood out is the incremental reporting. You get vulnerability alerts as issues are found, not after the full scan completes. Each report includes proof of exploit, so your developers aren’t wasting cycles on false positives.
Developer-Friendly Integration
Out-of-the-box connections to Jira and Jenkins mean security testing slots into existing pipelines. We saw this as a real strength for teams already stretched thin. You test every endpoint automatically before code hits production.
Customers praise the ease of setup and responsive support. SQL injection and similar vulnerabilities get flagged reliably. However, large applications can stress system resources and extend scan times. Some teams have also noted pricing feels steep for smaller projects.
When Acunetix Makes Sense
We think this fits development teams who need accurate scanning without dedicated security engineering overhead. If you’re running CI/CD and want automated coverage, it delivers.
Strengths
- Incremental reporting delivers vulnerability alerts during scans, not just after completion
- Proof-of-exploit documentation helps developers prioritize real issues over false positives
- Native Jira and Jenkins integrations fit naturally into existing CI/CD workflows
- Combined DAST and IAST scanning surfaces hidden APIs other tools miss
Cautions
- Some customer reviews highlight that resource-intensive scans can slow down when testing large or complex applications
- According to customer feedback, complex configurations could benefit from more detailed documentation and demos
Aikido Security consolidates code, cloud, and runtime security into one platform. It targets teams who want unified coverage without juggling multiple vendors, with API security baked into the broader offering.
Unified Platform That Actually Works Together
We found the integration between components is the real differentiator here. Runtime security handles API discovery, including shadow APIs, while the DAST tool scans what it finds. SAST, SCA, IaC, secrets, and container scanning all live under one roof.
The auto-triage feature stood out. Reachability analysis filters false positives before they reach your team. You focus on vulnerabilities that actually matter, not theoretical risks buried in unused code paths.
API Coverage Without Manual Effort
REST and GraphQL fuzzing runs automatically. The platform generates example traffic from Swagger docs and simulates attacks like SQL injection without manual intervention. We saw this as a strong alternative to expensive periodic pentests.
Customers praise the low barrier to entry. Setup is fast, the UX stays intuitive, and advanced options exist for power users who need them. The low false positive rate earns consistent praise because teams actually trust the findings.
Where Aikido Fits Your Stack
Aikido is ideal for teams looking for a scalable API security tool solution that automates discovery. It’s a great option for those looking for a single platform for code, cloud, and runtime security.
Strengths
- Single platform eliminates tool sprawl across code, cloud, and runtime security
- Reachability analysis filters false positives so teams trust and act on findings
- Automated API discovery catches shadow APIs without manual inventory work
- Fast setup with intuitive UX that scales to advanced configuration when needed
Cautions
- Based on customer feedback, according to some customer reviews, reporting skews DevOps-focused; security engineering teams may need more depth
42Crunch API
42Crunch brings API security directly into the development lifecycle with two core capabilities: security testing and threat protection. It targets mid-sized organizations that want developers owning security without sacrificing visibility.
Deep Security Audits That Drive Action
We found the security audit approach thorough. The platform analyzes over 300 aspects of your API definitions and returns actionable fixes, not just flagged issues. It catches data leakage risks, misconfigurations, and authentication errors before they ship.
Live endpoint testing adds another layer. You validate that production APIs behave as expected, not just that the specs look clean. Continuous monitoring picks up vulnerabilities introduced by code changes automatically.
Built for the Developer Workflow
CI/CD integration is a core strength. Security scanning slots into your pipeline so checks happen on every commit. Customers praise the onboarding tutorials and support responsiveness when questions arise.
The threat protection component distinguishes legitimate traffic from attacks in real time. This gives you both proactive testing and reactive defense in one platform.
What Customers Are Saying
Some customers have flagged friction during initial setup. Pipeline integration and interface quirks caused headaches, particularly for teams running complex environments with non-standard OpenAPI flows. The UI has also drawn feedback as feeling management-heavy rather than developer-first.
Strengths
- Analyzes 300+ aspects of API definitions with specific, actionable remediation guidance
- Continuous monitoring catches vulnerabilities introduced by code changes automatically
- Strong CI/CD integration embeds security checks directly into developer workflows
- Combines proactive security testing with real-time threat protection in one platform
Cautions
- Some customer reviews note that initial pipeline integration can cause friction, especially in complex environments
- Some users mention that Non-standard OpenAPI flows may require extra troubleshooting during setup
APISec
APISec automates API security testing with custom attack playbooks that run before code hits production. It targets smaller organizations and DevOps teams who need continuous vulnerability detection without heavy manual effort.
Automated Attack Playbooks That Find Real Flaws
We found the attack simulation approach effective for catching serious issues. The platform identifies BOLA, broken access controls, privilege escalations, and business logic flaws that static analysis misses. These are the vulnerabilities that actually get exploited.
Considerations Before You Commit
Some users have noted that early scans can produce false positives that need manual tuning. Smaller teams have noted the initial setup feels heavy for their resources.
Learning Resources That Add Value
APISec University is a nice addition. It helps teams understand regulatory frameworks and security fundamentals alongside the tooling. Customers praise the practical labs and free courses for building internal capability.
The free scanning option before purchase lets you evaluate fit against your actual API estate. You see real results, not just demo data.
Strengths
- Custom attack playbooks catch BOLA, privilege escalation, and business logic flaws
- Free pre-purchase scanning lets you evaluate against your actual API environment
- APISec University provides practical training and regulatory framework guidance
- Continuous CI/CD integration surfaces vulnerabilities during development cycles
Cautions
- According to customer feedback, early scans produce false positives requiring manual review and tuning effort
- Some users have reported that interface becomes cluttered with results; prioritization guidance could be clearer
Cequence Security
Cequence combines API discovery with real-time bot attack prevention using AI-powered detection. It targets small to medium organizations dealing with credential stuffing, account takeover attempts, and API abuse at scale.
Bot Defense That Actually Stops Attacks
We found the bot protection capabilities particularly strong. The platform blocks credential stuffing and account hijacking attempts in real time, filtering malicious traffic before it reaches your backend. Customers report near-zero successful attacks after deployment.
API discovery runs continuously, inventorying your attack surface including unknown APIs you didn’t know existed. You get visibility into exactly what traffic is hitting your endpoints and where threats are coming from.
Real-Time Visibility Into API Traffic
The traffic analysis gives you detailed drilldown into findings. You see patterns, anomalies, and attack attempts as they happen. This proactive stance means you’re responding to threats, not just reviewing logs after incidents.
The platform scales with your organization. As your API footprint grows, coverage expands automatically without rearchitecting your security posture.
What Customers Are Saying
Customers consistently flag the initial setup as complex. Integration with existing systems takes time, and tuning detection rules requires experience to get right. There’s a learning curve before you’re operating smoothly.
Strengths
- Real-time bot blocking stops credential stuffing and account takeover attempts effectively
- Continuous API discovery surfaces unknown endpoints and maps your full attack surface
- Traffic visibility shows exactly what's hitting your APIs with detailed drilldown
- Scales automatically as your API footprint and organization grow
Cautions
- According to customer feedback, initial setup is complex, especially when integrating with existing systems
- According to some user reviews, detection rule tuning requires experience and time to optimize properly
Intruder
Intruder is a cloud-based vulnerability management platform covering servers, cloud systems, websites, endpoints, and APIs. It targets IT teams who want unified visibility across their entire attack surface, not just API-specific protection.
Fast Setup With Immediate Value
We found Intruder delivers results quickly. The platform is simple to configure without needing professional services. Engineers run scans and triage issues without specialist security training. Built-in cloud connectors for AWS, Azure, and GCP auto-discover targets automatically.
The clean UI and single-pane dashboard give you real-time visibility into assets and vulnerabilities. Emerging threat scans add proactive coverage for newly disclosed issues affecting your environment.
Prioritization That Guides Action
API security checks reference OWASP Top 10, identifying vulnerabilities and misconfigurations that matter. Automated scans run on your schedule, and findings get prioritized by urgency with relevant remediation advice attached.
ITSM integration via API fits the platform into existing workflows. You’re not building a separate process for vulnerability management.
Strengths
- Fast setup with no professional services required; engineers can self-serve immediately
- Auto-discovery via AWS, Azure, and GCP connectors maps cloud assets automatically
- Clean dashboard provides single-pane visibility into vulnerabilities across your environment
- Emerging threat scans proactively check for newly disclosed vulnerabilities
Cautions
- Based on customer reviews, reporting and compliance exports lack flexibility compared to specialized platforms
Salt Security
Salt Security uses AI and ML trained on millions of APIs and attacks to provide behavioral analysis and threat prediction. It targets organizations needing advanced API protection that goes beyond signature-based detection to identify sophisticated attack patterns.
Behavioral Analysis That Catches What Others Miss
We found the behavioral approach is the core differentiator. The platform baselines normal API activity, then identifies anomalies that indicate reconnaissance or attack progression. You catch bad actors during information gathering, before they exploit anything.
Automatic discovery covers your full API estate including zombie and shadow APIs. Continuous visibility shows exactly what’s running, not just what’s documented.
Salt correlates behavior over time to distinguish real attack patterns from noise. Posture gaps get flagged with context, not just alerts. Remediation insights route directly to developers as issues surface.
Our Take
We think Salt fits organizations with mature security programs ready for behavioral API protection. If you’re running non-standard implementations, budget extra time for integration work. The depth of analysis justifies the investment once you’re operational.
Strengths
- Behavioral baselining detects reconnaissance activity before attacks fully develop
- Automatic discovery surfaces zombie and shadow APIs across your environment
- Strong consulting support through implementation and ongoing engagement post-deployment
- AI correlates patterns over time to distinguish real threats from false positives
Cautions
- Based on customer feedback, non-standard API implementations could be easier to manage
Traceable
Traceable provides API security across the full development lifecycle, built on a data lake architecture that enables deep traffic analysis. It targets organizations with smaller IT teams who need maximum visibility and flexible deployment options.
Deep Traffic Insights and Testing Capabilities
We found the data lake approach gives you extensive ways to analyze API usage patterns. You can slice traffic data to understand how APIs are being used and where abuse is occurring. The testing capabilities were a primary selection driver for multiple customers.
Flexible deployment accommodates on-premise infrastructure and custom configurations. WAF integrations close coverage gaps between API security and existing perimeter defenses.
What Customers Are Saying
The interface still shows startup origins. Customers flag confusion navigating the platform, missing features like saved queries and persistent view preferences, and occasional inconsistencies with filters and page numbers. The range of features is impressive, but depth in key areas is still developing.
Support That Goes the Distance
The support team earned consistent praise across customer feedback. Questions get answered quickly, and the team walks through complex UI workflows to help you find answers independently. Account teams schedule calls on short notice to work through issues together.
This responsiveness matters for a platform with significant configuration depth. Having engaged support compensates for the learning curve.
Strengths
- Data lake architecture enables flexible, deep analysis of API traffic patterns
- On-premise deployment and WAF integrations fit complex enterprise environments
- Exceptional support responsiveness with dedicated account team engagement
- thorough API inventory management simplifies triage and visibility
Cautions
- According to some user reviews, it's tricky to save queries, views, or filter preferences for repeated analysis
Wallarm API Security Platform
Wallarm provides real-time API protection for cloud-native environments, covering REST, GraphQL, gRPC, and WebSocket protocols. It targets small to medium organizations and DevOps teams who need active threat prevention, not just vulnerability detection.
Real-Time Protection With Low False Positives
We found the accuracy stands out. The platform detects API threats in real time with minimal false positives, which means your team responds to actual attacks rather than chasing noise. OWASP Top 10 coverage addresses the vulnerabilities that matter most.
When issues surface before patches exist, Wallarm monitors and blocks exploitation attempts. You’re protected during that vulnerable window between discovery and remediation.
Bot and DDoS Defense Built In
Advanced rate limiting and behavioral analysis stop bot attacks and Layer-7 DDoS before they impact your applications. This goes beyond API security into active traffic protection.
The dashboard presents data cleanly and intuitively. You see what’s happening without digging through complex interfaces. Customers praise the simple integration process for getting protection operational quickly.
Strengths
- Accurate real-time threat detection with minimal false positives saves investigation time
- Protocol coverage spans REST, GraphQL, gRPC, and WebSocket in one platform
- Built-in bot and Layer-7 DDoS prevention extends beyond pure API security
- Clean, intuitive dashboard presents threat data without interface complexity
Cautions
- According to some user reviews, configuration and tuning process is complex and time-consuming for new users
What To Look For: API Security Solutions Checklist
Evaluating API security platforms requires looking beyond feature checklists to understand how tools fit into your actual workflow and threat market.
- False Positive Rate and Proof of Exploit: How many alerts require investigation before yielding actual findings? Does the platform provide proof of exploitation or just flag potential issues? Tools that waste your team’s time on noise erode trust and slow deployment.
- Coverage Across API Types: Does it scan REST, GraphQL, gRPC, and SOAP? Can it discover shadow and undocumented APIs? Can it handle legacy endpoints alongside modern cloud-native services?
- Integration Into Your Development Workflow: Do you need shift-left testing in CI/CD pipelines, runtime protection for production traffic, or both? Native support for Jenkins, GitLab, and your PSA reduces friction. Can developers act on findings without security expertise?
- Real-Time vs. Periodic Scanning: Are you protecting development, production, or both? Real-time runtime protection catches attacks in motion. Periodic scanning during CI/CD catches issues before production. Your answer determines the tool category you need.
- Deployment Flexibility: Do you need cloud-only, on-premises, or hybrid options? Can you deploy agents, sidecars, or gateways depending on your architecture? Lock-in to cloud-only or on-prem-only creates problems when your infrastructure changes.
- Reporting and Compliance Requirements: Can it generate audit-ready reports for your regulatory framework? Do you need SBOM generation for supply chain compliance? Can you customize reports for different audiences (developers, security teams, executives)?
- Implementation Support and Learning Curve: How much setup do you need before the tool delivers value? Do vendors provide onboarding assistance or documentation only? Support quality varies dramatically in this category, ask for references from similar-sized organizations.
Prioritize based on your biggest pain point. Organizations with sprawling API estates need accuracy and discovery. DevOps teams need CI/CD integration. Security operations teams need real-time production protection. Most need at least two of these.
How We Compared The Best API Security Tools
Expert Insights is an independent editorial team that researches, tests, and reviews cybersecurity and IT infrastructure solutions. No vendor can pay to influence our review of their products. Our evaluations are based solely on product quality.
We evaluated 13 API security platforms covering REST, GraphQL, SOAP, and gRPC endpoints. Testing covered proof-of-concept deployments in controlled environments simulating large API estates with shadow APIs and legacy endpoints, plus modern cloud-native services. We evaluated scanning accuracy, false positive rates, ease of integration into CI/CD pipelines, and runtime detection capabilities for production traffic.
Beyond hands-on testing, we reviewed customer feedback and interviewed users across different organization sizes to understand where vendor claims diverge from operational reality. We evaluated integrations with Jenkins, GitLab, GitHub, and popular SIEM and ticketing platforms. Our editorial and commercial teams remain independent. No vendor can pay to influence our review of their products.
This guide is updated quarterly. For more details on our testing approach, visit: https://expertinsights.com/how-we-test-review-products
The Bottom Line
API security splits between testing tools that catch issues during development and runtime protection for production traffic. Most organizations need both, which forces a choice between integration or consolidation.
If accuracy and developer friction are your biggest pain points, Invicti API Security proves vulnerabilities are exploitable before alerting your team. The low false-positive rate justifies the implementation effort. For mid-market teams wanting unified coverage across development and runtime, Aikido Security consolidates SAST, DAST, SCA, and runtime in one platform without requiring separate admin expertise.
For CI/CD-first teams, Acunetix integrates natively with Jenkins and Jira, delivering incremental scanning results without waiting for full scans. If traffic analysis depth matters more than simplicity, Traceable provides data lake architecture for slicing API patterns.
For teams handling bot attacks and credential stuffing at scale, Cequence Security stops malicious traffic in real time. If behavioral analysis matters, Salt Security baselines normal activity and catches reconnaissance before exploitation. For broader vulnerability management across your infrastructure, Intruder provides API scanning alongside server and endpoint coverage. Teams needing development-focused testing with actionable guidance should evaluate 42Crunch API and APISec.
Review the individual platform sections to understand deployment models, pricing, and the specific tradeoffs that matter for your API architecture and security posture.
FAQs
Everything You Need To Know About API Security Tools (FAQs)
API stands for Application Programming Interface. APIs are used to communicate between products and services that haven’t been designed to be compatible. You can think of an API like an adaptor – it is a way of making two separate software technologies compatible.
APIs are predominantly used by developers when creating new applications and programs. They can use an API to combine two pre-existing technologies, thereby enhancing their own solution.
One of the major benefits of using an API is that it can vastly speed up the development and implementation of new applications. Rather than having to spend time and resource designing custom code, an API can allow you to combine technologies with ease.
APIs (Application Programming Interface) are used to enable two or more applications that were not originally designed to be compatible, to work together and communicate with each other. APIs tend to be set pieces of code that can be inserted wholesale into new developments, allowing data to be pulled from one application, and used by the other.
APIs increase the use cases and versatility of your applications and software, allowing you to achieve more, without having to develop entirely new applications. The problem, however, arises precisely because of this ease of use. APIs can be inserted wholesale during app development, then distributed endlessly to other applications. This means that any security weaknesses or vulnerabilities in the original API could be unknowingly distributed across all other connected applications.
As over 80% of internet traffic runs through APIs, securing against these vulnerabilities is absolutely essential. API security solutions will scan APIs for vulnerabilities, then alert relevant users to the threat. They give detailed, contextual information regarding the threat, with actionable intelligence explaining how the vulnerability can be addressed. Some solutions can also carry out automatic patch deployment, thereby addressing the threat, improving remediation time, and decreasing human workload.
API security solutions will take several steps to address the vulnerabilities and risks associated with APIs. First, API security tools will conduct an inventory to discover and catalog all APIs that are in use. This should be an ongoing process, to ensure that new APIs are identified swiftly.
“Zombie” and “Shadow” APIs are particularly important to track. These are outdated APIs that are no longer monitored or maintained and APIs that are created and deployed under the radar, out with an organization’s knowledge, respectively. It may well be the case that you use an API that itself relies on another API to function.
All discovered APIs can then be scanned to identify any vulnerabilities. This could include fundamental programming errors or misconfigurations with the way they are deployed in your network.
Next, the solution needs to decide how to respond to the vulnerabilities. At this stage, admins should be able to access the information regarding APIs and their risk. Admins do not, necessarily, need to be alerted immediately if an API poses a risk. However, if, for instance, the API security solution is able to deploy a patch and remediate a risk, then this should be an automated process. Automated remediation also reduces alert fatigue, and ensures that threats are addressed swiftly, giving less opportunity for the loophole to be exploited. Where patching is not possible, admins should be given adequate contextual and actionable intelligence that will allow them to respond to the threat. It is very helpful if a security solution can provide a prioritized list of API risks, suggesting which issues should be resolved first.
API vulnerability solutions should provide developers with adequate contextual and actionable intelligence that will allow them to respond to the threat. The vulnerability scanning process should be ongoing, including monitoring system upgrades and the introduction of new software. This way, your infrastructure will be protected throughout its entire lifecycle, and you know that security has been built into the foundations of your systems.
As APIs are integrated so deeply into applications that many organizations rely on, it is crucial that they are secure. If successfully exploited, APIs can allow attackers into the heart of your infrastructure, making remediation complex and costly. API security tools can identify and address some of these vulnerabilities. In this section, we’ll explore some more benefits of API security tools.
Continuous Scanning – API security tools will continually scan your APIs to identify any vulnerabilities and threats. This ensures that admins can be alerted quickly, reducing the time that a vulnerability can be exploited.
Automatic Threat Remediation And Insights – Depending on the nature of the vulnerability, an API security solution should be able to respond to threats automatically and close loopholes. This will reduce alert fatigue and improve response times. If the threat cannot be addressed automatically, it should give admins detailed, contextual intelligence explaining how the threat can be resolved.
Technology Agnostic – API security solutions can work across a range of technologies as they use JSON languages and HTTP requests. JSON is language independent, but uses a similar format to C, C+, C++, Java, Perl, and Python. This allows developers to use a range of languages when developing APIs and implementing API security solutions.
When looking for an API solution, it can be complicated to decipher what features are offered and how they will benefit your organization. In this section, we’ll cover the top features that you should look out for in an API security solution.
- API Discovery – Your solution should conduct automatic API discovery to identify where APIs are in use, so that these areas can be monitored. While some APIs will be obvious, your solution should identify “Zombie” and “Shadow” APIs as well. “Zombie APIs” are outdated APIs that are no longer monitored or maintained. “Shadow APIs” are created and deployed under the radar, without an organization’s knowledge.
- API Threat Testing – This feature allows you to take a proactive stance to understand the scope and scale of a threat. Rather than simply identifying where a vulnerability is, threat testing will probe that vulnerability to understand its significance and potential repercussions.
- API Security Scoring – While this isn’t an essential feature, some solutions will give APIs a score relating to the relative risk. This prioritization allows organizations to focus on remediating the most urgent risks.
- Automatic Remediation – Once a vulnerability is detected, your API security tool should automatically remediate the vulnerability and secure your organization. Potential vulnerabilities should be tracked, with admins notified of threats and developments.
- DevOps Integration – You’ll want to ensure that your solution can integrate effectively with your DevOps environment so that you can ensure new software is secure from inception. It is much more effective to build security into the foundation of design, rather than implement it as an addon after.
There are a couple of settings and configurations that will help to ensure that your API is secure and as effective as possible. In this section, we’ll explain how APIs can be properly secured, giving you the best chance of catching vulnerabilities, beyond using API scanning and security tools.
Implement rate limits – DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attacks operate by repeatedly requesting access from your API until it is overwhelmed. The API is unable to handle such a high volume, so shuts down. By implementing rate limiting features you can prevent this from occurring. This limits the number of requests that can be made to your API, ensuring that they stay within a set boundary and traffic volume is restricted to manageable limits.
Comprehensive logging and monitoring – to ensure that attacks and anomalies are identified, keeping comprehensive records allows you to spot anomalies quicker. Rates will fluctuate over time; that is only natural. When stats do start to alter, you will want to check if this is within usual bounds, or if it is an exceptional level of variation. If you keep comprehensive logs, you can quickly identify if the real-time statistics are abnormal.
Written By
Alex is an experienced journalist and content editor. He researches, writes, factchecks and edits articles relating to B2B cyber security and technology solutions, working alongside software experts.
Alex was awarded a First Class MA (Hons) in English and Scottish Literature by the University of Edinburgh.
Technical Review
Laura Iannini is a Cybersecurity Analyst at Expert Insights. With deep cybersecurity knowledge and strong research skills, she leads Expert Insights’ product testing team, conducting thorough tests of product features and in-depth industry analysis to ensure that Expert Insights’ product reviews are definitive and insightful.
Laura also carries out wider analysis of vendor landscapes and industry trends to inform Expert Insights’ enterprise cybersecurity buyers’ guides, covering topics such as security awareness training, cloud backup and recovery, email security, and network monitoring. Prior to working at Expert Insights, Laura worked as a Senior Information Security Engineer at Constant Edge, where she tested cybersecurity solutions, carried out product demos, and provided high-quality ongoing technical support.
Laura holds a Bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity from the University of West Florida.