Today, APIs are used by nearly every company as a way to connect software applications and services. Many businesses rely on APIs so heavily that they see them as an essential part of their business strategy. This is because APIs make it easier for developers to access and integrate code from one application with another, leading to all kinds of new products, services, and experiences. But all this ease of use can also make APIs incredibly risky if not properly secured. For example, if a developer uses a third-party API with security loopholes — like perhaps the API doesn’t require authentication or authorization — there’s the potential that hackers could find and exploit those weak points. What’s more, if a business exposes its API to unauthenticated users, there’s the risk that someone could develop malicious software that interacts with the API in unauthorized ways.

What Is API Security?

API security is the practice of securing APIs against potential threats and risks. Every company that provides an API needs to carefully consider the risk to the business and customers associated with that API. The first step is to identify the potential threats against the API and then mitigate them by implementing a comprehensive set of controls and best practices. This ensures that only authorized users can interact with an API and prevents any malicious activity. API security is not just about protecting a company’s platform; it’s also about safeguarding the developer community that relies on that platform. APIs are at their most effective when developers are using them to create innovative solutions for customers. When security is poor on the API side, though, the entire ecosystem can suffer. This can lead to users abandoning certain solutions, developers losing trust in the API provider, and brand reputation damage.