6 Security optimization strategies for important APIs

How to enhance security for critical APIs?

The API allows developers to easily connect to cloud-based or on-premise services from different IT infrastructure providers. APIs also make it easy for customers to programmatically interact with your products and services.

APIs are a means of bringing together modern technology environments, but APIs also raise potential security concerns. Critical APIs require attention from developers and cybersecurity professionals to ensure they function safely and securely.

In a recent survey of API developers and security professionals across industries, 61% admitted they only have a basic API security strategy - or no strategy at all. It's a shocking statistic that underscores the importance of securing these critical portals for sensitive information and systems.

Here are the 6 most common API security practices that API developers and security professionals need to take now to strengthen the security of critical APIs.

1. Use strong encryption for HTTPS backup

Today, most important Web sites implement HTTPS to keep confidential information secure, and APIs should do the same. Since most API traffic travels over the open internet using HTTP, the same protocol supports web traffic.

However, just having the API URL starting with HTTPS is not enough. Administrators should double-check that API endpoints only support secure transport layer security versions 1.2 and 1.3.

Endpoints must explicitly block older versions of TLS as well as the insecure SSL protocol to prevent hackers from obtaining critical information when communicating over the API.

2. Authentication required for both old users

Almost all APIs require authentication before granting users access to information or allowing them to perform transactions.

The solution now is to use an API access key, instead of a password. The API key is sent with every request and is used to authenticate the user's identity and confirm access authorization.

API keys need to be as private as passwords. This is necessary because most organizations that lose control of their API keys from a cloud service provider have had their accounts taken over by crypto-mining hackers. These damages can run into the tens of thousands of dollars.

3. Control request frequency and prevent random data logs

Not all mass access to APIs is malicious. Sometimes a real user also needs to send persistent retrieval requests to get large amounts of information or probe for available inventory. These requests may exceed the availability of back-end servers and render the API inaccessible to other legitimate users.

Organizations that provide APIs to customers and users should limit rates according to specific situations. These limits may be different for each different user and should take into account the overall capacity of the service.

4. Regular security checks to detect vulnerabilities

APIs put HTTPS endpoints on the internet, so it's inevitable that competitors will put this API to the test and probe for security holes. Therefore, the security team needs to check including API endpoints.

Testing should be done before APIs are deployed, to avoid automated vulnerability scanning. In addition, the security team also needs to regularly penetrate periodically to find security problems before hackers find vulnerabilities first.

Fortunately, there are some effective API security solutions like VNIS. This is a Web/App security platform and APIs using AI technology (Artificial Intelligence), Cloud WAF (Web Application Firewall). VNIS effectively anti-scans for security holes, hides original IP Server automatically and completely removes OWASP top vulnerabilities.

5. Make sure the web application input is valid

Because Hackers often probe the limits of web applications, using invalid inputs to perform SQL injections, multisite scripting, and other web application attacks. So most developers these days when deploying a mainstream web application require input validation.

APIs are also affected by the same issues as above. So they also need to be protected by input validation processes. In a best-case scenario, developers should use a "whitelist" approach that specifies exactly what type and amount of data is allowed for any API input variable. At a minimum, they should implement a "denial list" approach to blocking malicious input.

6. Use API Gateway to increase safety monitoring

Securing and monitoring APIs is hard work. Therefore, the use of API Gateway is the necessary solution at this time. API Gateway allows developers and security teams to centrally create and enforce security policies.

API Gateways also help developers reduce a significant portion of the security burden by providing authentication, authorization, rate limiting, and other security controls for the APIs they provide.

In particular, VNIS's API security solution as a security gateway layer works outside the customer's system, and effectively blocks and filters invalid requests.

Summary

APIs are incredibly powerful tools that can help organizations advance their business goals and better integrate with customers, suppliers, and business partners. However, these tools also open up an organization's technology infrastructure, requiring careful security measures to protect data and critical infrastructure.

For support and advice on API security solutions for businesses, please contact VNETWORK immediately via hotline: (028) 7306 8789 we will support you as soon as possible.