API and API security are crucial for seamless interaction between different software and applications and internet services. APIs serve as the foundation of various digital operations. With the increasing dependence of the company on fire, the challenge also increases. How to improve application security with API monitoring? Check out the explanation below.

What is API? 

API stands for Application Programming Interface, which is a set of rules, protocols, and tools that allow various software applications to communicate. An API defines methods and data formats that can be used to request and exchange information or services.

Examples of API Security Threats

API security threats pose significant risks to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data exchanged through APIs. These threats can be exploited by perpetrators to compromise API endpoints, gain access to sensitive information, and disrupt overall API operations.

Here are some examples of the most common API security threats:

  • Injection Attack

Injection defects, such as SQL injection and command injection, occur when an attacker manipulates input data to execute a malicious command or query against the system. The consequences vary, ranging from unauthorized data access and data manipulation. 

  • Broken Authentication

When authentication is vulnerable, it allows an attacker to bypass the authentication system severely compromising the user’s credential info. The causes include the use of weak passwords and improper implementation of authentication mechanisms. 

  • Exposure Of Sensitive Data

APIs can inadvertently expose sensitive data, from personally identifiable information to financial data. This happens due to insufficient access control, insufficient data encryption, to improper data handling. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to retrieve such sensitive information or steal identities. 

  • Broken Access Control

When an API fails to enforce proper authorization checks, access control vulnerabilities can occur. Attackers or unauthorized users can access resources that are actually restricted. This can result in data leakage and unauthorized data modification.

10 Ways to improve App Security with API Monitoring

In order for applications and software to run properly, it is necessary to conduct a thorough API monitoring. Implementing API monitoring will best protect APIs from various threats and vulnerabilities. Here are some ways to improve application security with the monitoring API:

1. Apply Access Control

Access control mechanisms are essential to ensure that only authorized users or systems have access to protected resources. Implement role-based access control (RBAC), Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC), or other models to ensure highly granular permissions based on user roles, privileges, or attributes.

2. Encrypt API requests and responses

Encryption is essential to protect various sensitive data transmitted over the network. The use of HTTPS/TLS encryption is required to encrypt API traffic, ensuring that data exchanged between clients and servers is secure and cannot be intercepted or tampered with by attackers.

3. Validation and sanitization of Input Data

Data validation and sanitization are essential to prevent injection attacks, such as SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS). Validating and sanitizing all input data received from the client to ensure everything complies with the expected format, type, and range, can help reduce injection vulnerability.

4. Implement Secure Authentication Mechanisms

Use strong and secure authentication mechanisms to verify the identity of the user or system accessing the API. Implement protocols such as OAuth 2.0 or OpenID Connect for delegated authorization and authentication. 

After that, make sure to always apply a strong, hard-to-guess password, multifactor authentication (MFA), or biometric authentication for user authentication. That way, the fire will be more difficult for attackers to penetrate.

5. Apply The Privilege Principle

Follow the principle of least privilege to limit access rights and permissions to the minimum level necessary for a user or system to perform a specific task. Restrict access to sensitive resources or functions based on your role, responsibilities, or business needs. This will reduce attacks and minimize the impact of potential security breaches.

6. Update the API and Patch the API periodically

Be sure to keep the API up to date with the latest patch updates and security fixes to address vulnerabilities and security issues. Periodically Audit API libraries, dependencies, and third-party components for security flaws or vulnerabilities. Then immediately apply a patch or update to reduce the risk.

7. Implement secure logging and monitoring

Implement comprehensive logging and monitoring mechanisms to track and analyze API activity, detect suspicious behavior, and respond to security incidents in real-time. Monitor API access logs, audit trails, and security events for abnormal access attempts, or potential security breaches. After that, take appropriate measures to reduce the risk.

8. Conduct periodic security audits and assessments

Perform security audits, vulnerability assessments, and penetration testing periodically to identify and fix security flaws, vulnerabilities, or misconfigurations in the API. Working closely with network or API security experts as well as external auditors is a highly recommended step. 

With experts, companies can more objectively assess fire safety posture, conduct threat modeling exercises, and implement safety controls based on industry-best practices and standards.

9. Secure API documentation and communication

Protect API documentation, API endpoints, and communication channels from unauthorized access or miscellaneous access. Implement access control, authentication, or encryption mechanisms for API documentation and communication channels (e.g. API gateways). Its purpose is to ensure the confidentiality and integrity of API-related information.

10. Educate and train developers

Finally, it is important to provide ongoing security education and training to developers, architects, and other stakeholders involved in developing and managing APIs. 

Raising awareness about common security risks, best practices, and security guidelines for the design, development, and deployment of secure APIs, empowering teams to build secure, resilient APIs from the ground up is critical to making APIs better, smoother, and always safe from irresponsible attacker attacks. In order for the API to be used without the slightest obstacle and the application to run smoothly, a solid API security is needed. Use a reliable monitoring tool like Netmonk with its product Netmonk Prime. Serving API monitoring, Netmonk Prime is also capable of monitoring networks and servers thoroughly and continuously. Check out the product directly on the Netmonk website!