What Is API Security?
A frequently quoted view is that there is no such thing as API security; it’s just an evolution of application security we have been practicing for the last two decades. However, I believe that it is a discrete and important discipline. Join me on the journey into API security.
APIs are the backbone of a modern digital economy, allowing the exchange of critical data and the interconnectivity of different systems. APIs are the fuel that have fired digital innovation for the last decade. Given the critical role of APIs in our digital world, it is vital that they are secure. This chapter sets out the foundational concepts of APIs, particularly in relation to security.
In this chapter, we will examine exactly what is meant by API security and understand the key elements of this exciting and emerging security domain, covering topics such as the following:
- The importance of API security
- Understanding the basics of APIs
- API data formats
- Elements of API security and API security goals