Code to Prod: Learn how to practice API security in SDLC
In this blog, we are going to discuss Code to Prod: Learn how to practice API security in SDLC.
Securing APIs goes beyond security—it involves IT operations and architecture to drive security outcomes. API security must span the entire software lifecycle, from development to runtime and end-of-service. With DevOps and CI/CD, development is continuous, making security an ongoing requirement. Modern applications comprise interconnected micro-services and APIs, requiring thorough security from design to deployment. Protecting APIs means understanding these connections, monitoring traffic, and addressing vulnerabilities early, ensuring security is integral to both development and operations.
API security must span the entire SDLC and beyond
API security must be active at the development stage of an application’s life, at runtime, and beyond – through the entire software development lifecycle (SDLC). Starting with development, developers may instruct applications to invoke API functionality through API calls or create APIs that expose the app’s functionality and data to other software applications. Both modes of API operation create risk exposure.
API security risks occur for a variety of reasons, but many have to do with problems in API configuration that affect user authentication and authorization. A misconfigured API might allow an unknown user to access sensitive data. Alternatively, a mistake in configuration could enable a user to get data beyond what is permitted. Other configuration issues can allow an attacker to overload the API with calls and execute a denial-of-service (DoS) attack.
At development
API security testing can mitigate such API risks at the development stage. The testing needs to be specific to APIs because general-purpose application testing will not catch issues like API misconfiguration. Instead, a dedicated API security testing suite needs to identify API vulnerabilities and facilitate their remediation before the software gets deployed.
To work, API security testing has to be positioned early in the development process, which is known as the shift-left approach. The testing suite must integrate with the CI/CD pipeline, as well. Otherwise, the security remediation process will be too cumbersome for DevOps team members to handle
Executing API security on an end-to-end basis requires having the right tools. An effective end-to-end API security solution will be one that can handle API security testing, API runtime security, and API security posture management and inventorying. One needs to take a critical look at existing tooling, as most WAFs and API gateways do not cover development, testing, runtime monitoring, and inventory.
The API security solution should also ideally operate in ways that don’t affect the network or API performance. For example, Akamai API security solutions work by monitoring a copy of network traffic. They can spot API calls in this copied network traffic, identifying unknown APIs and security threats in the process.
API security must cover all phases of an API’s life, from development through runtime and retirement. Security comes in part from processes that are not technically about security, such as API inventories. Because unknown APIs create risk exposure, identifying them makes their applications more secure. It’s an end-to-end proposition. The more complete the API security measures are, the more secure the entire environment will be.