The rise of APIs presents both opportunities and challenges in today’s hyperconnected digital world. APIs are integral to digital transformation initiatives across industries. The latest data indicates that over 83% of web traffic now comprises API traffic, highlighting their critical role in modern web applications using microservices, cloud, and hybrid environments. However, this also underscores the vulnerabilities that accompany their widespread adoption. This rapid increase in API usage expands the attack surface, making effective API security solutions more crucial than ever. Moreover, regulations like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) in California mandate stringent data protection measures, with non-compliance resulting in hefty fines. For instance, GDPR violations can incur fines of up to 4% of annual global turnover or €20 million, whichever is higher. These regulations drive the need for robust API security to ensure compliance and protect sensitive data. However, securing APIs for the modern application development world comes with its own set of challenges. Discovering all APIs across various environments—hybrid, multi-cloud, and others—remains a significant challenge due to the complexity and diversity of modern IT architectures. Forrester's 2024 predictions highlight the difficulty of managing API security without comprehensive visibility into the API inventory, given that an average…Read More
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