APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) have become the backbone of modern digital ecosystems, enabling seamless integration and data exchange between a wide array of applications and services. From ordering meals through food delivery apps to accessing real-time weather updates, APIs underpin countless daily interactions. However, the very attributes that make APIs so indispensable – their ubiquity and high functionality – also render them appealing targets for malicious actors.

API abuse and web application bot attacks are often confused. This is understandable, as both involve automated interactions and are usually executed by bots. Both attack vectors are prevalent; criminals are always eager to disrupt the foundations on which businesses base their operations to achieve their malicious goals and they frequently automate their actions for maximum results.

Let’s be honest: APIs are the unsung heroes of the modern business world. They work silently behind the scenes, connecting applications, driving innovations, and ensuring your digital transformation stays on track. However, there’s a crucial downside: APIs can pose a significant security risk. They can be likened to unlocked doors leading to your sensitive data and essential business functions—an ideal target for hackers.

97% of enterprise leaders consider a well-executed API strategy critical in driving their organization's growth and protecting revenue streams, yet according to a recent study, 84% of security professionals reported API security incidents over the past year. In March, a GitHub breach exposed nearly 13 million API secrets that users had left in the repository over time, severely impacting customer trust and causing reputational damage.

Black Friday may be the pinnacle of the holiday shopping season, a day when online retailers experience unprecedented traffic and revenue opportunities as consumers kick off the Christmas season. For many retailers, it’s a make-or-break event. Yet, with increased traffic comes increased risk, particularly as it relates to cybersecurity and keeping shoppers safe from fraud stemming from a cyberattack on their favorite digital store.

APIs are the backbone of interconnected applications, enabling organizations to innovate, integrate, and scale rapidly. However, as enterprises continue to expand their digital ecosystems, they often encounter a common and complex challenge: API sprawl. Unchecked, API sprawl can lead to increased security risks, inefficient resource utilization, and the frustrating experience of redundant or hard-to-locate services across teams. Postman details the explosive growth in APIs in their State of API report.

APIs are the backbone of modern applications, enabling seamless data exchange between systems. However, the rise of AI agents fundamentally shifts how APIs are utilized. Regular APIs, originally built for deterministic, non-AI use cases, are not inherently designed to handle the complexities and unpredictability of AI-driven applications. Using your regular APIs directly for AI agents or allowing AI agents to integrate without safeguards exposes your systems and data to significant risks.

API calls are the backbone of modern software, enabling applications to communicate and share data seamlessly. However, with this integration comes the challenge of understanding and managing the identities used in API calls. These identities, often tied to authentication and authorization mechanisms, are crucial for determining what data is accessed and exchanged.

There is no doubt that attackers have shifted their attention to APIs. Wallarm’s API ThreatStats research identifies that 70% of attacks now target APIs instead of Web Applications. While APIs have become the backbone of innovation and connectivity for businesses, they have also introduced a vast attack surface that’s challenging to defend with traditional methods alone.