1、W H I T E PA P E RAPI Security Fundamentals:Build Your Knowledge,Secure the E|2IntroductionAPIs have evolved rapidly from an implementation detail to a strategic enabler of digital innovation.Every time a customer,partner,or vendor engages with a business digitally,theres an API behind the scenes fa

2、cilitating a seamless data exchange.As APIs proliferate,so do their risks.In the race to quickly create and release new applications and AI-enhanced services,the underlying APIs are too often misconfigured,lacking in security controls,and vulnerable to easily executed attacks.As a result,APIs have e

3、merged as a top attack vector,leaving many security teams to play catch-up with their API security strategies.Therefore,API security is quickly emerging as a top strategic priority for IT and security executives.Whether youre looking to ground yourself in API security basics or are assembling a list

4、 of the right questions to ask,this guide offers the details you need to know,including:The different types of APIs What API security means for businesses today Best practices for addressing API security risks Common API attack and abuse methodsTo go directly to API security best practices,you can s

5、kip ahead to page |3Table of ContentsAPI basicsAPI security risks and abuseAPI security explainedAPI security solutions and |4API basicsWhat is a web API?A web application programming interface,or API,consists of one or more endpoints of a defined requestresponse message system,typically expressed i

6、n JSON or XML,which are publicly exposed via the web most commonly by means of an HTTP-based web server.In other words,a web API is what most people think of when they hear“API.”Its a collection of endpoints.Endpoints consist of resource paths,the operations that can be performed on these resources,