ELI5: What is API security?
An API is like a drive-through window — apps place orders through it to get data or services. API security makes sure only the right customers can place orders, nobody tampers with the menu, and no one sneaks in through the window.
Definition
API security encompasses the practices, tools, and policies used to protect Application Programming Interfaces from unauthorized access, abuse, and exploitation. In cloud environments, virtually all services are accessed and managed through APIs, making API security a critical component of the overall cloud security posture. Threats include broken authentication, injection attacks, and excessive data exposure.
Key Details
- APIs should require authentication (API keys, OAuth 2.0, JWT tokens) for every request
- Rate limiting prevents API abuse and denial-of-service attacks
- Input validation prevents injection attacks (SQL injection, command injection via API parameters)
- API gateways centralize authentication, logging, and traffic management for APIs
- OWASP API Security Top 10 provides a framework for API-specific vulnerabilities
Connections
- Parent: cloud-security — API security is essential for securing cloud-native architectures
- See also: secrets-management