How to Use ITSM, SIEM, and SOAR to Remediate API Attacks

Akamai acquired Noname Security in June 2024. This archived blog post was originally published on July 24, 2023.

Why are API attacks on the rise? Because APIs offer so much to attackers. They’re often built with misconfigurations, coding errors, and missing authentication controls, which make them easy to exploit. And their most important job — continuously exchanging data among applications and systems — makes them an appealing target for attackers who are seeking an efficient data breach.

Many organizations are seeing firsthand why it’s important to prioritize API security and adopt robust security measures. However, it’s not always clear where to start. In this blog post, we’ll talk about how you can use three tools to help secure APIs from attacks, in collaboration with a comprehensive API security solution:

1. IT service management (ITSM)
2. Security information and event management (SIEM)
3. Security orchestration, automation, and response (SOAR)

Let’s begin with a quick overview of what these three technologies offer and how they’re used by organizations.

ITSM is a set of practices and strategies used to design, deliver, manage, and improve IT services within an organization. It focuses on aligning IT services with the needs of the business and ensuring that IT processes are efficient and effective. ITSM encompasses various disciplines, including incident management, problem management, change management, and service level management. By implementing ITSM best practices, organizations can enhance their IT operations, increase customer satisfaction, and achieve their business objectives.

SIEM is a technology that combines security information management (SIM) and security event management (SEM) functionalities. Its primary purpose is to provide real-time monitoring, correlation, and analysis of security events across an organization’s IT infrastructure. SIEM systems collect logs and data from various sources, such as network devices, servers, and applications, and then analyze this information to detect and respond to security incidents. SIEM’s ability to aggregate and correlate security events can help organizations identify potential threats, investigate incidents, and comply with regulatory requirements.

SOAR is a technology that aims to streamline and automate security operations. SOAR platforms integrate with various security tools and technologies, enabling organizations to automate repetitive and manual security tasks. Additionally, SOAR provides a centralized view of security operations, facilitates collaboration among different teams, and supports incident response workflows. SOAR can help enterprises improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their security operations, reducing response times and minimizing the impact of security incidents.

SIEM systems can be quite useful in analyzing and correlating security events from various sources, including API logs. By using the capabilities of a SIEM system, you can enhance your enterprise’s ability to identify and analyze API attacks, allowing you to respond swiftly and effectively. In coordination with a comprehensive API security solution, SIEM can be a powerful tool.

The first step in identifying API attacks using an API security solution is to ensure that comprehensive logging is enabled for API transactions. This includes capturing detailed information such as the source IP address, the API endpoint being accessed, the type of request (e.g., GET, POST), and any associated parameters or headers. By collecting this data, organizations can establish a baseline of normal API behavior and detect any anomalies that may indicate an attack.

Once the logs are being properly collected, the next step is to configure the SIEM system to monitor and analyze these logs in real time. This involves creating custom rules and alerts that can detect suspicious patterns or known attack signatures. For example, if an API endpoint is being accessed an unusually high number of times within a short period, it may indicate a brute-force attack or an attempt to overwhelm the system.

Once an API attack is detected, the SIEM system can generate automated alerts and send notifications to the appropriate security personnel. These alerts can include detailed information about the attack, such as the specific API endpoint targeted, the type of attack (e.g., SQL injection, cross-site scripting), and any associated indicators of compromise. This enables organizations to respond promptly and initiate the necessary remediation steps to mitigate the attack and prevent further damage.

By leveraging ITSM principles in API security, organizations can establish a robust framework to identify, assess, and mitigate potential risks associated with API use.

The first step is to define clear policies and guidelines. This includes establishing an API security policy that outlines the acceptable use of APIs, authentication and authorization protocols, data encryption standards, and incident response procedures. These policies should be communicated to all stakeholders to ensure compliance and accountability.

Next, organizations should adopt a comprehensive API security solution that supports ITSM principles. This solution should provide features such as API discovery, monitoring, and access control. It should also integrate with existing ITSM tools to streamline incident management and change control processes.

By defining clear policies, adopting a comprehensive API security platform, implementing strong authentication measures, and regularly assessing security posture, organizations can establish a robust framework to enhance API security and mitigate potential risks. Having an API security solution routing the requests to the proper back-end teams is also a huge benefit. If it can add the proper context about who owns the API in question, these ITSM systems can automatically route the requests to the right teams.

As organizations face an increase in API attacks, it’s important to implement controls and capabilities for responding swiftly and decisively to mitigate risks. This is where SOAR comes into play. SOAR is a comprehensive approach to incident response that combines the power of automation, orchestration, and machine learning to streamline and enhance the remediation process. This can help enterprises dramatically reduce response times, minimize human error, and improve overall security posture.

One of the key benefits of SOAR in API-related security remediation is to orchestrate security operations by integrating disparate security tools and systems. By connecting and synchronizing these tools, SOAR allows for seamless information sharing and collaboration across the entire incident response lifecycle.

This orchestration capability not only enhances visibility and situational awareness but also facilitates coordinated remediation efforts, enabling organizations to respond more effectively to cyberthreats.

SOAR uses machine learning to analyze vast amounts of security data and identify patterns and trends that might go unnoticed by human analysts. By continuously learning and adapting, SOAR platforms can detect and respond to emerging threats in real time, providing organizations with a proactive defense mechanism.

This capability not only helps organizations to remediate API security incidents promptly but also helps in preventing similar attacks from occurring in the future. By combining automation and orchestration, SOAR enables organizations to respond swiftly and effectively to cyberthreats. With its ability to automate repetitive tasks, orchestrate security operations, and leverage machine learning, SOAR streamlines the remediation process, enhances your API security posture, and can ultimately help your organization stay one step ahead of evolving attack methods.