What Is an API Security Provider?

An API security provider (or consultant) is a company or organization that specializes in providing security solutions and services for APIs. The primary goal of an API security provider is to help organizations protect their APIs from threats and vulnerabilities, ensuring that the data and services to which they provide access are protected.

APIs serve as the backbone of many web applications, mobile applications, and microservices frameworks. Their widespread use has made them an attractive target of cybercrime. 

Here are some of the key functions that an API security provider typically provides:

• API security assessment: An API security provider will typically conduct a thorough assessment of an organization’s APIs, to identify potential security risks and vulnerabilities. This may involve a review of the APIs themselves, as well as any supporting infrastructure and third-party integrations.
• Implementation and integration: An API security provider may be responsible for the implementation and integration of security solutions, like API gateways, firewalls, and encryption and tokenization. This may include working with the organization’s IT and development teams to ensure that the solutions are properly implemented and integrated with existing systems.
• Ongoing monitoring and management: An API security provider will provide ongoing monitoring and management of an organization’s APIs, to detect and respond to security threats and incidents in real time. This may involve the use of advanced security tools and technologies, as well as a team of dedicated security experts.
• Training and education: An API security provider may also provide training and education to the organization’s IT and development teams, to help them better understand API security risks and best practices. This may include training on secure coding practices, threat detection and response, and incident management.

An API security provider plays an important role in helping organizations protect their APIs and the data and services to which they have access.

API security providers, like Akamai, use a combination of methods to protect APIs against various threats. First, we employ advanced API threat protection mechanisms to detect and mitigate potential risks like DDoS attacks, API abuse, and injection attacks. 

These systems analyze incoming API requests for suspicious patterns and block any potentially harmful requests.

Authentication and authorization: API security providers use authentication and authorization protocols to confirm the identity of the user making the request. Typically, this involves the use of OAuth, an open standard for access delegation, and JWT (JSON Web Tokens), a compact, URL-safe way of representing claims to be transferred between two parties.

Rate limiting: Rate limiting is also employed to prevent API abuse. This involves limiting the number of API requests that can be made by a single user or system within a certain time period. Rate limiting helps to prevent DDoS attacks and ensures that the API remains available for all legitimate users.

Encryption: Another significant element of API security is encryption. This involves encoding API data so that it can only be read by authorized parties. Encryption is particularly crucial when sensitive data is being transmitted via the API.

Logging and reporting: LLastly, the best API security providers offer detailed logging and reporting features. This enables organizations to monitor API usage, identify any unusual or suspicious activity, and respond to potential security incidents quickly. 

By combining all these methods, API security providers offer complete protection for APIs, helping organizations keep their data secure and their systems running smoothly.