API Security Fundamentals

Executive summary 

  • Overview of API security: The white paper offers a detailed guide to comprehending API security, emphasizing the critical nature of securing APIs and the potential risks posed by unsecured APIs.

  • Common vulnerabilities: Common vulnerabilities, including implementation flaws, broken authentication mechanisms, and insecure data storage, are frequently targeted and exploited by attackers.

  • Attack methods: The document delineates common attack methodologies, including cross-site scripting (XSS) and API abuse, and elucidates strategies for their mitigation.

  • Best practices: This paper provides best practices for securing APIs, which include continuous testing, strong authentication, rate limiting, and advanced threat detection and monitoring.

  • Akamai solutions: Akamai’s API security solutions, including API Security and App & API Protector, can assist organizations in the discovery, monitoring, and protection of their APIs against a range of threats and abuses.