What is API discovery?
Imagine a vast digital ecosystem where applications interact seamlessly, exchanging data and functionalities through hidden pathways called APIs (Application Programming Interfaces). These APIs drive efficiency, enhance user experiences, and fuel business growth. However, managing and securing them effectively requires an essential first step: API discovery.

This crucial practice involves identifying all APIs within your organization, regardless of their origin, type, or accessibility. Whether internal, external, managed, unmanaged, documented, or undocumented, no API escapes discovery. Why is this so crucial? Because APIs are now an integral part of every organization's digital landscape, and neglecting them leaves vulnerabilities exposed.

Understanding the Need for Discovery:

A recent survey by Cequence Security and ESG revealed that 37% of organizations struggle with API visibility. This lack of awareness significantly hinders their API security initiatives. Two primary concerns addressed by API discovery are:

• Shadow APIs: These are undocumented and ungoverned APIs, often unknown to the organization. They pose significant security risks as they lack proper security controls and can become entry points for malicious actors.
• Zombie APIs: These are outdated, deprecated, or abandoned APIs that remain publicly accessible. Though seemingly inactive, they might still harbor unpatched vulnerabilities, jeopardizing sensitive data.

Without ongoing API discovery, organizations remain vulnerable to the "triple threat" of:

• API proliferation: The continuous growth of APIs, making it difficult to track them all.
• Lack of visibility: Limited understanding of existing APIs and their associated risks.
• Evolving threats: The constant emergence of new attack methods targeting APIs.

Beyond Inside-Out: A Comprehensive Approach:

Traditionally, organizations have relied on an inside-out approach to API discovery. This method focuses on identifying APIs within their own systems. However, this has limitations as it doesn't account for how attackers might discover and exploit APIs.

To address this gap, an outside-in approach analyzes your organization's public domain to identify publicly accessible APIs, effectively seeing what attackers see. Combining both approaches provides a comprehensive view of your API landscape, revealing both managed and unmanaged APIs.

Unveiling the Benefits of Discovery:

The right approach to API discovery offers a wealth of security insights:

• Identifying Unsecured APIs: Many APIs lack proper authentication, encryption, or data masking mechanisms, leaving them vulnerable to unauthorized access and data breaches.
• Exposing Shadow APIs: Bringing hidden APIs to light allows for their assessment and implementation of appropriate security controls.
• Detecting API Misuse: Monitoring API activity can reveal suspicious patterns, indicating potential attacks or unauthorized access attempts.

The Path to a Secure Future:

An ideal API discovery process should encompass both inside-out and outside-in perspectives, ensuring continuous refreshing of your API inventory and assessment of their risk profiles. Additionally, presenting the results through user-friendly dashboards empowers stakeholders to understand their API landscape and take necessary actions.

By adopting a comprehensive approach to API discovery, organizations can gain complete visibility into their API ecosystem, identify and address vulnerabilities, and ultimately achieve a more secure digital environment.