What is API Discovery?

Why API Discovery Matters

APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) are powerful tools for both organizations and their customers – here’s how they help:

Direct Interaction

APIs enable other programs to interact directly:

• Programs can request data or execute functionality
• This is done using interfaces designed specifically for them
• This avoids interacting with web pages designed for humans

Optimize API Usage

Continuous API discovery is crucial for optimizing API usage. Here’s why it’s important:

1. Enhanced Integration, Governance, and Documentation:
   • Knowledge of an organization’s APIs allows for:
     • Better integration between different systems
     • Improved governance of API usage
     • Clearer and more up-to-date API documentation
2. Improved Application Security and Compliance:
   • APIs can introduce security vulnerabilities.
   • API discovery helps identify and address these vulnerabilities because:
     • You can’t secure APIs you don’t know exist.
     • You can’t ensure uptime and data security if you don’t know what APIs your systems rely on.
   • Effective API discovery is a critical part of an organization’s API security program.
   • It helps protect against common web security threats including those listed in the OWASP Top Ten.

How to Perform API Discovery

API discovery can be performed in a few different ways. In addition to manual processes, there are also tools available to expedite the process.

An organization can perform manual API discovery by monitoring network traffic and/or scanning its network. Inspecting network traffic can help with identifying active API connections and usage based on requests and responses present in the API traffic.

You can also scan its endpoints looking for systems that respond to requests and mapping out their capabilities.

Companies can also take advantage of automated tools for API discovery, which can dramatically expedite the process. These tools may be available as standalone offerings or integrated into your security appliances.

This use of integrated API discovery enhances an organization’s overall security by ensuring that web security solutions — such as an organization’s web application firewall (WAF) or web application and API protection (WAAP) solution — are aware of the functionality of various API endpoints and properly protecting them against potential exploitation.