By: Senthil Kumar Arumugam, Associate Director (Cloud Security Practice Lead) – Cloud Security PU, LTIMindtree

In the age of artificial intelligence (AI), cloud-native APIs and architectures are becoming the cornerstone of modern digital transformation. Enterprises are increasingly adopting cloud-native applications and microservices, which rely heavily on application programming interfaces (APIs) for communication between services. While cloud-native APIs and solutions offer scalability, flexibility, and efficiency, they also introduce new API gateway security vulnerabilities, among others.

Cloud-native APIs, being the bridge between various services, have become prime targets for cybercriminals. Their open nature, along with insufficient API gateway security measures, renders them susceptible to a range of attacks, including data breaches, denial of service (DoS), and unauthorized access. The rapid adoption of AI and machine learning further complicates the security landscape.

In this blog, we will explore the current security challenges surrounding cloud-native APIs and provide strategies for securing them.

The Growing Threat to Cloud-Native APIs

As the adoption of cloud-native APIs continues to accelerate, so does the threat landscape surrounding APIs. A recent study by Akamai found that 84% of organizations reported experiencing API gateway security incidents in the past year¹. APIs have become a popular attack vector for cybercriminals looking to exploit vulnerabilities in modern, decentralized systems.

The rise of AI-driven technologies has further exacerbated the issue. AI can be used by attackers to automate API exploitation, making attacks faster and more efficient. Malicious bots, powered by machine learning, can identify and exploit API vulnerabilities at scale, overwhelming security and defenses.

One high-profile example is the 2020 data breach involving a leading tech company, which exposed millions of user records due to an insecure API². The breach was attributed to weak authentication mechanisms in the API gateway security, which allowed attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data.

Furthermore, the increasing adoption of serverless computing and microservices has introduced complexity in API management, making it harder to monitor and secure cloud-native API traffic. Many organizations rely on automated scaling and dynamic environments, where APIs are continuously created and destroyed, often without proper security controls.

How to Safeguard Cloud-Native APIs Against Modern Attacks

Securing cloud-native APIs requires a multi-layered approach that addresses both technical and organizational challenges. Here are several key strategies and recommendations to secure cloud-native APIs in the age of AI:

Figure 1: Security strategies against modern attacks

Success Story: Securing APIs at Scale

A leading e-commerce platform successfully secured its cloud-native APIs by implementing a robust multi-layered security strategy. The company adopted an API gateway to centralize API management and enforce security policies across its microservices architecture. By implementing OAuth and JWT for authentication and authorization, they ensured that only authorized users and applications could access their cloud-native APIs.

To further protect against attacks, the company integrated API gateway security testing tools into their continuous integration (CI) pipeline. This allowed developers to identify and fix security vulnerabilities early in the development process. Additionally, the company adopted AI-driven threat detection tools that continuously monitored API traffic, enabling them to detect and respond to suspicious activities in real-time.

As a result of these efforts, the company was able to mitigate several high-risk API security incidents, preventing unauthorized access to customer data and maintaining customer trust.

Conclusion

As organizations continue to embrace cloud-native API technologies and AI-driven solutions, securing APIs has become more critical than ever. APIs, which serve as the backbone of modern applications, are increasingly targeted by cybercriminals looking to exploit vulnerabilities for financial gain or disruption. To mitigate these risks, organizations must adopt a multi-layered approach to API gateway security, including strong authentication, centralized API management, real-time monitoring, and regular security audits. By staying proactive and integrating AI-powered threat detection, businesses can protect their cloud-native applications from emerging threats and ensure their systems remain secure in the complex digital landscape.

References

1. Study Reveals Security Teams Feel the Impact of Rising API Threats, Rupesh Chokshi, Akamai, November 13, 2024: https://www.akamai.com/blog/security/study-reveals-security-teams-feel-impact-rising-api-threats
2. API Vulnerabilities: Lessons from 10 High-Profile Incidents, Aladdin Elston, Altimetrik, June 18, 2024: https://www.altimetrik.com/blog/api-vulnerabilities-growing-concern