API Security is Not a Problem You Can Solve at the Edge
In today’s interconnected digital ecosystems, traditional security mechanisms like Web Application Firewalls (WAFs), API gateways, and Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) act as enforcement points. Think of them as bouncers at the entrance of a high-profile nightclub—they decide who gets in and who doesn’t. However, relying solely on these edge solutions to secure APIs is like assuming a bouncer can stop someone sneaking in through a side door or an open window.
Here are three real-world reasons why API security cannot be fully addressed at the edge:
1. API Discovery is Limited at the Edge
Edge solutions, like API gateways, can uncover some APIs, but their discovery capabilities are inherently limited. The real challenge lies in identifying rogue APIs—those shadow endpoints that developers deploy directly into production, bypassing gateways, CDNs, and WAFs.
Example: Imagine a company launches a mobile app in a rush to meet a product deadline. A developer quickly creates a new API for a feature and deploys it without following standard procedures. This API doesn’t pass through the gateway, making it invisible to edge tools. It’s like leaving a side window open in your house and assuming burglars won’t notice.
Edge solutions only see traffic passing through them. They miss APIs that are hidden, misconfigured, or directly exposed, creating blind spots. Without a solution that digs deeper, like a neighborhood watch keeping an eye on every entry point, organizations remain vulnerable to unmonitored risks.
2. Third-Party API Consumption Happens Beyond the Edge
Modern applications increasingly rely on third-party APIs, from payment processors like Stripe to AI-powered tools like ChatGPT. These APIs often operate outside the reach of edge solutions, as communication between internal workloads and third-party services bypasses the edge entirely.
Example: A logistics app might use a third-party API to calculate shipping rates. If this API mishandles sensitive data—like accidentally logging user payment information—the company might never know because the data flow happens directly between internal servers and the external API, avoiding the edge entirely.
Without visibility inside your infrastructure, these interactions are like sending sensitive documents by courier and assuming the delivery process is secure, despite having no insight into who might intercept it. Protecting against third-party API risks requires monitoring within your application environment, not just at the perimeter.
3. Edge Solutions Lack the "Brain" for Sophisticated Detection
Edge tools prioritize speed. Positioned in critical paths, every millisecond counts, so they excel at quick rule-based detections but lack the depth for context-aware analysis. This is like asking a tollbooth operator to spot counterfeit money—they’re focused on speed, not forensic examination.
Example: One of the most common API vulnerabilities, Broken Object Level Authorization (BOLA), requires analyzing user activity over hours or even days. Imagine a hacker incrementally cycling through user IDs to access unauthorized accounts—like testing door keys until one works. Catching this attack requires long-term session tracking and advanced pattern analysis, which edge solutions can’t handle due to their limited computational scope.
Instead, edge tools are like speed cameras—they catch obvious violations but miss nuanced behavior that unfolds over time, such as someone gradually casing a neighborhood before committing a burglary.
The Need for a Comprehensive Approach
To effectively secure APIs, organizations must adopt a holistic strategy that extends beyond traditional edge solutions. Salt Security offers a comprehensive approach encompassing API discovery, posture governance, and threat protection:
1. Comprehensive API Discovery
Salt Security provides automated, continuous visibility into all APIs, including those that are undocumented or hidden. This ensures that organizations can identify and manage every API in their environment, eliminating blind spots. citeturn0search2
Example: A financial institution discovers several shadow APIs that were deployed without proper oversight, allowing them to secure these endpoints before any potential exploitation.
2. Posture Governance
Beyond discovery, Salt Security's platform includes an API posture governance engine that enables organizations to create and enforce custom corporate standards. This ensures compliance throughout the API lifecycle and aligns all stakeholders. citeturn0search8
Example: A healthcare provider uses Salt's posture governance to ensure all APIs handling patient data comply with HIPAA regulations, thereby safeguarding sensitive information.
3. Threat Protection
Salt Security employs AI and machine learning to analyze and correlate activity across millions of APIs and users over time. This approach enables the detection and prevention of sophisticated API attacks, such as those involving credential stuffing or BOLA (Broken Object Level Authorization). citeturn0search2
Example: An e-commerce platform detects and blocks an attacker attempting to enumerate user IDs to access unauthorized accounts, preventing a potential data breach.
By integrating these capabilities, Salt Security ensures organizations have the visibility, control, and intelligence needed to protect APIs comprehensively—not just at the edge but throughout their entire lifecycle.
Looking Beyond the Front Door
Edge security is a crucial component of an organization’s defense, but it’s just one piece of the puzzle. API security requires a broader view—ensuring that every potential entry point, whether it’s a front door, a side window, or a basement hatch, is accounted for and protected. Only then can organizations truly secure their digital ecosystems.
For more information, you can schedule a free demo and also download the whitepaper that goes into more detail. Register for our December 19th Webinar: Beyond the Perimeter: Achieving Comprehensive API Security.
