APIs are the backbone of many modern applications, allowing software solutions to communicate and share data. Ensuring the security of APIs is paramount to the overall security of an application and is a critical component of an organization’s security posture.

API security testing aims to identify vulnerabilities that could be exploited by a potential attacker. It involves evaluating the security of an API from different perspectives, including checking the data encryption methods used, assessing the authentication and authorization mechanisms, and evaluating the responses of the API for different types of requests.

Related content: Read our guide to API Security Scanning

What Is the Origin of API Security Testing?

API security testing emerged as a response to the growing reliance on APIs in modern software architectures. As the adoption of APIs increased, they became a prime target for attackers due to the vast amounts of sensitive data and functionality they expose. Initially, security concerns around APIs were addressed within broader application security efforts. However, as APIs became integral to cloud-based applications, microservices, and mobile app development, the need for specialized security testing grew.

Historically, APIs were simple and often internal-facing, which limited their exposure to external threats. But with the rise of open APIs and the increasing interconnectedness of software systems, security testing began to focus specifically on the unique risks associated with API interactions.

Read the full guide: The Complete Guide to API Security Testing in Your Organization