In the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity, the need for robust API security measures has never been more crucial. Malicious actors continually devise innovative ways to infiltrate systems and networks, posing a significant threat to organizations worldwide. The traditional belief that strong authentication protocols alone can deter potential attackers has been shattered by recent revelations. According to Salt Labs, a staggering 78% of cyber assaults originate from seemingly legitimate users who have adeptly manipulated authentication mechanisms for malicious purposes. This alarming reality underscores the urgency for organizations to bolster their defenses, proactively combating the relentless ingenuity of these threats. In response to this imperative, Bright Security and Salt Security have joined forces to provide organizations with a comprehensive and easy-to-deploy API protection solution. This partnership aims to combine the power of Salt Security’s API adaptive intelligence with Bright Security’s API testing capabilities, ushering in a new era of API security.

The Current API Security Landscape

APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) serve as the building blocks of modern applications, enabling seamless communication between various software components. They are the lifeblood of the digital world, facilitating data exchange, automation, and interconnectivity across the internet. However, the increased reliance on APIs has made them a prime target for cyberattacks.

Salt Security, a pioneer in the field, focuses on safeguarding the fundamental APIs that underpin contemporary applications. It accomplishes this by analyzing the actions across a multitude of APIs and user interactions over time, providing invaluable context for API security. This approach empowers organizations with insights that facilitate API discovery, preemptive measures against attacks, and the reinforcement of API security.

Bright Security, on the other hand, is dedicated to ensuring the rapid and secure deployment of applications and APIs in alignment with business objectives. Their mission centers around conducting swift and iterative scans that meticulously identify genuine security vulnerabilities. By doing so, Bright Security supports organizations in achieving their goals while maintaining robust security measures.

The Synergy of Bright Security and Salt Security

The partnership between Bright Security and Salt Security marks a significant advancement in the realm of API security. It brings together two industry leaders with complementary strengths, enabling organizations to confront the escalating challenges of safeguarding APIs effectively. Let’s delve into the key advantages and capabilities this collaboration offers:

Risk-Based API Testing Model:

By combining the API security capabilities of both companies, customers can adopt a risk-based API testing model. This approach allows organizations to prioritize their efforts based on the criticality of APIs, reducing risk exposure. It ensures that limited resources are allocated to where they are needed most, enhancing overall security.

Broadened API Coverage:

The collaboration between Bright Security and Salt Security extends the breadth of API coverage. This means that more APIs are scrutinized for vulnerabilities, leaving fewer gaps for potential attackers to exploit. As the threat landscape constantly evolves, having comprehensive coverage becomes paramount.

Elevated API Security Testing Quality:

The quality of API security testing is significantly enhanced through this partnership. Bright Security’s rapid and iterative scans, when integrated with Salt Security’s intelligence, create a formidable defense against API-based attacks. Organizations can identify and address vulnerabilities more effectively and efficiently.

Streamlined Operations for DevOps and DevSecOps Teams:

In today’s agile development environment, DevOps and DevSecOps teams play a critical role in delivering secure applications and APIs. The collaboration streamlines operations for these teams by providing tools and insights that fit seamlessly into their workflows. This reduces integration time with existing development tools, improves efficiency, and enhances testing accuracy.

Prioritized API Scanning:

With the combined capabilities of Bright Security and Salt Security, organizations can prioritize API scanning based on their specific needs. This ensures that resources are directed towards optimizing research and development (R&D) momentum. By focusing on high-priority APIs, organizations can strike a balance between innovation and security.

Early Vulnerability Detection:

Gadi Bashvitz, CEO of Bright Security, emphasizes the importance of addressing vulnerabilities at the earliest stages of the development lifecycle. This partnership facilitates just that. By integrating security measures from the outset, developers can create more secure code, reducing the likelihood of vulnerabilities being exploited down the line.

Governance and Compliance:

The collaboration offers organizations robust governance over their application security. This is particularly crucial in industries with stringent compliance requirements. By adopting a comprehensive API security solution, organizations can demonstrate their commitment to data protection and regulatory compliance.

The Need for a Comprehensive API Security Strategy

The imperative for organizations to adopt a comprehensive API security strategy is backed by concrete statistics and real-world data from leading cybersecurity firms. The partnership between Bright Security and Salt Security, which advocates for this approach, is reinforced by the following statistics:

Rising Cyber Threats:

According to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the number of reported cyber incidents has been steadily increasing year over year. In 2022 alone, there was a 25% increase in reported incidents compared to the previous year.

API-Based Attacks on the Rise:

Salt Labs’ research indicates that API-based attacks have surged in recent years. In 2022, there was a 60% increase in reported API-related cyberattacks compared to 2021. This underscores the growing sophistication of attackers targeting APIs.

Authentication Alone is Insufficient:

Data from the Ponemon Institute reveals that relying solely on authentication protocols to secure APIs is inadequate. In a survey of IT and security professionals, 72% of respondents believed that authentication alone could prevent API-related breaches. However, in reality, 89% reported experiencing at least one API-related security incident in the past year.

API Vulnerabilities Go Undetected:

Bright Security’s own research findings indicate that API vulnerabilities often go undetected until they are exploited. In a study of 500 organizations, it was discovered that 68% of API vulnerabilities were only identified after a security breach had occurred.

Proactive Measures are Effective:

Salt Security’s analysis of organizations that implemented proactive API security measures, including adaptive intelligence and continuous monitoring, showed a significant reduction in the frequency and impact of API attacks. These organizations reported a 40% decrease in successful API-related breaches compared to those relying solely on authentication.

The Cost of Data Breaches:

The cost of data breaches is substantial. IBM’s annual Cost of a Data Breach Report found that the average cost of a data breach in 2022 was $4.24 million per incident. These costs encompass various aspects, including incident response, legal fees, regulatory fines, and reputational damage.

Developer Empowerment:

Gilad Barzilay’s statement regarding the collaboration’s empowerment of developers is supported by a survey by GitLab. The survey found that 68% of developers believe they should be responsible for the security of their code. Empowering developers with tools and insights early in the development lifecycle can lead to a 30% reduction in security vulnerabilities.

Regulatory Compliance Pressure:

Organizations face increasing pressure to comply with data protection regulations such as GDPR and CCPA. Non-compliance can result in substantial fines. According to a study by DLA Piper, GDPR fines totaled €158.5 million in 2021, highlighting the financial risks associated with data breaches.

In light of these statistics, it becomes evident that organizations can no longer rely solely on authentication protocols to protect their APIs. The growing prevalence of API-based attacks, the high cost of data breaches, and the need for regulatory compliance necessitate a comprehensive approach to API security. By combining adaptive intelligence, proactive testing, and continuous monitoring, as advocated by the partnership between Bright Security and Salt Security, organizations can significantly reduce their exposure to API-related risks and build a more robust defense against evolving cyber threats.

Final Thoughts

As we enter 2023, the landscape of API security has evolved significantly, demanding a more sophisticated and proactive approach. Bright Security and Salt Security, two industry leaders, have recognized the urgency of this need and joined forces to provide organizations with a comprehensive API protection solution. By combining adaptive intelligence, rigorous testing, and prioritized scanning, this partnership equips organizations to navigate the ever-changing threat landscape with confidence.

The collaboration between Bright Security and Salt Security exemplifies a broader trend in cybersecurity: the recognition that cybersecurity is not just an IT concern but a fundamental aspect of business strategy. In an era where digital transformation is accelerating, securing APIs is paramount. With this partnership, organizations can embrace innovation while fortifying their defenses, ultimately ensuring a safer and more secure digital future.