Shifting security left: Embedding API protection into developer workflows

By JD Burke

The accelerated pace of software development frequently places security in the back seat, making APIs vulnerable. 

APIs power today’s digital ecosystems, connecting everything from mobile applications to microservices. However, the accelerated pace of software development frequently places security in the back seat.

The result? APIs remain vulnerable, often with severe consequences. In 2021, Gartner predicted APIs would become the primary attack vector for application breaches, accounting for up to 90% of incidents by 2025. Four years later, this prediction is becoming reality as API-related breaches are on track to increase, highlighting an alarming fact: while development teams quickly ship updates, security often lags, leaving APIs vulnerable for weeks or months before they’re patched.

Why API Security Lags Behind

A key challenge is integrating security into the development lifecycle beyond merely detecting vulnerabilities. APIs are often developed rapidly, prioritizing features and performance over security. When security reviews do occur, they’re frequently done too late and separately from standard QA processes. Unlike typical functional bugs, API vulnerabilities rarely appear on sprint boards or in daily stand-up discussions. Instead, they remain hidden in spreadsheets or specialized security tools, disconnected from developers’ everyday workflows and immediate attention.

Further compounding this issue is the expansive and continuously growing attack surface of APIs. As organizations adopt microservices, cloud computing, and interconnected software solutions, the number of APIs multiplies, significantly expanding potential entry points for attackers. This exponential growth in API complexity and exposure makes comprehensive security increasingly challenging.

Additionally, the surge in AI adoption exacerbates API vulnerabilities. AI-powered applications rely heavily on APIs for real-time data exchange, leading to greater traffic volumes and increased interactions. As more businesses integrate AI tools, APIs face unprecedented levels of exposure, intensifying their vulnerability to sophisticated and automated attacks. According to recent reports, API-related security incidents surged dramatically, with a recorded 1,205% increase in incidents attributed directly to AI usage.

The consequences of these factors are severe, as fragmented communication and unclear security responsibilities result in teams overlooking critical vulnerabilities. For example, a known API misconfiguration identified through static analysis might linger unresolved because the relevant ticket never reaches a developer’s active backlog.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Integrating API Security

To address this disconnect, teams should integrate vulnerability management directly into their standard development processes. This can be done through a four-step process:

1. Integrate API Security: Treat Vulnerabilities Like Functional Defects

Effectively addressing API security means integrating vulnerability management directly into standard development processes. The concept is straightforward — treat API vulnerabilities like functional bugs. When vulnerabilities appear in familiar issue-tracking tools alongside other bugs or user stories, they’re more likely to receive immediate attention. Prioritization, too, becomes clearer when security issues are presented in the same language developers use on a daily basis.

This approach aligns vulnerability remediation with agile workflows. For example, an injection vulnerability in an API call should generate the same urgency as a functional defect impacting customer transactions. The severity rating might vary, but the process and visibility remain consistent.

2. Automate Early and Often

It is essential to automate security checks early in the API development lifecycle. Static Application Security Testing (SAST) and Software Composition Analysis (SCA) tools should integrate seamlessly with continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipelines, flagging vulnerabilities in real time. This ensures teams catch and fix issues during initial development rather than after deployment.

Continuous monitoring further complements automation, highlighting issues such as unusual API traffic patterns, credential misuse, or potential denial-of-service scenarios before they escalate.

3. Implement Standardized Security Criteria

Standardizing vulnerability classification helps teams quickly assess API risks and determine actionable steps. Clearly defined severity ratings and uniform triage criteria reduce confusion and help prioritize vulnerabilities based on actual risk rather than perceived urgency.

Using shared, documented standards like OWASP’s API Security Top 10 provides teams with a clear framework for risk assessment and mitigation strategies.

4. Promote Collaboration Across Teams

Effective API security hinges on collaboration. Security engineers must work closely with developers and QA teams from the outset, establishing clear responsibilities and communication channels. Regular cross-team meetings ensure that vulnerabilities aren’t merely detected but understood and swiftly resolved.

Security isn’t just a checkbox; it’s a continuous, collaborative effort embedded within every API design and development stage.

Build Security into Your APIs, Not Around Them

Secure API development boils down to seamless integration, not added steps. When security is a natural part of daily workflows and vulnerability management aligns with quality assurance, teams cut risks while preserving speed and agility. Organizations effectively close critical gaps and protect their reputation, customer trust, and bottom line by uniting API security with regular development practices. The key is to bring security onto the same well-traveled path of everyday development.