As part of the State of the Internet (SOTI) reports, a series of threats and data insights from Akamai, this year marks the 10th year in which Akamai has been publishing these reports. Since then, the focus of these reports has changed, mainly due to the evolution of the threat and operational ecosystems. During this year's conference, people split the web application and API attacks into separate groups to better understand their situation. 

As a result of that, API security has become more visible. The rapid deployment of APIs has resulted in several blind spots like zombies, shadows, and rogue APIs, which are a sign that business transformation is taking place. To find and manage all APIs, users must use cyber controls. It has been observed that APIs are of critical importance to the success of most companies because they improve both the employee and customer experience. 

This rapid expansion of the API economy has allowed cybercriminals to exploit these new opportunities, but they have also used digital innovation to their advantage. It has been highlighted in the most recent SOTI report, Lurking in the Shadows: Attack Trends Shine Light on API Threats, that a wide range of attacks are taking place across both websites and APIs. In addition to traditional web attacks, API-specific attacks are also being discussed, as well as posture and runtime challenges that can be abused or allow direct attack through API. 

As the demand for APIs increases, it is predicted that these attacks will continue to spike, and organizations are encouraged to properly account for and secure the APIs they use. It also discusses how to mitigate threats and comply with compliance regulations. This research also explores some of the most common problems that arise when it comes to postures and runtimes. 

There are several case studies included in the report that demonstrate the real-world implications of API security on an organization and there are breakout reports containing data from the regions of Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) as well as Asia-Pacific and Japan (APJ). Throughout history, APIs have played a key role in facilitating the exchange of critical and valuable information between customers and partner organizations, but they are also presenting a challenge to many security organizations due to the lack of API infrastructure and programming skills. 

The lack of comprehensive and accurate accounting of APIs in several organizations makes it difficult to determine just how large their attack surface is because the number of APIs in these organizations is not comprehensive and accurate. The Akamai research found that APIs are being tasked with both traditional attacks and API-specific attacks, requiring a combination of protections to keep them safe. 

Akamai powers and protects life online. Countless people live, work, and play every day because Akamai powers and protects their digital experiences. With Akamai Connected Cloud, a massively distributed cloud and edge platform that enables users to access apps and experiences closer to them and keeps threats to a minimum, it brings them closer to users while keeping them safe from attacks.