The Rising Need for Enhanced API Security in Modern Business
At this point many companies have either transitioned to a Service-Oriented Architectures (SOA) or Microservices Architecture. This could be out of need, part of a modernization effort, or maybe your apps were just born this way. Regardless, the digital frontier has seen a swift transition towards Service-Oriented Architectures (SOA) and Microservices.
These changes allow businesses to be agile, responding promptly to the ever-shifting market needs. Integral to this transformation is the role of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). APIs are now considered the lifeblood of contemporary software design. Acting as liaisons, they enable different software applications to converse and exchange data. But with the ever-growing need for such digital integrations, there’s an increasing demand for more APIs.
This growing landscape, although beneficial, raises valid concerns about data security and potential cyber threats. During many of these transitions what we learn is many of our development teams have implemented often time implemented non-standard security controls. This leads to some interesting issues when we want to introduce modern development techniques. There are some common wisdoms in this area today and over the course of this series I want to offer some alternative options.
Pitfalls of Non-Standardized Security Practices
For many venturing into a modernization effort, the absence of a standardized security approach brings forth several challenges:
- Extended Development Cycles: A lack of uniform security guidelines can mean that for every new project or feature, there’s a need to devise new security methods. This inconsistency often leads to extended development cycles.
- Operational Inefficiencies and Elevated Costs: Different teams, different security practices. Such a scenario is a recipe for overlaps, redundancies, and an uptick in associated costs.
- Vulnerability Hotspots: Variations in security practices across APIs can lead to a patchwork of potential entry points for malicious entities.
- Challenges with Compliance: Ensuring adherence to industry norms and data protection standards becomes daunting without a unified security blueprint.
How do we mitigate or compensate for these inefficiencies?
Generally through some bolt on security techniques like:
- CORS Policies (Cross Origin Resource Sharing): Don’t get me wrong CORS policies are a good thing but when updating a legacy application these can be complex to implement. They often give a false sense of security and often times become overly permissive.
- API Keys: Often times when we bring old and new APIs together we want to make sure there is some form of authorization. API Keys are a good place to start, especially when we need to implement authorization where no authorization currently exists. The effort to implement is often low and can be implemented in the app or in an API Gateway. The issue is the API Key is often hard coded and not rotated on a regular basis.
- Web Application Firewall (WAF): “Just use a WAF” says the Development Manager who basically knows nothing about security. I really don’t like these people because they are the first to then blame the WAF when one of their API calls fails. WAFs are great, I really like them for what they are intended to do. They are a component in a defense in depth strategy that allows you to block common OWASP attacks. In many cases even some more advanced attacks. Their rules can be bypassed and through tuning you may be introducing many “exceptions” to the rules. WAFs can take a considerable amount of operational effort to make it effective.
A Unified Solution is the Way Forward
So what do we do? It’s evident that reactive measures and ad-hoc fixes aren’t the answer to the intricate challenges posed by API security. Instead of continuously mitigating threats, a proactive and holistic strategy is required — one that can comprehensively safeguard the sprawling API landscape, ensure regulatory compliance, and refine the development process.
While spending a lot of time searching for the perfect solution, it’s crucial to recognize that the aim isn’t just about finding the right software or tool. It’s about ushering in a change in perspective on API security. Let’s unpack these challenges that many face due to non-standardized API security practices and explore potential solutions.
In this series I will be proposing a few different potential solutions. In our series we will introduce our fictional company (BlueMyst BioLabs) and walk through the architectural process to decide on our solution.
BlueMyst BioLabs
Founded with a vision to revolutionize healthcare, BlueMyst BioLabs is a leading-edge biotechnology firm dedicated to the development of innovative treatments for a diverse range of illnesses. At the crossroads of biotech and cutting-edge digital technology, BlueMyst is not just a pharmaceutical giant but also a digital trailblazer.
Innovation through Integration
In an unprecedented move in the healthcare sector, BlueMyst BioLabs harnesses the power of digital connectivity through RESTful APIs, making its groundbreaking research data and proprietary treatment plans readily accessible to medical professionals worldwide. This approach not only democratizes the access to top-tier medical research but also paves the way for collaborative efforts in the global medical community.
EMR Collaboration
Recognizing the transformative potential of Electronic Medical Records (EMRs), BlueMyst seamlessly integrates with a multitude of EMR systems. This facilitates a two-way stream: BlueMyst ingests comprehensive patient data, ensuring its AI-driven solutions are tailored to individual patient needs, while also pushing its advanced treatment recommendations back into the EMRs for clinicians to access in real time.
The Power of AI
At the core of BlueMyst’s paradigm-shifting approach lies its sophisticated AI system. With machine learning algorithms trained on vast datasets and continually refined through ongoing research, this AI excels in translating intricate patient data into actionable and personalized treatment plans. The synergy between biological research and artificial intelligence promises a new era of precision medicine, delivering bespoke therapeutic strategies at unprecedented speed and accuracy.
Mission
BlueMyst BioLabs is steadfast in its mission to bring transformative healing solutions to the global community. By bridging the worlds of biotechnology and digital innovation, we aim to catalyze a healthcare renaissance, where data-driven insights guide clinical decisions, ensuring optimal outcomes for patients everywhere.
The Architecture Team
BlueMyst BioLabs, a pioneering force in biotechnology, recognizes the growing importance of cyber security in safeguarding our advanced research, proprietary data, and operations. The Cyber Security Architecture Team, at the heart of our digital fortress, ensures that our systems, applications, and networks remain impregnable to threats while maintaining optimal performance.
Team Members
Sophie MacAllister — Senior Cyber Security Architect
- Bio: With over 19 years of experience in the cyber security domain and development of enterprise software, Sophie is a seasoned expert in crafting advanced security frameworks for large-scale organizations. Having previously worked for top-tier tech giants and governmental agencies, she brings a deep understanding of threat landscapes and best-in-class mitigation strategies. Her specialty lies in developing architectures for custom developed systems with traditional defense mechanisms to create a seamless, robust security layer. She is pushing herself to be more innovative in her endeavors.
- Responsibilities: Leading the architecture team, defining the company’s overarching security strategy, overseeing high-level projects, and liaising with other department leads.
Liam Torres — Mid-Level Cyber Security Architect
- Bio: Liam is a dynamic professional with 10 years of experience in developing and deploying cyber security solutions for medium to large enterprises. Before joining BlueMyst, he played a crucial role in thwarting major cyber-attacks at a Fortune 500 company, earning him accolades in the cybersecurity community. He has also worked as a DevOps engineer, network and server administrator at past companies.
- Responsibilities: Assisting Sophie in strategic planning, overseeing the implementation of security blueprints, mentoring junior team members, and conducting hands-on assessments.
Aisha Chen — Junior Cyber Security Architect
- Bio: She has been with BlueMyst for 6 years, making significant contributions to the company’s incident response strategies. Passionate about machine learning, Aisha is continually looking for ways to leverage AI in enhancing security protocols.
- Responsibilities: Assisting in the design and deployment of new security solutions, conducting routine security checks, and collaborating with the IT department to ensure best practices are consistently applied.
Next Installment: https://number40.medium.com/services-runtime-security-part-2-9d2d6cc7e9bc
