AppScan-HCL AppScan API Security

Comprehensive API Discovery, Dynamic Testing and Risk Management

AppScan-Comprehensive API Discovery, Dynamic Testing and Risk Management

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Shield Your APIs with HCL AppScan API Security

Comprehensive API Discovery, Dynamic Testing and Risk Management

Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) are transforming the digital landscape, facilitating communication between applications and driving various digital services. But this growth has also made them a prime target for cyberattacks.

HCL AppScan API Security provides a robust solution for securing APIs that seamlessly discovers, inventories and analyzes all APIs. With AI-powered insights, it quickly identifies and resolves vulnerabilities, empowering organizations to secure and manage their entire API ecosystem effectively.

Powering Next-Level API Security

Benefits

AppScan-Benefits

Benefits

  • Comprehensive API Coverage: The continuous discovery platform generates insights that are automatically integrated into HCL AppScan’s in-depth testing (SAST, DAST, IAST and SCA) to help identify vulnerabilities that might otherwise be missed.
  • Accelerated Incident Response: Improved DAST testing based on API behaviors to quickly identify and address vulnerabilities.
  • Regulatory Compliance: Achieve compliance with PCI DSS, HIPAA, GDPR and other regulations. Robust Policy Implementation for acceptable API behavior and access controls, treating APIs as core assets for governance and compliance audits.
  • Maximized Business Value: Empower developers with guardrails for developing secure APIs inhouse. Streamline workflow by managing APIs the same way as other IT assets.

Features

AppScan-Automatic API Discovery

Automatic API Discovery

Identify all APIs, including undocumented, shadow and zombie APIs or those which are not even present in API gateways or OpenAPI specifications to gain full visibility over the API ecosystem. Protect sensitive data, such as PII, that may be exposed through undiscovered APIs.

AppScan-Detailed API Intelligence

Detailed API Intelligence

Granular API details, including parameters, usage patterns, risk scores, and sensitive data exposure, provide a clear understanding of an attack surface and risk profile. Dynamic Documentation Maintenance keeps API documentation up-to-date by continuously comparing discovered APIs with existing records.

AppScan-Contextual API Insights

Contextual API Insights

Advanced filtering and querying capabilities derive custom, context-rich insights into API behavior. Comprehensive Risk Evaluations assess potential risks associated with each API, including vulnerabilities, misconfigurations and sensitive data exposure.

AppScan-API Testing

API Testing

Automatic DAST scans analyze APIs using Postman collection files, Open API descriptions, recorded traffic, or via seamless integrations with leading API testing tools. IAST API Monitoring detects and catalogs all internal APIs via IAST API calls. SCA scans open-source packages in API development to identify vulnerable third-party API components.

AppScan-Insight-driven Governance

Insight-driven Governance

Discovery insights create and customize posture governance policies, using an advanced API Posture Governance engine. Extend existing IT security policies and/or apply pre-built or custom rules to ensure consistent security measures like authentication, authorization and input validation for all APIs.

AppScan-Intelligent Risk Prioritization

Intelligent Risk Prioritization

Posture governance engine analyzes API risks within the IT ecosystem. Risk prioritization is based on business impact, allowing organizations to focus on remediating the most critical vulnerabilities. Posture checks can be embedded into CI/CD pipelines during API design, enabling faster remediation aligned with DevSecOps practices.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is API security?

API security refers to the strategies and tools used to protect Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) from threats and vulnerabilities. As APIs become the backbone of modern software—connecting microservices, enabling mobile apps, and supporting third-party integrations—they become high-value targets for attackers.

Effective API security ensures that sensitive data, systems, and applications remain protected from unauthorized access, abuse, and breaches.

How can you secure APIs?

Securing APIs starts with visibility—knowing what APIs you have, where they are, and how they're being used. From there, you need to test them continuously. That includes using DAST tools like HCL AppScan to scan running APIs for vulnerabilities, even without source code. You should also use SAST or SCA when you do have access to the code or dependencies. API gateways and proper authentication (OAuth, tokens, etc.) help control access, while schema validation, rate limiting, and logging round out the defense.

What is a Shadow API?

A Shadow API is an undocumented or unmanaged API that exists outside the visibility of an organization’s IT or security teams. These APIs often arise from outdated versions, internal development, or unsanctioned deployments and pose significant security risks because they bypass standard governance, lack proper security testing, and may expose sensitive data. Identifying and regularly testing for shadow APIs is critical to maintaining a secure and compliant API environment.

What is Zombie API?

A Zombie API is an outdated or deprecated API that is still active or accessible but no longer maintained or monitored. These APIs often remain exposed due to oversight after newer versions are released or systems are upgraded. Because they are forgotten and unpatched, zombie APIs pose serious security risks, including potential data leaks and vulnerabilities that attackers can exploit. Regular API inventory checks and decommissioning unused endpoints are essential to prevent zombie APIs from becoming a security threat.

Can HCL AppScan test APIs without source code?

Yes, HCL AppScan can test APIs without needing access to source code.
Using its DAST capabilities AppScan can scan running APIs by ingesting OpenAPI/Swagger files, Postman collections, or WSDLs. AppScan can also learn APIs through traffic recordings or proxy integrations. AppScan on Cloud and AppScan Enterprise both support this approach and can be fully integrated in to CI/CD pipelines. For more advanced scenarios, HCL AppScan API Security can enhance API discovery and test coverage, making it ideal for securing third-party or production APIs where source access isn’t available.

What makes HCL AppScan different from other API security tools?

HCL AppScan API Security combines automated API discovery, advanced vulnerability testing, and continuous posture management to secure APIs across the SDLC. Built for scale, it protects your entire API ecosystem, detects shadow and zombie APIs and provides runtime insights that traditional scans might miss.
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