Unmasking the Shadows: The Role of API Discovery in Effective Cybersecurity

You’ve likely heard that APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) are the lifeline of modern applications. And it’s true. APIs enable seamless communication and data exchange, powering everything from mobile apps to complex enterprise systems. But this proliferation now represents a real and growing business risk – a significant attack surface that requires a comprehensive approach to security measures. 

According to the Salt Security Q1 2025 State of API Security report, 99% of survey respondents reported having ‘experienced API issues’ within the last year. 55% of those stated that they have slowed down the launch of a new application because of API security concerns.

Imagine trying to secure a sprawling city without knowing all its streets, alleys, and hidden passages – that's precisely the challenge organizations are facing. Without a clear inventory of all APIs, including endpoints, data flows, and authentication mechanisms, security teams are flying blind.

You cannot secure what you don’t know you have. That’s why effective API security is only complete with API discovery as the first step.

Effective Security Relies on API Discovery

Mid-sized organizations are likely to have hundreds of APIs. In the case of the companies with more than 10,000 employees, this number may be in the thousands. Continuous and automated API discovery assists organizations in staying updated with all the APIs and tracking any new or altered assets.

Effective API discovery doesn’t just help companies keep track of the APIs that they need to manage but expect to find. It can also help in identifying shadow APIs, which are not documented or simply hidden – and can be dangerous. They are usually unprotected and present a high risk of being manipulated by unauthorized persons. To that end, API discovery tools that can automatically and continuously scan your environments can help reveal these not-so-invisible vulnerabilities.

This process of discovery doesn’t end at recognizing the APIs. It entails understanding their behavior, tracking the traffic and finding out the sensitive data exposures. This behavioral analysis is very useful in identifying possible attacks that are being launched.

Beyond API Security: A Holistic Approach to Cybersecurity

The importance of API discovery isn’t limited to the API security domain. It’s vital to the organization’s broader cybersecurity strategy. APIs are often the gateway to sensitive data and critical systems. A compromised API can lead to data breaches, unauthorized access and even complete system takeover.

When you include the API discovery into your overall security posture, you get a full view of your attack surface. This allows you to set security priorities, allocate your resources well and put the right controls in place. For instance, if an API that controls financial operations has no proper authentication, this is a clear security risk that needs to be addressed as an immediate risk.

Moreover, API discovery makes it easier to meet industry standards and regulations as well as data protection laws. Some standards require organizations to identify and list their assets and data flows. Through the automated use of API discovery, you can simplify the compliance process and avoid costly penalties.

Continuous Monitoring: A Necessity in a Dynamic Environment

The API landscape is still evolving and changing. New APIs are created, existing APIs are updated, and shadow APIs emerge. To mitigate all three, a one-time discovery effort just isn’t sufficient. Rather, continuous monitoring is essential to keep pace with these changes.

Real-time API ecosystem visibility tools like those offered by HCL AppScan API Security can help you identify new APIs, altered APIs, and a broad range of security risks. Proactive security measures are employed in continuous monitoring so that vulnerabilities can be addressed before they can be exploited.

API discovery isn’t just a recommended best practice. It is a necessity in the contemporary world of APIs. By adopting a systematic and regular API discovery approach, your organization can improve your API security and your overall cybersecurity position. You’ll be better able to manage the risks that come with the API ecosystem. Neglecting to do so leaves your company open to the hidden threats that can be lurking in the shadows. Schedule a demo today!