API Gateway
An API Gateway is a central hub for managing and securing traffic between client applications and backend services that utilize APIs (Application Programming Interfaces). It sits in front of a collection of backend services, providing a single entry point for API requests. Here's how it fits within the security spectrum:
Functionalities of an API Gateway:
Routing: The API Gateway receives API requests and routes them to the appropriate backend service based on defined rules.
Security: The gateway enforces security measures like authentication, authorization, and rate limiting to protect backend services from unauthorized access and abuse.
Monitoring: It monitors API traffic, logs requests, and responses, and provides insights into API usage patterns.
Transformation: The gateway can transform data formats between the client and backend services, ensuring seamless communication.
Security Benefits of API Gateways:
Single Point of Control: By centralizing access through the gateway, organizations can implement security policies consistently across all APIs.
Enhanced Authentication: The gateway can handle authentication and authorization processes, reducing the burden on individual backend services.
Threat Detection: Monitoring capabilities can help identify and block suspicious activity, preventing potential attacks.
Reduced Attack Surface: By hiding the complexity of backend services, the gateway presents a smaller attack surface for malicious actors.
API Gateway's Place in Security Solutions:
An API Gateway is not a standalone security solution but a powerful tool within a layered security approach. It works alongside other security solutions to create a comprehensive defense:
Complementary to Web Application Firewalls (WAFs): While WAFs focus on filtering malicious traffic at the application layer, API Gateways provide security specifically for APIs. They can work together to offer a multi-layered defense.
Integration with Identity and Access Management (IAM): API Gateways can leverage IAM solutions to authenticate users and enforce access control policies.
API Security Posture Management (ASPM): ASPM tools can integrate with API Gateways to gain insights into API configurations and identify potential vulnerabilities.
Overall, API Gateways are crucial in securing APIs by providing a centralized point for access control, traffic management, and threat detection. They work with other security solutions to create a robust defense against API attacks.
ThreatNG, with its external attack surface management (EASM) capabilities, cooperates with an API Gateway to strengthen an organization's API security posture. Here's how they work together, along with other security solutions, to form a comprehensive defense:
The Workflow:
ThreatNG Discovers the Landscape: ThreatNG scans the external environment, uncovering all exposed APIs, including those potentially hidden within shadow IT. It provides a complete inventory of externally accessible APIs.
API Gateway Awareness: ThreatNG can integrate with the API Gateway or share its findings through reports. This informs the API Gateway about the existence and location of these APIs.
API Gateway Takes Control: The API Gateway leverages this newfound knowledge to manage and secure the discovered APIs. It can perform various actions:
Access Control Enforcement: The API Gateway can implement stricter access controls for these newly discovered APIs, potentially requiring additional authentication or authorization steps.
Traffic Monitoring: The gateway can start monitoring traffic for these APIs, identifying suspicious activity or unusual access patterns.
API Inventory Update: The API Gateway can update its internal inventory to reflect the newly discovered APIs, ensuring they are appropriately managed.
ThreatNG and the Security Ecosystem:
ThreatNG is the initial scout, identifying external APIs that might bypass the organization's internal security measures. The API Gateway then uses this information to tighten security for these APIs and integrate them into its management framework. Here's how this collaboration fits within the broader security landscape:
Web Application Firewall (WAF): ThreatNG might discover APIs not secured by a WAF. The API Gateway can then integrate these APIs with the WAF to protect them from malicious traffic.
API Security Posture Management (ASPM): ASPM solutions can analyze the APIs discovered by ThreatNG and identify potential vulnerabilities within their configurations. The API Gateway can then be informed about these vulnerabilities and take steps to mitigate them.
Example: Securing a Newly Discovered Customer Portal API
Imagine ThreatNG discovers an exposed API for a customer portal not previously known to the organization. ThreatNG then relays this information to the API Gateway. The Gateway recognizes this as a potentially sensitive API and enforces stricter authentication protocols (like multi-factor authentication) to access it. Additionally, the Gateway starts monitoring traffic for this API, looking for any suspicious activity that might indicate unauthorized access attempts.
Benefits of Collaboration:
Improved API Visibility: ThreatNG exposes hidden APIs, ensuring the API Gateway can manage and secure them effectively.
Enhanced Access Control: The API Gateway can enforce stricter access controls for newly discovered APIs, reducing the risk of unauthorized access.
Streamlined Security Management: The API Gateway can integrate discovered APIs into its existing security framework, simplifying management and monitoring.
Continuous Security Posture Improvement: ThreatNG's ongoing discovery and the API Gateway's dynamic adaptation create an evolving security posture that adapts to new threats.
ThreatNG acts as the initial investigator, uncovering hidden APIs. The API Gateway then leverages this information to manage and secure these APIs. This collaborative approach strengthens the organization's overall API security posture by providing a layered defense that integrates with other security solutions.
