When organizations consider application programming interface (API) security, they typically focus on securing APIs that are written in-house. However, not all the APIs that companies use are developed internally, rather some are designed and developed by other organizations. The problem is that many companies don’t realize that using third-party APIs can expose their applications to security issues, such as malware, data breaches, and unauthorized access.
Third-party APIs are software interfaces that allow organizations to leverage third-party functionality or data on their own websites or applications. These third-party APIs enable developers to integrate their applications or systems with external services, data, or functionality, says Phil Quitugua, director of cybersecurity at technology research and advisory firm ISG.