F5 Research Shows How APIs and AI Are Transforming App Security

1. APIs are on the rise, and they require new security measures.

I've talked before about how we're now in the era of app capital. It's now clear we've also entered the era of ubiquitous AI. And one result of both is that APIs are proliferating. As more organizations modernize their apps, APIs have become central to how companies create value for themselves, their partners, and their customers.

Our research shows the average number of APIs organizations are managing is growing rapidly. Indeed, 41% of organizations now manage at least as many APIs as apps-and we expect these numbers will only increase as companies incorporate AI into their businesses.

While APIs have become as critical to businesses as apps themselves, the downside is that they're more difficult to monitor, protect, and manage. API security is of particular concern, and our research shows organizations are starting to take the steps needed to manage this growing challenge. Indeed, 95% of survey respondents report using an API gateway, compared to just 35% in 2019. Likewise, 43% are automating app and API security, compared to just 25% for app delivery.

As more companies adopt AI and machine learning models in the coming years, API security will only become more critical. We expect more companies to implement the comprehensive measures required to protect these business-critical assets, including continuous monitoring, code scanning, API testing analysis, API discovery through traffic analysis, threat surface mapping, and enforcement.