Disseminating information to the public is a primary role of the federal government, and what better way is there to do this than through application programming interface (API)? APIs allow applications to communicate, interoperate, and share information with one another. APIs have been mainstays at companies like Google, Salesforce, and other smaller but innovative organizations for decades. Now, they’re also common in the public sector, with a wide range of agencies actively using hundreds of APIs.
With APIs becoming increasingly important to government agencies, it’s time to think about their impact on network monitoring and management. Understanding how applications and their corresponding APIs operate—the devices they run on and the traffic they accommodate—can make a dramatic difference in being able to recognize the anomalous activity, including malicious traffic or potential intruders.
Let’s look at how agencies can take an API-first approach to network management and how doing so can bolster network security and performance.
What Is an API-First Approach?
In an “API-first” approach, the interface is created before the application. This gives you better control over the API’s security and performance.
Traditionally, applications—like websites and mobile apps—have been developed first, with connecting interfaces added on later. But this bolted-on approach can result in an insecure and not appropriately optimized API. The API may not work properly with the application, which could result in exposure to security vulnerabilities and performance issues.
Conversely, developing the API first allows you to intimately understand and “know” the API right from the beginning. Throughout production, you can build it, test it, make sure it’s secure, and ensure it functions as advertised.
Let’s take a closer look at how this level of API network monitoring can ensure security and improve information sharing among agencies.
API Security
APIs are quickly becoming hackers’ favorite targets. According to Gartner, APIs will be the most common attack vector in the enterprise by 2022. Attackers are honing in on APIs in the hopes of using their connective tissues to gain access to highly sensitive information.
As this target grows, monitoring API security will become increasingly important. Relative to network management, security has historically focused on protecting devices and the network itself. Baking well-fortified security measures into APIs at the outset will help protect them from these potential threats. More importantly, it’ll prevent connected applications from becoming susceptible to attacks.
Conversely, these applications must also be monitored carefully for anomalies. If a red flag appears, you can trace it back to the point of origin. If the point of origin is an API, you can take immediate action to mitigate the damage, preventing a bad actor from gaining access to the data flowing through the API.
Sharing Information
Automation is another potential advantage. An API-first approach allows for more in-depth access to information and a greater ability to share it; tying this into network management allows you to automate key network management functions and even manage the automation process itself.
An API-first approach to network management allows the exchange of information at a deeper level—including device and configuration information, which can enhance the purview of your network management tool kit. This adds the ability to far more quickly and easily document and correct deviations from agency standards.
As the world becomes increasingly connected, some might argue APIs are becoming even more important than their complementary applications. To this extent, it’s important for agencies to secure, optimize, and monitor their APIs, just as they would any other application.
Taking an API-first approach can provide you with better control and visibility into APIs themselves. You’ll be able to find and address security and performance concerns prior to deployment and have a better understanding of what to look for after the API is live, keeping your APIs, applications, and networks secure and running smoothly.