Why API Protection is Essential Despite Traditional Security Layers?

Many businesses heavily invest in traditional security systems such as Firewalls (FW), DDoS protection, WAF, APT, and IPS to safeguard backend infrastructure. However, API Protection remains an indispensable security layer, especially in the mobile application ecosystem. Without effective API security mechanisms, even the most secure backend can still become a target for serious attacks.

In this article, we will analyze why businesses must focus on API protection from endpoints (mobile applications) to backend servers and how API Protection works.

1. APIs Are the Main Gateway Between Mobile Apps and Backend Systems

APIs serve as a crucial bridge between user devices and backend systems. If APIs are attacked or exploited, the entire system may suffer, including:

• Leakage of user data (PII, financial information, etc.)
• Account takeover attacks (ATO)
• API abuse leading to fraudulent transactions

Even with a well-secured backend, inadequate API protection can allow attackers to bypass traditional security layers and exploit vulnerabilities.

2. Why Traditional Security Solutions Are Not Enough to Protect APIs

🔹 WAF Alone Cannot Secure APIs

Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) can filter known attack patterns like SQL Injection and XSS, but they fail to detect specialized API attacks, such as:

• API Abuse: Sending millions of seemingly valid but abnormal API requests.
• API Scraping: Extracting valuable data through APIs for fraud or unauthorized use.
• Business Logic Attacks: Exploiting API workflows to conduct unintended transactions.

🔹 Traditional DDoS Protection Struggles with API DDoS

Conventional DDoS solutions monitor abnormal network traffic patterns, but API DDoS (Low-and-Slow Attacks) use low-rate, valid API requests to bypass detection.

🔹 IPS and APT Systems Cannot Prevent API Abuse

• IPS and APT solutions primarily focus on detecting malware and network-layer attacks.
• APIs can be exploited from authenticated devices, making it difficult for traditional security systems to detect API-based threats.

3. How API Protection Works

API Protection safeguards APIs by detecting and mitigating API attacks in real-time, ensuring that APIs are only accessed by legitimate users and applications. An effective API Protection system includes:

✅ Protecting APIs at the Mobile App Level

• Obfuscation & Anti-Tampering: Encrypting API keys, tokens, and preventing app modifications.
• Runtime Protection (RASP): Detecting malicious activities such as code injection or reverse engineering.
• Device Attestation: Ensuring that APIs are accessed only from secure environments.

✅ API Access Control (API Gateway & Security Layer)

• Rate Limiting & Throttling: Preventing API abuse by restricting request frequency.
• OAuth2, JWT Security: Secure authentication and authorization for API access.
• mTLS (Mutual TLS): Encrypting API communications with mutual authentication.

✅ Threat Detection and Response for APIs

• AI/ML-based Behavior Analysis: Identifying attacks based on abnormal API usage patterns.
• Threat Intelligence & SIEM Integration: Integrating with monitoring systems to detect and respond to API security incidents in real time.

4. Conclusion

Even with a secure backend and traditional security solutions like FW, WAF, IPS, APT, and DDoS protection, APIs remain a critical attack vector that must be secured.

🔹 APIs are the primary communication channel between mobile apps and backend systems, making them a high-risk target. 🔹 WAF, DDoS protection, and IPS are ineffective against API abuse and business logic attacks. 🔹 API Protection secures APIs from mobile apps to the backend by controlling access, encrypting data, and detecting API threats in real-time.

👉 Businesses should combine API Protection with Mobile App Protection to ensure end-to-end security, minimize attack risks, and protect user data.

If your business relies on critical APIs, do not depend solely on backend security—invest in API Protection to safeguard your entire system comprehensively!

BShield - Mobile App Protection provides Multi protection layers to protect your mobile apps against threats like BShield OS, BShield API Protection, Data Protection, SDK Protection, Web Shield protection.

Phuong,

Head of BShield | Verichains