Traceable AI unveils API Security Reference Architecture for Zero Trust
Traceable AI announced API Security Reference Architecture for Zero Trust. This reference architecture serves as a guide for security leaders as the industry addresses the urgency of integrating API Security into zero trust security initiatives.
Zero trust, a cybersecurity framework that emphasizes continuous verification and helps to minimize the attack surface, has proven effective in enhancing security for many organizations, from large enterprises, to the US Government. However, traditional zero trust approaches have primarily focused on network-level controls and identity access management, neglecting the critical application layer, particularly APIs.
Traceable’s API Security Reference Architecture is aligned with the NIST Zero Trust Architecture, a publicly available, vendor-neutral framework widely adopted by government entities such as CISA, DoD, DISA, NSA, GSA and NCCoE, as well as by many leading cybersecurity vendors.
By leveraging the NIST framework, Traceable ensures compatibility, interoperability, and adherence to industry standards, making it a reliable and trusted solution for organizations implementing Zero Trust for their APIs.
The extensive reference architecture provides organizations with considerable business benefits, including:
Advanced API security: The reference architecture enables organizations to implement robust security measures specifically designed for APIs, including eliminating implied or persistent trust for APIs, thereby minimizing the risk of API-related vulnerabilities, attacks, and data breaches.
Comprehensive risk management: By incorporating automatic user authentication and authorization, granular data access policies, and asset risk assessments, organizations can effectively manage and mitigate risks associated with API access and usage.
Increased visibility and control: Provides granular visibility, allowing organizations to monitor and record all API transactions, enabling better analysis, threat detection, and incident response capabilities.
Improved compliance and data protection: The automatic identification and classification of sensitive data sets ensure compliance with data protection regulations such as HIPAA, GDPR, and PCI-DSS, reducing the risk of regulatory penalties and reputational damage.
Seamless automation and orchestration: Supports integration with XDR, SIEM, and SOAR solutions, enabling organizations to enhance their overall security posture, automate response actions, and streamline security operations.
Scalability and flexibility: The architecture offers a flexible distribution model for PEPs and DCPs, allowing organizations to scale their API security infrastructure based on their unique requirements and architecture.
Future-proofing: By aligning with the NIST Zero Trust Architecture and industry standards, organizations adopting the API Security Reference Architecture can ensure compatibility, interoperability, and the ability to evolve alongside emerging technologies and security best practices.
Traceable’s API Security Reference Architecture for Zero Trust introduces a new approach to secure APIs using zero trust concepts, acknowledging their unique security requirements. It provides organizations with a comprehensive framework to implement zero trust controls specifically tailored to APIs, ensuring the protection of digital assets and mitigating the risk of data breaches.
Dr. Chase Cunningham weighs in on Traceable’s approach: “APIs provide a new means of applying controls across enterprise applications, ” says Dr. Cunningham, “However, the security practices for APIs have not yet matured, leaving a significant gap in the overall attack surface. Traceable has developed their own API Security Reference Architecture to help fill this gap by providing organizations with a methodical way to secure their APIs with Zero Trust principles. By combining Zero Trust strategic concepts with API-specific security measures, Traceable can help organizations protect their digital assets effectively,”
Throughout the past year, Traceable has continued to reaffirm its commitment to extending Zero Trust methodologies to API Security. With the addition of Zero Trust creator John Kindervag and Dr. Zero Trust, Chase Cunningham as Traceable advisors, Traceable continues to strengthen its expertise in this space.
To date, Traceable has become a valuable partner to a number of large enterprises as the industry turns its eyes toward the importance of API security.
This reference architecture is now available for organizations to explore and implement, empowering them to achieve complete API security in a Zero Trust world.