How to Secure APIs in a
Multi-Cloud Environment

As organizations embrace multi-cloud strategies to optimize performance and agility, securing APIs in these environments has become a top priority. APIs enable seamless integration across cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud, but they also serve as potential attack vectors. The lack of unified visibility, misconfigurations, and compliance complexities increase the risk of breaches, making API security indispensable.

Real-world incidents, such as data leaks due to unsecured APIs, underscore the urgent need for robust API observability and threat detection. Rakuten SixthSense API Security provides advanced tools to mitigate these risks, ensuring end-to-end API security, compliance, and operational resilience in multi-cloud environments.

The Challenges of Securing APIs in Multi-Cloud Environments

1. Fragmented Visibility

Operating across multiple cloud platforms often leads to silos, making it challenging to monitor API traffic comprehensively. Shadow APIs, which are undocumented and unmanaged, exacerbate the problem.

Rakuten SixthSense Solution:

• Automated API discovery tools: Real-time detection of all active endpoints.
• Centralized dashboards: Offering complete API observability across clouds.

2. Misconfigurations and Vulnerabilities

Misconfigured APIs are a common entry point for attackers. In 2022, a significant breach resulted from an improperly configured API endpoint that exposed sensitive financial data.

Rakuten SixthSense Solution:

• AI-powered vulnerability scanning tools: Detect misconfigurations.
• Automated patching and remediation: Prevent exploitation.

3. Compliance Complexities

Each cloud provider has unique compliance requirements. Ensuring adherence to GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS, and other standards across platforms can be resource-intensive.

Rakuten SixthSense Solution:

• Real-time compliance monitoring and reporting: Ensures adherence to regulations.
• Pre-configured templates: For regulatory adherence across multi-cloud setups.

Best Practices for Securing APIs in Multi-Cloud Environments

1. Real-Time API Monitoring

Monitoring APIs in real time is critical for detecting anomalies and preventing security breaches.

Example: In a 2023 breach, attackers exploited an unmonitored API to access sensitive user records. Real-time monitoring could have detected this unauthorized activity early.

Rakuten SixthSense Features:

• AI-driven traffic analysis: Differentiates between legitimate and malicious requests.
• Dynamic rate limiting: Mitigates DDoS attacks and prevents traffic overload.

Real-time monitoring also enhances operational efficiency, allowing organizations to address performance bottlenecks before they escalate. By integrating with existing DevOps tools, Rakuten SixthSense ensures seamless workflows.

2. Automated Vulnerability Management

Manually managing vulnerabilities across multiple clouds is inefficient and prone to errors. Automation ensures timely detection and remediation.

Rakuten SixthSense Features:

• OWASP Top 10 vulnerability scanning: For continuous risk assessment.
• Business-contextualized risk scoring: Prioritizes remediation efforts.

Real-World Impact: A healthcare provider using Rakuten SixthSense addressed 10 highly critical vulnerabilities that could have exposed sensitive patient data, ensuring compliance with HIPAA regulations and safeguarding their API ecosystem.

Automated vulnerability management also reduces response times, enabling organizations to address risks proactively and maintain uninterrupted operations.

3. Enforce Strong Access Controls

Unauthorized access to APIs can result in significant data breaches. Implementing strict authentication and authorization protocols is essential.

Rakuten SixthSense Features:

• Role-based access controls (RBAC): Enforces granular permissions.
• API gateway security: For request validation and access management.

Example: During a financial API breach, attackers exploited weak authentication mechanisms to access user data. Strong access controls could have prevented this by ensuring only authorized users could interact with sensitive endpoints.

Access controls also play a vital role in maintaining compliance with industry regulations, as they ensure secure handling of sensitive data across platforms.

4. Comprehensive API Observability

Observability ensures that APIs function as intended while identifying performance bottlenecks and security risks.

Rakuten SixthSense Features:

• Real-time observability dashboards: Monitor API health and performance.
• Insights into API dependencies: Tracks data flows across clouds.

Example: An e-commerce platform achieved 80% faster issue resolution by leveraging Rakuten SixthSense’s observability tools during high-traffic periods. Observability also enabled them to optimize API performance, enhancing the overall user experience.

With observability, businesses can gain a holistic view of their API ecosystem, enabling proactive management and continuous improvement.

5. AI-Powered Threat Detection

AI and machine learning enhance threat detection by identifying patterns that may signal an attack.

Rakuten SixthSense Features:

• Behavioral analytics: Detects unusual API usage.
• Automated responses: Executes actions like attack blocking and rate limiting to neutralize threats.

Real-World Insight: A fintech organization using Rakuten SixthSense detected and mitigated 15 critical vulnerabilities in APIs handling over 800,000 calls daily, protecting customer transactions from fraud. The platform’s AI-driven threat detection provided real-time insights, ensuring quick and effective responses.

High-Profile Incidents and Lessons Learned

• Data Exposure in Financial Services (2022): A misconfigured API exposed millions of records. Rakuten SixthSense’s configuration auditing and real-time monitoring could have detected unauthorized access and prevented the breach.
• Government Data Breach: An unsecured API led to significant data exposure in a public sector organization. API discovery tools would have flagged and secured the endpoint early.
• E-Commerce DDoS Attack: During a major sales event, an API overload caused downtime. Dynamic rate limiting ensured uninterrupted service for Rakuten SixthSense clients in similar scenarios.

Emerging Trends in Multi-Cloud API Security

• Zero-Trust Architecture: Ensures that every API interaction is authenticated, regardless of its origin.
• Scaling Observability: Advanced observability tools provide end-to-end visibility into complex API ecosystems, enabling proactive management.
• AI-Driven Security: AI/ML models predict and prevent emerging threats, enhancing overall security posture.
• Microservices Observability: With microservices gaining traction, observability helps maintain performance and security across distributed systems.

How Rakuten SixthSense Stands Out

Rakuten SixthSense offers a comprehensive suite of tools designed for multi-cloud environments:

• Real-Time Monitoring: Tracks API activity to detect anomalies and unauthorized access.
• Automated Vulnerability Management: Applies virtual patches to mitigate risks instantly.
• Compliance Assurance: Ensures adherence to regulations with audit-ready reporting.
• Dynamic Rate Limiting: Prevents traffic surges from impacting performance.
• Behavioral Analytics: Identifies advanced threats through AI-driven insights.

These features empower businesses to manage their APIs effectively, ensuring security, compliance, and operational excellence.

Securing APIs in multi-cloud environments is both a challenge and a necessity. By implementing best practices like real-time monitoring, automated vulnerability management, and AI-powered threat detection, organizations can safeguard their API ecosystems against evolving threats.

Rakuten SixthSense API Security empowers businesses with advanced tools to secure their APIs while ensuring compliance and operational efficiency. With proven solutions tailored for modern infrastructures, Rakuten SixthSense enables organizations to thrive in a multi-cloud world.

Ready to secure your multi-cloud APIs? Discover how Rakuten SixthSense can transform your API security strategy.