Singapore – One in five organisations across Asia Pacific is now shifting to artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) solutions to enhance their application programming interface security, according to a recent study by IT services and consulting firm F5.
In this report, it was observed that AI and ML technologies have become essential for identifying and defending against sophisticated threats that traditional security measures may overlook.
It also identified significant trends in API security measures, noting that API gateways are widely used to ensure strong access control and manage vulnerabilities. In fact, the report found that about 20% of organisations are now using these gateways to protect their interfaces from unauthorised access.
Data from the findings further revealed that many organisations in APAC are now prioritising API security at the development stage, with around 17.5% implementing strong code security standards and practices to safeguard against complex vulnerabilities.
Talking about the report, Mohan Veloo, chief technology officer for APAC, China, and Japan at F5, stated, “Applications have become the front door to cybercrime, and cybercriminals increasingly use APIs as the key. Across the APAC region, we have seen more attacks, with increasing speed, scale, and sophistication as cybercriminals leverage AI-powered tools. Protecting API connections and the data that runs through them has become the critical security challenge for APAC organisations, especially with many looking to deliver AI.”
“Today, API security is more important, but also more complex than ever. Findings from our report clearly show that more organisations are shifting left along the API lifecycle while still attempting to shield right,” noted Veloo.
Pratik Shah, managing director of India and SAARC at F5, also commented, “In India, we are currently witnessing a huge rise in application-based businesses, opening new avenues for cyber attackers, which has led to the rising demand for cybersecurity solutions.”
He further shared, “Businesses are prioritising investments in security infrastructure to ensure protection for their applications. According to our report, the majority of Indian businesses are prioritising API security testing, access control, and runtime protection for comprehensive API security.”
Meanwhile, Manoj Menon, founder and CEO at Twimbit, asserted, “APAC organisations are facing unique API security challenges that differ significantly from global OWASP rankings. The research highlights the pressing need for tailored security measures to address specific risks such as broken authentication, server-side request forgery, and security misconfiguration. Countries like Malaysia, New Zealand, South Korea, and India are prioritising these issues, reflecting the diverse API adoption patterns across the region.”
