Last week, Gartner forecasted “that 8.4 billion connected things will be in use worldwide in 2017.” The analyst firm predicts that that number will reach 20.4 billion by 2020.
What’s enabling this uber-connectivity? APIs, of course! They are the “connective tissue” fueling IoT as well as cloud and mobility.
Unfortunately, security practices in our modern computing era haven’t kept pace with enterprise innovation and integration. API ubiquity and business value notwithstanding, API security is far too often overlooked.
The latest (stark) reminder comes to us from Poland, where cybercriminals hacked the Polish Financial Supervision Authority (KNF). The attackers leveraged the KNF’s website to propagate malware to several banks’ networks in what’s being reported “as the most serious ever attack on the Polish banking industry.” Notably, some security experts have decried poor API security practices as a key factor.
It’s interesting – or perhaps, rather unsettling – to juxtapose the KNF hack with the just-released findings from the Conference Board’s annual CEO Challenge survey. Cybersecurity placed third on the list of CEO worries (behind recession fears and developing the next generation of business leaders).
Clearly, cybersecurity is of paramount importance – especially to the C-suite. So where can organizations look to for guidance and best practices?
UK: The Superior Approach to API Security
As we’ve discussed, the UK is the epicenter of API security development and deployment. Long recognizing the need for a modern, secure architecture, the UK has adopted API security technology more rapidly than any other nation.
Its centralized location, high-population density, role as a transportation hub and high-profile security drivers, have propelled the UK to the vanguard of API security innovation. And perhaps unsurprisingly, Forum Sentry is the API security foundation for several UK agencies and many UK-based enterprise organizations across various industries.
London: The Hub of Our Free API Summit
In addition to being the seat of API security innovation, next month, the UK is the location of our sixth-annual London API Summit. Taking place at The Grange St. Paul’s Hotel on Thursday, March 9, from 9:00 – 4:30, the event is free, includes a complimentary post-event dinner at the Bread Street Kitchen, and never disappoints.
With session topics that include “Essential Considerations for a Successful API Strategy,” “Top 10 API Vulnerabilities and How to Protect Against Them” and “How the UK is Making its Architectures Future-Proof and Superior,” the Summit will foster the incisive dialogue and idea exchange that have become its hallmarks. So, if you’ll be in the area, join your peers for a day of networking as you share insights and best practices about API security.
For more information and to register, please visit the London API Summit homepage. We hope to see you there!