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APIs create new business models and interconnect applications and platforms by delegating appropriate access rights to user groups, such as customers, partners, and workers. Advanced API security tools can strengthen your API defense using the advanced authentication and authorization capabilities of Entrust Identity as a Service (IDaaS). IDaaS provides a range of access management capabilities out-of-the-box to protect APIs at scale.

Benefits of API Security

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One Digital Identity

Ensure a consistent login experience with common credentials across different digital properties. Entrust Identity as a Service supports standard federation protocols (OIDC) and extends federated authentication to cover non-standardized protocols for legacy components.

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Secure Logins

Prevent unauthorized access attempts by securing your APIs/ URLs. Bad actors use credential stuffing and brute force attacks on login to breach API infrastructures.

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Transaction Verification

Protect every transaction with contextual authentication and authorization. Define transaction attributes and APIs involved to restrict access and step-up user authentication whenever conditions warrant.

Gateway-only controls can filter traffic, but they don’t establish API access and permissions. Entrust takes an identity-centric approach: strong authentication and authorization at the API layer for user, application, and service identities. Access is enforced through policy that adapts to context and risk, so permissions stay tight as conditions change. These controls are part of Entrust Identity as a Service’s native API security tools.

Enterprise growth means more APIs and identities. This large-scale infrastructure leaves no room for inconsistent controls. Entrust helps platform and security teams manage API security solutions at scale with centralized policy management and consistent identity enforcement across every API. Support customers, partners, and workforce access from a single foundation, with the visibility and control you need to spot risk quickly. Keep governance strong while development stays fast.

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What is API security and why is it important?

API security solutions protect the data and services exposed through APIs by ensuring only authorized identities can connect and only with the appropriate permissions. It matters because APIs power apps, integrations, and automation, making them a high-value target. You should routinely inventory your APIs, classify data sensitivity, and require authentication on every endpoint (including “internal-only” ones). Then enforce least-privilege access by default.

How does Entrust help protect APIs from unauthorized access?

Entrust helps protect APIs by putting identity at the center: verifying user, application, and service identities, then enforcing authorization policies at the API layer. Require strong authentication for high-risk actions, use scoped tokens for least privilege, and apply step-up requirements when context changes (new device, unusual location, anomalous behavior). Pair policy enforcement with clear audit trails so you can quickly investigate and respond.

What standards does Entrust use for API authorization?

Entrust supports widely adopted, modern standards used for API authorization, including OAuth 2.0 and OpenID Connect for token-based access and delegated authorization. Your team should standardize on OAuth scopes/claims that map to business permissions (not just roles), validate token issuer/audience/expiry on every call, and rotate keys regularly. Use short-lived access tokens and well-governed refresh flows to reduce blast radius.

Can API security be used for both internal and external services?

Yes, API security should cover internal services (microservices, automation, admin APIs) and external services (customer and partner integrations). Organizations can make this more manageable by using the same identity foundation but different policies: tighter controls for privileged/internal routes, and partner/customer access with explicit consent, scoped permissions, and rate limits. Don’t rely on “inside the network” as a control—treat every API as exposed and enforce identity consistently.

How does API protection integrate with overall IAM controls?

Effective API security protection extends identity and access management (IAM) to the API layer, so the same identities, policies, and governance apply whether access is via the UI or the API. A good tactic is to align API authorization with your IAM model (users, apps, services), centralize policy decisions, and connect to lifecycle controls (joiner/mover/leaver) so permissions change automatically. Use consistent logging to correlate API activity with identities for faster incident response and compliance.

Identity Portfolio

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