Akamai Technologies unveiled its latest State of The Internet (SOTI) report, shedding light on the escalating threats facing businesses, particularly in the Asia-Pacific and Japan (APJ) region, due to cybercriminals targeting Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). The report, titled “Lurking in the Shadows: Attack Trends Shine Light on API Threats,” reveals a concerning trend, with 15 per cent of all web attacks in APJ focusing on APIs throughout the year 2023.
The manufacturing sector emerges as the most vulnerable, being the primary target of these API-centric cyber attacks. A staggering 31.2 per cent of web attacks in the industry were directed at APIs, making manufacturers the most at-risk group across all sectors in the APJ region. With the demand for API usage on the rise, Akamai anticipates a surge in attacks and strongly advises organizations to enhance their API security measures to avoid potential breaches.
APIs, the backbone of modern software, systems, and devices, play a pivotal role in manufacturing operations. They enable the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) devices, which boost production efficiency and allow for real-time management of factories and inventories. However, this digital innovation and the rapid growth of the API economy have also opened new avenues for cybercriminals to exploit.
The report emphasises the significance of APIs in today’s organisational infrastructure and the challenges in protecting them effectively. Reuben Koh, Security Technology and Strategy Director for APJ at Akamai, highlighted the security lapses often seen in APIs’ rapid development and deployment. “As manufacturers increasingly rely on APIs for real-time production monitoring, predictive maintenance, and cost optimisation, they must become more cognizant of the risks they face,” Koh stated.
Given Asia’s pivotal role in the global manufacturing sector, the implications of successful attacks against APJ manufacturers could reverberate worldwide. Akamai’s report serves as a crucial wake-up call for organisations globally to prioritise their API security to safeguard against the evolving landscape of cyber threats.
