Shadow APIs: Understanding the Risk and 6 Ways to Reduce It

What Is a Shadow API? A shadow API is an application programming interface that is created or used without explicit approval from the organization’s IT or security teams. Shadow APIs can emerge from various sources, including developers experimenting with new features, legacy systems that are no longer officially supported but still in use, or services integrated outside of formal IT channels. This is part of a series of articles about API security Unlike official APIs, shadow APIs lack oversight and governance, making them invisible to the security measures typically applied to known and documented APIs. They operate under the radar of standard security and monitoring practices. Because these APIs were not introduced through sanctioned processes, they are excluded from inventory or documentation efforts. As a result, shadow APIs present significant risks. They are not subjected to regular security assessments, patches, and compliance checks that would normally be part of an API’s lifecycle management in a secure software development environment. Read the full article: Shadow APIs: Understanding the Risk and 6 Ways to Reduce It

May 8, 2025 - 08:19

Shadow APIs: Understanding the Risk and 6 Ways to Reduce It

What Is a Shadow API?

A shadow API is an application programming interface that is created or used without explicit approval from the organization’s IT or security teams. Shadow APIs can emerge from various sources, including developers experimenting with new features, legacy systems that are no longer officially supported but still in use, or services integrated outside of formal IT channels.

This is part of a series of articles about API security

Unlike official APIs, shadow APIs lack oversight and governance, making them invisible to the security measures typically applied to known and documented APIs. They operate under the radar of standard security and monitoring practices. Because these APIs were not introduced through sanctioned processes, they are excluded from inventory or documentation efforts.

As a result, shadow APIs present significant risks. They are not subjected to regular security assessments, patches, and compliance checks that would normally be part of an API’s lifecycle management in a secure software development environment.

Read the full article: Shadow APIs: Understanding the Risk and 6 Ways to Reduce It