Essential Strategies to Secure Your Web Applications and APIs in a Modern Application Development World

In today’s interconnected digital world, the role of web applications and APIs has become central to business operations, acting as gateways to vast amounts of valuable data and services. However, their widespread use and accessibility make them prime targets for cybercriminals, posing substantial risks that can lead to devastating financial and reputational damages. This makes securing these digital assets a top priority for enterprises globally.

With each passing year, the complexity and frequency of cyber threats have escalated. Attackers exploit a range of vulnerabilities, from SQL injections and cross-site scripting to sophisticated API attacks. The Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report of 2023 highlights a startling trend: 80% of incidents and 60% of data breaches involve web applications—a statistic that has been steadily rising.

The surge underscores a critical reality: traditional cybersecurity measures are no longer sufficient. The dynamic nature of web applications and the agility of their development cycles demand proactive and continuous security measures integrated throughout the entire application lifecycle. Traditional cybersecurity solutions often fail to keep pace with the rapid development and deployment cycles typical in today’s agile environments. This gap leaves businesses vulnerable to newly emerging threats that can bypass outdated security measures. Moreover, the integration of complex cloud-based environments and microservices architectures further complicates the cybersecurity landscape, introducing new challenges in securing web applications effectively.

Recognizing these challenges, Qualys has developed a comprehensive strategy encapsulated in our latest whitepaper, “Securing Your Modern Web Applications and APIs.” This whitepaper is a roadmap to transforming your cybersecurity approach to be more robust, integrated, and proactive.

What you will discover

• Deep insights into the vulnerabilities that are currently exploited and the emerging trends in cyber threats.
• A seven-step strategic framework designed to enhance the security posture of your web applications and APIs from development through deployment.
• An exploration of advanced scanning techniques and how continuous monitoring can be leveraged to detect and mitigate threats promptly.

In this whitepaper, we dig into how modern security solutions, like Qualys Web Application Scanning (WAS), can be utilized to detect vulnerabilities and provide actionable insights for remediation. Qualys WAS is engineered to support continuous, automated, and scalable security testing across various environments, effectively integrating security into every stage of the web application lifecycle.

Qualys WAS stands out by offering continuous, automated, scalable, and in-depth scanning capabilities that are designed to integrate seamlessly into your existing security workflows across various environments, including on-premises, multi-cloud, hybrid, API gateways, and containerized architecture. 

• Comprehensive discovery & real-time detection – Discover every web asset and run continuous, automated scans to get real-time insights into threats. 
• Risk prioritization – Use advanced algorithms to prioritize web app and API threats based on their potential impact on business. 
• Sensitive data protection & compliance – With increasing regulatory demands, ensure your web apps are compliant with standards like GDPR, CCPA, and more to avoid hefty fines and protect sensitive data. 
• Shift left or right easily – Support DevSecOps practices by integrating security into development workflows without disrupting the existing process. 

Download our whitepaper today to gain the insights and tools you need to secure your modern web applications and APIs.

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Sign up now for a no-cost 30-day trial of Qualys Web Application Scanning (WAS) and start protecting your digital assets with confidence.

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