Key takeaways

• APIs are a primary attack vector and must be treated as first-class security concerns.
• Runtime protection alone isn’t enough, API discovery and vulnerability testing are also critical.
• A capable API security platform must support discovery as well as testing across multiple API types, authentication flows, and specification formats.
• DAST-first security provides full-surface visibility by discovering and testing APIs in their live environment.
• Proof-based scanning on the Invicti platform validates real risks in apps and APIs, enabling confident remediation without the noise.

Securing APIs is no longer a nice-to-have but an imperative, yet many organizations struggle to choose an API security platform that balances deep protection with operational practicality for high-velocity development in cloud-native architectures. This article walks through what to look for in an API scanner and shows how taking a unified DAST-first approach to application and API security can deliver scalability, visibility, and proof-based accuracy.

Why API security deserves first-class attention

Whether public-facing or internal, documented or shadow, APIs often handle authentication, authorization, and sensitive data flows. As the quiet backend workhorses, they often fly under the radar for inventory and testing, thus representing one of the most discreet, exploitable, and valuable entry points for attackers.

For enterprise security teams, API blind spots are a growing liability. Undiscovered endpoints and improperly secured interfaces can create pathways for attackers to exfiltrate data or pivot into internal systems. Traditional testing methods often fall short of covering these real-world risks, especially in environments with dynamic endpoints or frequent deployments.

Compounding the security challenge is the sheer variety and complexity of API ecosystems. Many organizations manage a mix of REST, SOAP, GraphQL, and proprietary APIs across multiple environments. With each new app release and API version bump, endpoint sprawl grows, and so does the chance that something is left exposed, misconfigured, or unaudited.

Runtime protection with API gateways: Important but not enough on its own

API gateways and web application firewalls (WAFs) are vital components of runtime security, enforcing traffic control and authentication policies at the edge. However, relying solely on these protections is like locking your front door without checking if your windows are open. If an API is deployed with a serious vulnerability, say, broken access control or an injection flaw, no gateway rule can retroactively patch the code or configuration that introduced it.

Just as WAFs don’t replace the need for secure development and testing of web applications, API gateways should be seen as complementary to, not a substitute for, comprehensive API security testing. Without accurate discovery and targeted scanning, vulnerable or undocumented APIs can slip into production unnoticed, where no runtime filter can guarantee full protection.

What to look for in an API security scanner

Choosing an API security platform is all about gaining reliable, actionable insight into your API inventory and its security posture. This means you need to know what APIs you have, and you need a way to test them for vulnerabilities. Enterprises also need their solutions to scale across teams, integrate into the SDLC, and uncover threats with high accuracy and minimal noise.

Discovery: Finding what you need to secure

Before you can secure your APIs, you need to know what’s out there, and that’s often easier said than done. In modern environments with sprawling microservices, frequent deployments, and decentralized development, keeping track of every API and endpoint can be a major challenge. Documentation may be incomplete, outdated, or missing altogether, and shadow APIs often go unnoticed.

A comprehensive API security platform needs multiple layers of discovery to overcome these challenges. This includes ingesting structured definitions like OpenAPI and Postman files, monitoring traffic to detect undocumented endpoints, and actively crawling applications to uncover exposed interfaces. Only with such multi-source, continuous discovery can security teams build a reliable inventory and ensure every API, whether public, private, or shadow, is accounted for and tested.

Vulnerability testing: Probing for exploitable gaps

A strong API scanner should support multiple API types and specification formats, including OpenAPI/Swagger, Postman collections, and HAR files. It must be able to handle complex authentication flows, OAuth 2.0, bearer tokens, and header-based authorization to test real-world usage conditions, not just unauthenticated paths.

Beyond support for the many API and spec formats, workflow integration is key. The platform should align with CI/CD pipelines and DevSecOps practices, allowing automated testing at every stage of development. Real-time feedback helps developers remediate early, while central dashboards give security teams a unified view of risk.

Perhaps most critically, the scanner must validate what it finds to cut down on false positives and other speculative alerts that waste valuable time and create friction between AppSec and engineering teams. Solutions that deliver proof-backed vulnerability reports show you what’s exploitable and enable confident prioritization and response.

Why taking a DAST-first approach translates to superior API and application security

While static security testing tools analyze code, dynamic application security testing (DAST) tools evaluate APIs in their actual runtime environment, just as an attacker would. This external perspective is crucial for uncovering vulnerabilities that only appear during execution or result from integration errors, business logic flaws, or deployment missteps.

Taking a DAST-first approach allows teams to detect vulnerabilities without requiring access to source code. This is especially valuable for enterprises working with third-party APIs, legacy services, or disparate development teams. Dynamic scanning also ensures that security assessments stay in sync with the ever-changing application surface.

Where DAST truly shines is in revealing shadow APIs and undocumented endpoints. Because DAST interacts with the live application, it can surface assets and behaviors that slip past manual reviews or are missing from API documentation.

Invicti’s DAST-first platform takes this further with proof-based scanning, a proprietary technology that automatically confirms and safely exploits vulnerabilities. Every high-confidence issue includes evidence, reducing time spent chasing false alarms and enabling rapid remediation.

Invicti: Built for real-world API security at an enterprise scale

Invicti gives you complete API security coverage, from discovering unknown and undocumented endpoints to scanning them for real exploitable vulnerabilities. With support for modern authentication, scalable integrations, and proof-based results, Invicti helps teams secure what matters without adding noise or slowing delivery.

Find the APIs you don’t know about

Invicti goes beyond importing OpenAPI and Postman specs. It actively discovers APIs through crawling, traffic analysis, and CI/CD integration, so you catch shadow APIs and undocumented endpoints that others miss. It maps APIs to their apps and environments, giving you a reliable, up-to-date inventory tied directly to security testing.

Scan with full context and coverage

Support for REST, SOAP, and GraphQL APIs is built in, with compatibility for Swagger, Postman, and HAR. Invicti handles real-world auth scenarios—OAuth 2.0, bearer tokens, multi-step logins—so protected APIs get tested, not skipped. Tight CI/CD integration means scans can run automatically as part of your pipeline.

Cut the noise with proof-based results

Invicti automatically confirms vulnerabilities through safe, controlled exploitation. That means fewer false positives, faster triage, and reports your devs can trust—no manual verification needed.

One platform for your entire attack surface

Scan APIs and web apps together in one place. Invicti gives you full visibility and centralized control across everything exposed to attackers, with dashboards and reporting that scale from dev teams to CISOs—and eliminate the silos between frontend and backend security.

Final thoughts: API security starts with discovery and testing

Securing APIs at an enterprise scale demands more than just a checklist of features. It requires a mature partner who understands the evolving nature of the threat landscape, the operational realities of development at scale, and the need for proof, not assumptions.

Invicti’s DAST-first, proof-based approach helps enterprise teams move beyond reactive scanning to proactive protection, delivering real results without the noise.

Ready to secure your APIs with confidence?

Schedule a personalized demo with an Invicti security consultant and see how our platform delivers verified, full-surface API protection tailored to your enterprise needs.