The “2024 API Security & Management Report” by Cloudflare provides a comprehensive analysis of API-related traffic and its security implications over the past year. With APIs accounting for over 57% of dynamic Internet traffic, their management and protection have become increasingly complex. The report highlights the significant challenge organizations face in identifying and securing their API endpoints, revealing that machine learning discovered 30.7% more API endpoints than those self-reported by organizations. Key findings include the predominance of “Too Many Requests” errors, which can block legitimate users if not managed correctly.

The report outlines the risks associated with shadow APIs and misdiagnosed API errors, emphasizing the need for improved visibility and security measures. As API traffic continues to grow across various industries, the report predicts an increase in API-related security risks, particularly with the rise of generative AI APIs.