Application Programming Interface (API) Security Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast. By Offering (Platforms & Solutions and Services), By Deployment Mode (On-Premises, Hybrid, and Cloud), By Organization Size (SMEs and Large Enterprises), By Region, By Company and By Geography, Forecast & Opportunities 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 1167.37 Million
CAGR (2026-2031)	28.63%
Fastest Growing Segment	SMEs
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 5287.64 Million

Market Overview

The Global Application Programming Interface (API) Security Market will grow from USD 1167.37 Million in 2025 to USD 5287.64 Million by 2031 at a 28.63% CAGR. The Global Application Programming Interface (API) Security Market encompasses a specialized suite of solutions and services designed to protect the integrity and confidentiality of APIs by mitigating vulnerabilities and preventing unauthorized access. The market is primarily driven by the extensive digital transformation across industries and the widespread adoption of cloud-native architectures which necessitate robust mechanisms to safeguard inter-application connectivity. Furthermore, the imperative for strict regulatory compliance regarding data privacy and the rapid transition toward microservices architectures are fundamental factors supporting the sustained growth of this sector.

One significant challenge that could impede market expansion is the inherent complexity of managing and securing the exponentially growing number of API connections, often creating vulnerabilities known as API sprawl. This expanded attack surface remains a persistent concern for enterprises as they struggle to maintain visibility over their digital assets. According to the Cloud Security Alliance, in 2024, insecure interfaces and APIs were ranked as the third most critical threat facing cloud computing environments. This statistic highlights the severity of the risk and underscores the difficulty organizations face in effectively securing their API ecosystems against evolving cyber threats.

Key Market Drivers

The escalating frequency and sophistication of API-specific cyberattacks is a primary catalyst propelling the Global Application Programming Interface (API) Security Market. As APIs increasingly serve as the connective tissue for digital ecosystems, they have become the preferred vector for threat actors seeking to bypass traditional perimeter defenses. This intensified threat landscape is evidenced by the sheer volume of malicious activity; according to Akamai, April 2025, in the 'State of Apps and API Security 2025' report, 150 billion API attacks were documented globally between January 2023 and December 2024. The integration of advanced technologies by attackers further exacerbates this risk. According to Wallarm, January 2025, in the '2025 API ThreatStats Report', AI-driven API vulnerabilities skyrocketed by 1,205% in the previous year, highlighting the rapid evolution of threats requiring robust defense.

The increasing complexity and sprawl of unmanaged API inventories further accelerate market demand as enterprises struggle to maintain visibility over their expanding digital footprints. Rapid adoption of cloud-native architectures has led to a proliferation of "shadow" APIs—undocumented endpoints that create significant blind spots. This lack of governance allows vulnerabilities to persist undetected within corporate networks. According to Salt Security, October 2025, in the 'H2 2025 State of API Security Report', only 19% of organizations feel very confident in the accuracy of their API inventories, underscoring the severity of the visibility gap. As organizations realize that traditional tools cannot protect what they cannot see, the imperative to adopt specialized solutions for continuous discovery and inventory management becomes a critical driver for market growth.

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Key Market Challenges

The inherent complexity of managing and securing the exponentially growing number of API connections poses a significant challenge that directly impedes the expansion of the Global API Security Market. This phenomenon, often referred to as API sprawl, creates a fragmented digital environment where organizations lose visibility over their interface assets. When enterprises cannot accurately inventory or monitor their connections, they become hesitant to invest in premium security suites, as they are unable to establish the necessary baseline governance. This operational opacity effectively freezes the sales cycle, as potential buyers must rectify their asset management struggles before they can effectively utilize or justify the cost of advanced protection solutions.

This challenge is severely exacerbated by a lack of available technical resources required to navigate these complex ecosystems. According to ISC2, in 2024, 67% of cybersecurity professionals reported that their organizations were operating with a significant shortage of security staff. This workforce deficit restricts the market’s growth potential, as companies lack the specialized human capital needed to configure and maintain comprehensive API security frameworks, leading to delayed adoption and reduced investment in the sector.

Key Market Trends

The Emergence of Specialized Security Solutions for Generative AI and LLM APIs is reshaping the market as organizations aggressively integrate large language models into their digital ecosystems. This trend is defined by the critical need to secure the unique attack surfaces introduced by AI-driven applications, such as prompt injection and model theft, which traditional defenses often fail to address. The urgency for these specialized controls is driven by the perceived severity of the threat among security leaders who are witnessing the rapid deployment of these technologies without adequate safeguards. According to Traceable AI, October 2024, in the '2025 Global State of API Security Report', 65% of organizations now state that generative AI applications pose a serious to extreme risk to their API environments, catalyzing the development of dedicated defense mechanisms for LLM integrations.

Concurrently, the Consolidation of Point Solutions into Holistic API Protection Platforms is gaining momentum as enterprises seek to eliminate the operational silos that create coverage gaps. Organizations are moving away from fragmented security models where API protection is managed disparately across different teams, a practice that leads to inconsistent policy enforcement and increased vulnerability. This shift toward unified platforms allows businesses to centralize governance and bridge the divide between application security and API management teams. The necessity for this convergence is highlighted by industry data revealing deep organizational fractures; according to F5, November 2024, in the '2024 State of Application Strategy Report: API Security', 53% of organizations manage API security under application security while 31% rely on API management platforms, a fragmented approach that holistic solutions aim to resolve.

Segmental Insights

The Small and Medium-sized Enterprises segment is positioned as the fastest-growing category within the global API security market. This rapid expansion is primarily driven by the increasing reliance of smaller organizations on cloud-based applications and third-party integrations to scale their operations. As these businesses digitize, they face heightened exposure to cyber threats and data breaches, necessitating robust defense mechanisms. Furthermore, the urgent need to comply with stringent data privacy mandates, such as the General Data Protection Regulation, compels SMEs to invest in dedicated API security solutions to mitigate liability and safeguard customer trust.

Regional Insights

North America leads the Global Application Programming Interface (API) Security Market due to the region's early and extensive implementation of cloud computing and digital transformation strategies. This market supremacy is bolstered by the presence of established security technology providers and a strong emphasis on securing financial and healthcare data. Organizations are further driven by the need to adhere to rigorous standards set by institutions like the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council and the National Institute of Standards and Technology. These elements collectively ensure the region's sustained dominance in protecting critical digital infrastructure.

Recent Developments

• In June 2025, Thales announced the integration of new detection and response capabilities into its Imperva Application Security platform to combat complex business logic threats. The update specifically addressed critical risks such as Broken Object Level Authorization (BOLA), which remained a top vulnerability in the API security landscape. By combining real-time detection with automated mitigation, the platform enabled organizations to identify and block malicious activities targeting unauthenticated or deprecated APIs. This development was intended to deliver comprehensive protection against unauthorized data exposure across diverse cloud and on-premises infrastructures.
• In April 2025, F5 unveiled significant enhancements to its Application Delivery and Security Platform, specifically targeting the security challenges of AI-driven and hybrid multicloud environments. The update introduced expanded API discovery tools and advanced threat detection capabilities designed to identify and remediate vulnerabilities in modern applications. These new features aimed to provide organizations with unified visibility into their API ecosystems, helping to detect hidden endpoints and sensitive data flows. The launch emphasized the necessity of consolidating security tools to simplify operations while ensuring robust protection against increasingly sophisticated API-targeted attacks.
• In October 2024, Traceable AI released its "2025 Global State of API Security" report, which provided an in-depth analysis of the cybersecurity landscape based on insights from over 1,500 IT and security professionals. The research revealed that a significant majority of organizations had experienced API-related data breaches, with traditional defenses often failing to stop advanced threats like fraud, bot attacks, and risks associated with generative AI applications. The report highlighted that the rapid adoption of AI was introducing new vulnerabilities, urging enterprises to fundamentally rethink their security strategies to better protect critical API infrastructure and sensitive data.
• In May 2024, Akamai Technologies announced a definitive agreement to acquire Noname Security, a leading provider of application programming interface (API) security, for approximately US$450 million. This strategic acquisition was designed to enhance Akamai’s existing security portfolio by extending protection across all API traffic locations, including cloud, edge, and on-premise environments. The integration aimed to provide a comprehensive suite capable of discovering shadow APIs, detecting vulnerabilities, and preventing attacks. Akamai stated that the move would accelerate its ability to meet growing customer demand and address the expanding attack surface created by the widespread use of APIs.

Key Market Players

• IBM Corporation
• Akamai Technologies
• Imperva
• Barracuda Networks
• Google LLC
• Microsoft Corporation
• Palo Alto Networks
• Check Point Software Technologies
• Fortinet, Inc.
• Broadcom Inc.

By Offering	By Deployment Mode	By Organization Size	By Region
Platforms & Solutions and Services	On-Premises Hybrid Cloud	SMEs and Large Enterprises	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Application Programming Interface (API) Security Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Application Programming Interface (API) Security Market, By Offering:

• Platforms & Solutions and Services

• Application Programming Interface (API) Security Market, By Deployment Mode:

• On-Premises
• Hybrid
• Cloud

• Application Programming Interface (API) Security Market, By Organization Size:

• SMEs and Large Enterprises

• Application Programming Interface (API) Security Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE