A company wants to improve the security of its web applications that are running on in-house servers. A risk assessment has been performed, and the following capabilities are desired:
• Terminate SSL connections at a central location
• Manage both authentication and authorization for incoming and outgoing web service calls
• Advertise the web service API
• Implement DLP and anti-malware features
Which of the following technologies will be the BEST option?
The best option for enhancing security while meeting the specified capabilities—terminating SSL connections at a central location, managing authentication and authorization, advertising the web service API, and implementing DLP and anti-malware features—is an API gateway. An API gateway is specifically designed to handle these tasks, offering a centralized solution for managing and securing API traffic, including SSL termination, authentication, authorization, and API advertisement. While other technologies like WAF and ESB may cover some of these functions, an API gateway is the most comprehensive solution for the outlined requirements.
While other technologies like WAF (Web Application Firewall), XML gateways, and ESB (Enterprise Service Bus) gateways serve specific purposes in terms of security and integration, an API gateway provides a comprehensive solution that aligns well with the listed capabilities required for enhancing the security of web applications, managing API access, and ensuring robust protection against various threats and vulnerabilities associated with web services and APIs.
None of the options tick every box. However, some API gateways provide plugins that allow integration with solutions that meet the company's requirements.
I was wrong. C) ESB (Enterprise Service Bus) provides each desired capability.
I'm choosing D. WAF just doesn't seems that it can handle each dot.
A is the best choice
Can a WAF "advertise the web service API?" I ask, because the question seems to imply that it is D. Simply because the API gateway could be a WAF and whatever else is needed to satisfy the bullet points. Making D seem like the better choice. API Gateway - special cloud-based service that is used to centralize the functions provided by the APIs.
Terminating SSL connections: API gateways can centrally manage SSL/TLS termination, which simplifies the management of certificates and offloads the processing burden from backend services. Authentication and Authorization: API gateways often come with built-in support for managing authentication (e.g., OAuth, JWT) and authorization, ensuring secure access control for both incoming and outgoing web service calls. Advertising APIs: API gateways can expose and document APIs, often integrating with API developer portals to advertise and provide access to APIs. Implementing DLP and Anti-malware: Many API gateways can integrate with security tools to provide data loss prevention (DLP) and anti-malware scanning, helping to ensure the integrity and security of the data being transmitted.
WAF does not handle SSL termination, API advertisement, or comprehensive authentication and authorization management.
C) ESB (Enterprise Service Bus) provides each desired capability.
The BEST option for the company to improve the security of its web applications would be D. API Gateway. An API Gateway can terminate SSL connections at a central location, manage both authentication and authorization for incoming and outgoing web service calls, advertise the web service API, and implement Data Loss Prevention (DLP) and anti-malware features. It acts as a single entry point for all defined APIs and can provide centralized security mechanisms. While the other options (WAF, XML gateway, ESB gateway) can provide some level of security, they do not offer the comprehensive set of capabilities that an API Gateway does.
After careful considerations, I'm going for A. Even though D ticks the first 3 boxes perfectly, I don't know of any API Gateway solution that provides anti-malware services by default. A WAF would potentially be able to handle all of the requirements.
The only thing a differentiates this question from A and D is “anti-malware features” which will most of the time be offered by a WAF
just some clarification An API Gateway, by itself, is not typically designed to handle Data Loss Prevention (DLP) and anti-malware features. API Gateways are primarily focused on managing and securing API traffic, including functions such as authentication, authorization, rate limiting, and traffic routing. While API Gateways play a crucial role in securing API communication, they may not have built-in capabilities for content inspection, DLP, or anti-malware.