Businesses and organizations widely embrace Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), and future projections indicate a continued upward trajectory in their adoption.
APIs have become a preferred choice due to their seamless integration with diverse architectures, making them easily adaptable.
Recent years have seen extensive research, surveys, and reports providing insightful data, shedding light on both the current growth and potential future trends of APIs. This article delves into the latest findings from industry-leading research entities, offering statistical insights into the current state of API data.
- In 2021, Vanson Bourne's independent research, titled The State of APIs, Integration, and Microservices, revealed that organizations increasingly recognized the relevance of APIs. The study highlighted that 93% acknowledged APIs as essential for organizational functioning, with 86% emphasizing that APIs prevented working in silos. Notably, APIs were seen as instrumental in enhancing the visibility of critical data assets.
- The same research showcased a strong synergy between APIs and microservices, with 97% of respondents expressing their complementarity. The idea of bundling them for integration purposes to achieve optimal performance gained favor, promising positive outcomes such as heightened customer satisfaction, increased productivity, and time savings.
- The State of API Security Q1 2023 Report by Salts Labs reported a remarkable growth trajectory for APIs, emphasizing that 59% of respondents managed over 100 APIs. Additionally, the report highlighted the increasing number of APIs managed, with 27% doubling their API count in the past year. However, it pointed out concerns about API security, citing data breaches at 55%, accidental data exposure at 46%, and issues related to inaccurate API inventories.
- Addressing API security concerns, the Black & White 2022 research emphasized that 37% cited API authentication as a significant issue. While 90% claimed to have policies in place for API authentication, only 31% were somewhat confident in the adequacy of these measures.
- On countering API attacks, the State of API Security Q1 2023 Report by Salts Labs revealed that only 12% of organizations had advanced security strategies, while 30% were still in the planning stage. Budget constraints (26%), lack of expertise (23%), and insufficient people resources (17%) were cited as obstacles.
- Looking ahead, research by Ponemon Institute and Traceable AI indicated that 61% of organizations expected an increase in API risks over the next 24 months. Adoption of Zero Trust frameworks gained traction, with 40% of organizations embracing it and 55% including API security in their Zero Trust strategy.
- Rapid API's 2022 State of APIs report showcased a notable reliance on APIs among developers, with 62.6% reporting increased usage. Projections for 2023 anticipated a further rise to 69.2%, indicating a positive trend in API adoption.
- The 2023 State of API by Postman reported a 3% increase in the API-first approach, reaching 11%. Financial services emerged as the sector with the highest API-first approach, attributing benefits such as faster onboarding, increased productivity, and accelerated integration.
SUMMARY
The trajectory of growth-focused organizations unmistakably points towards Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) as the key to future success. The presented statistics provide a glimpse into urgent areas requiring attention to enhance productivity, fortify security, and alleviate technical debt. This article has curated top-notch research and reports to furnish you with up-to-date and precise insights into the world of APIs. If your organization has yet to embrace an API-first approach, now is the opportune moment to take the lead and assume control.
The pivotal factors influencing organizational success in API utilization will pivot on governance and policy outcomes, emphasizing seamless adoption and rigorous API security measures.