
APIs have become the backbone of modern digital systems, enabling seamless communication between applications and services. However, they’ve also become a prime target for cyberattacks.

According to TechTarget's report Securing the API Attack Surface, 92% of surveyed organizations experienced at least one API security incident in 2023.

A recent high-profile breach, attributed to compromised user credentials in a leading enterprise system, is a stark reminder of just how devastating vulnerable APIs can be. But what if securing your APIs didn’t have to be a complex, resource-intensive task?

The solution is simpler than you might think: the **Enhanced API Authentication Plugin for Jira**. This powerful tool by miniOrange helps you fortify your REST APIs with ease, covering critical security needs without any technical hurdles.

Here’s how it works and why it’s a must-have in today’s API-driven world.


### Why API Security Can’t Be Ignored {#why-api-security-cant-be-ignored}

Every REST API endpoint is a potential gateway to your system’s sensitive data. Without robust security measures, these gateways can reveal critical information, including system configurations and user details—even to unauthorized users.

For example, APIs often rely on default authentication methods, such as basic username and password setups, which are highly vulnerable to attacks like credential stuffing and brute force. This isn’t just a risk for large organizations; **50% of all API traffic is unmonitored**, leaving many endpoints exposed to attacks like injection, DDoS, and man-in-the-middle exploits.


### How miniOrange Enhanced API Security App Protects Your Data {#protects-your-data}

Our app addresses these challenges head-on, providing a comprehensive security layer for your REST APIs:
- **Authenticate Every Access Request :** Think of your API endpoints as virtual doorways to your data. Without proper locks, anyone can sneak in. The miniOrange app ensures that **only authenticated users :** gain access to your APIs. By blocking unauthorized users, it keeps your server details and sensitive data safe from prying eyes.
- **Granular Access Controls:** Not every user should have access to every piece of information. With our app, you can define **precise permissions** for user groups or individuals, ensuring that only trusted users can interact with specific APIs. This minimizes the risk of accidental data leaks or misuse.
- **Replace Outdated Credentials with Secure Tokens :** Traditional username and password setups are no match for modern threats. Our app replaces this vulnerable method with **token-based access**, which uses secure, encrypted tokens to authenticate users. This approach significantly enhances security while making API access easier to manage.
- **Control Token Generation :** To further tighten security, the app allows admins to control who can generate API tokens. Think of it as issuing secure access badges—only your most trusted team members can grant or manage API access, reducing the chances of unauthorized token creation.


### API Security: A Rising Priority in 2024 {#api-security-priority-2024}

API security is no longer optional—it’s a necessity. Here are some trends that highlight the urgency:
- **Increased API Usage :** Gartner predicts that by 2025, **APIs will account for more than 90% of web application attack surfaces**.
- **Stricter Compliance Requirements :** Regulations like GDPR and CCPA now demand higher accountability for securing API data, with penalties for non-compliance.
- **Shift to Zero Trust :** Adopting Zero Trust means prioritizing API security to protect sensitive data and applications, ensuring no entity is trusted by default.


### Why Choose miniOrange Enhanced API Security App? {#why-choose-miniorange-api-app}

The miniOrange app is designed with one goal: to simplify and strengthen your API security so you can focus on what matters most. Whether you’re dealing with sensitive customer data or critical system operations, our app ensures your APIs are locked down without requiring a steep learning curve or technical expertise.

And if your business has unique API security needs? We offer tailored solutions to meet your specific requirements, so you’re never left vulnerable.


### Secure Your APIs Today {#secure-your-api-today}

Don’t wait until a breach forces your hand. Take proactive steps to secure your REST APIs with the **Enhanced API Authentication Plugin for Jira**.

Get in touch with our team to learn more or request a personalized demo. Together, we can close the gaps in your API security—effortlessly.


Reach out to us at **support-atlassian@miniorange.atlassian.net** or raise a support ticket by [clicking here.](https://miniorange.atlassian.net/servicedesk/customer/portal/2)

Discover how to safeguard your REST APIs with ease using the miniOrange Enhanced API Authentication Plugin for Jira. Block unauthorized access, implement token-based authentication, set granular permissions, and protect sensitive data from modern cyber threats.

REST API Security: How to Secure Your REST APIs Effortlessly


**Enable Jira 2FA for Customers and skip for Employees**

REST API is an application interface that allows an application to expose its resources securely to client applications. REST APIs let you securely integrate with Jira server or Jira data center by querying and modifying data in your Jira application. Since the rest APIs are open to the internet and anyone can use them to gain illegitimate access and modify sensitive resources, it is crucial to authenticate each API call made to the server.

**Authentication methods to Secure APIs are as follows:**
- Basic Authentication
- API Key Authentication
- OAuth 2.0 Authentication

We will learn about them briefly below.

### Basic Authentication: {#basic-authentication}

Basic authentication is a simple authentication scheme built into the HTTP protocol. In Basic Authentication, the client sends an encoded username and password for authentication. Since username and password sent can be easily deciphered, there is an inherent security vulnerability when using Basic authentication. With basic authentication, every API call is an opportunity for credential theft, which is not ideal. Hence not it is not recommended.

![Rest API Basic Authentication](/blog/assets/2023/rest-api-basic-authentication.webp)

**Authentication methods for SSO Enabled Jira Server:**

If the application is federated using SSO protocols such as SAML/OAuth/OIDC, the user generally does not know his/her application credentials. The user only knows the credentials of the Identity Provider. Hence basic authentication in such cases does not work. In this case, you can use the methods below.

### API Key Authentication {#api-key-authentication}

Use API Keys as an alternative to basic authentication for protection is to secure REST APIs from unauthenticated users. API Key authentication generates a random authentication key for you. Using this key, you can authenticate the REST API by sending it in the authentication request instead of a password. For more security, you can revoke & generate API keys.

From a usability point of view, there are some pros to using API Keys.  One of the clear advantages is its inherent simplicity as well as security. A single identifier is simple, and for some use cases, the best solution since they work better as unique app identifiers. We provide support for API key Authentication where you can additionally control which users can call the secure REST APIs.

![Rest API API Key Authentication](/blog/assets/2023/rest-api-api-key-authentication.webp)

### OAuth 2.0 Authentication {#oauth-2.0-authentication}

This method allows you to authenticate the secure REST APIs of your application using any OAuth/OIDC providers. A client calling a secure REST API can fetch an access token from the OAuth/OIDC provider and use this access token to authenticate an API call.

It is fundamentally a much more secure and more powerful method than the other approaches, mainly because it allows the establishment of scopes that can restrict or provide access to different parts of the API service. It is the best solution for those who have external OAuth2.0 providers. As an added advantage, the token gets revoked after some time, making it much harder to be re-used by attackers.

![Rest API OAuth 2.0 Authentication](/blog/assets/2023/rest-api-oauth-authentication.webp)

Try out our REST API Authentication app. The app supports various methods like API Token, OAuth 2.0/OpenID token, etc. and it also provides configurable access control to block the REST API calls made using basic authentication or OAuth 1.0.

For detailed information about our REST API Authentication app, please refer this [link](https://www.miniorange.in/atlassian).

In case you have any other use cases or have any queries, then please feel free to raise a ticket [here](https://miniorange.atlassian.net/servicedesk/customer/portal/2).

Since rest APIs are open to the internet, anyone can gain illegitimate access to it. Thus making it crucial to validate each API call made to the server. Secure Jira/Confluence data Center Rest APIs with our advanced authentication methods. Try our REST API Authentication app. The app supports various authentication methods like API Token, OAuth 2.0/OpenID token, etc. and it also provides configurable access control to block the REST API calls made using basic authentication or OAuth 1.0.

REST API Security: How to Secure Your REST APIs Effortlessly

Authentication methods to Secure Jira/Confluence data center Rest APIs