The Hidden API Risks Nobody Talks About and How They’re Being Quietly Secured

Application Programming Interfaces, or APIs, are the glue holding together a variety of industries, from banking and healthcare to retail and logistics, in today's digital-first world. APIs are being used more and more to link microservices, enable third-party integrations, and provide smooth user experiences as companies scramble to update their systems. Although APIs facilitate expansion, they also reveal a new range of security flaws that are frequently ignored until it is too late.

“Everyone talks about ransomware and phishing attacks, but very few talk about the silent threat of unsecured APIs,” says John Komarthi, a seasoned cybersecurity strategist who has quietly been on the front lines of fortifying enterprise systems against these hidden risks.

John’s work focuses on building secure-by-design API ecosystems that prevent data exposure before it happens. “APIs are like doors to your digital house,” he explains. “If you don’t monitor which doors exist, who’s coming in, and whether they should even have a key you're asking for trouble.”

Reportedly the development of a federated API inventory that provided real-time visibility into more than 2,500 active APIs was one of his most revolutionary projects. He claims that "one of the biggest risks that companies don't realize they have are shadow APIs that go undocumented or unmanaged." "What you cannot see, you cannot secure." This visibility initiative alone cut unauthorized API traffic by 30%, reducing data exposure risks dramatically.

John’s approach isn’t just about plugging gaps it’s about building systems that don’t leave those gaps in the first place. By integrating API security into DevSecOps pipelines, he helped development teams adopt best practices without slowing down innovation. “Security can’t be a bottleneck,” he insists. “It has to be a built-in layer, not a last-minute patch.”

Interestingly this mindset has yielded visible business outcomes. In one major financial services organization, his API security roadmap led to an estimated $4 million in risk mitigation savings over two years. More importantly, it established a culture shift security became a shared responsibility rather than a siloed function.

But the road wasn’t without challenges. Early in his journey, John faced resistance from teams who saw security as a blocker rather than a value-add. “There was a real mindset shift needed,” he recalls. “So, we built modular security toolkits solutions that didn’t just protect, but empowered developers. Adoption skyrocketed once we started speaking their language.”

Outside of enterprise implementation, John has been a vocal advocate for broader API governance standards. He has written extensively on the topic in blogs and thought leadership articles, including pieces like “Shifting API Security Left in the Development Lifecycle” and “The Cost of Ignoring API Drift.” His work has been referenced in roundtable discussions and cybersecurity forums where best practices for secure digital integration are being shaped.

Reflecting on what’s next for the API security landscape, John believes the industry must move from static defenses to dynamic intelligence. “Tomorrow’s threats won’t wait for tomorrow’s defenses,” he says. “We need observability, we need behavior analytics, and we need real-time policy enforcement. The future of API security is predictive, not reactive.”

In a time when a single compromised endpoint has the power to destroy digital trust, John Komarthi's quiet but tenacious efforts are making sure that businesses stay safe in addition to connected. His contributions serve as a reminder that the most effective security solutions are often those that operate covertly in the background to protect the digital world.