Announcing Sensitive Data Identification: Secure the APIs That Matter Most

Development teams have significantly increased their pace of application deployment, leading to a proliferation of APIs, many of which remain undiscovered and untested by security teams, creating substantial risks. To address this, StackHawk has introduced Sensitive Data Identification within its API Discovery tool, which focuses on identifying APIs that handle regulated data types such as PII, PCI, and PHI by analyzing source code directly rather than relying on production traffic or post-deployment scanning. This capability provides security teams with a prioritized roadmap for testing, highlighting high-risk APIs early in the development process, thereby enhancing security coverage and aligning testing with actual business risks. The feature integrates seamlessly with StackHawk's Attack Surface view, offering a comprehensive understanding of the data transmitted by APIs and ensuring that security strategies are based on data exposure rather than assumptions. By offering source-level context and eliminating reliance on tribal knowledge, Sensitive Data Identification empowers AppSec teams to improve security coverage and streamline compliance processes, making it particularly effective in fast-paced, AI-driven development environments.