Extending API Security to the Agentic Execution Layer
Why security and development teams choose 42Crunch to protect their APIs
The AI to API last mile security challenge
42Crunch is a recognized leading API security platform provider, deployed by Fortune 500 firms and used by over 2 million developers globally. We help teams build better and more secure APIs, through good API security governance. But the future is not just about securing APIs, it's also about how as AI agents begin to autonomously interact with enterprise systems, APIs have become the execution layer for business-critical operations. This creates a new “last mile” challenge: ensuring every AI-driven interaction is secure, compliant and under control.
Built on a foundation of industry-leading API security, 42Crunch delivers deterministic guardrails across design, build, and runtime—so organizations can safely adopt agentic AI without introducing new risk. 42Crunch enables CISOs to govern, secure, and control AI-driven interactions with their APIs —without slowing innovation.
APIs are the No.1 attack surface for hackers. Countless organizations have been breached due to vulnerabilities in their APIs and now with GenAI and LLMs transforming the enterprise landscape, we are witnessing a 25-50% increase in the usage of APIs1. In parallel, attacks continue to rise, and it is now only a question of when, not if, your APIs come under attack.
92%
of enterprises suffered an API Attack 2
80%
of enterprises will have used GenAI APIs or deployed GenAI apps in production in 2026 3
Trusted by security and development teams all over the world
2 Million
10s of Millions
4 of Top 5
Top 2 of
Security-by-design, at the speed of AI
Research from the apisecurity.io newsletter shows that 90% of API exploits stem from poor API design and implementation. Now with AI-powered code development and remediation, companies are able to improve their API security posture and benefit from accelerated dev times and reduced remediation costs.
90%
of API exploits stem from poor API design and implementation 4
60%
of software teams are fully or mostly responsible for API security 5
In large enterprises, APIs power critical business services across cloud-native and microservices environments. As a result, security can no longer be a downstream activity. It must be embedded directly into the design and build phases, where APIs are defined and implemented.
By shifting security left, organizations can ensure that every API—whether created by developers or AI coding agents, or both—is secure by design, validated in development, and ready for production from day one.
Application Security Engineer in the Software Industry
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Production Manager, Energy industry
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Senior Manager in the Telecommunication Industry
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Engineering Manager
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Generate RoI on API security expenditure
Enterprises deploying 42Crunch generate significant returns on their API security investment in several measurable ways for both their security and engineering teams.
Reduce pen-testing & ensuing remediation costs
Remediation of security problems during the design and development phases leads to more robust APIs eventually being deployed into production. Security teams at our customers have dramatically reduced their pentesting costs by removing vulnerable APIs from the production pipeline and avoiding related remediation costs. Implementing such a proactive, secure-by-design approach can cut vulnerabilities by as much as 79%6, ultimately saving millions for organizations with many APIs.
79%
Implementing a proactive, secure-by-design approach cuts vulnerabilities by as much as 79%6
90%
Reduced levels of false positive alerts
Reduce the noise by 90% for improved productivity
42Crunch’s proactive approach to API security leads to a reduction in the volume of false positives and a correlated reduction in the number of hours wasted by security teams chasing and fixing bugs. Legacy edge security solutions continue to rely on reactive “find and fix” methods which are untenable in today’s world of AI-driven coding and consumption.
A study7 has shown that developer productivity drops 25-30% when shifting focus from writing new code to fixing vulnerabilities in a post production environment. With 42Crunch companies benefit from fewer pipeline breaks and so deliver services at the speed and scale required for today’s agentic age.
Reduce the cost of vulnerability fixes
Various studies8 show that the cost of fixing a vulnerability discovered in production can be as much as 640X higher compared to when it when discovered in the coding stage. Identifying and remediating vulnerabilities earlier in the software development lifecycle is clearly demonstrated to save expenses further downstream. A typical bug fix at design time might cost $100, but addressing the same issue post-production can cost up to $10,000 or more9. Implementing 42Crunch’s secure-by-design methodologies ensures that remediation costs are always at the low end of the scale compared to other offerings in the market.
Unlock value of OpenAPI as a blueprint
A well-defined OpenAPI definition, or OpenAPI contract based on the OAS specification, can serve as a blueprint contract between API producers and consumers. It ensures smooth integration, reduces support overhead, enhances security, and fosters better collaboration between teams. It also paves the way for scalable, secure, and reliable API ecosystems.
OpenAPI contracts can be scanned by security tools to identify vulnerabilities, such as missing authentication and exposed sensitive data. By leveraging OpenAPI contracts, security teams can automate, scale, and streamline API security assessments, reducing manual effort while improving overall security posture.
Generating value with 42Crunch
Secure Your APIs
Avoid breaches and costly remediation charges with security guardrails at design time. Automate API risk mitigation in concert with AI agents and developers for scalable policy compliance across all APIs.
Save Time
Seamlessly automate security into the API build and deployment process to reduce manual interventions and time-wasting false positives.
Save Money
Reduce costly licence renewal charges for ineffective solutions by closing the gaps left by perimeter-based security tools that rely on generic detection rules.
Accelerate API Delivery
Reduce costly release bottlenecks by enabling developers and AI coding agents to design and build secure APIs earlier in the lifecycle.
1 https://blog.451alliance.com/navigating-api-management-in-the-hybrid-it-generative-ai-era/
2 Securing the API attack surface, Enterprise Strategy Group 2023
4 APIsecurity.io Research 2024
5 Source Gartner. CM_GTS_3315727
6 https://www.securitycompass.com/reports/2024-state-of-security-by-design-and-threat-modeling
7 https://www.securitycompass.com/blog/the-high-costs-of-delaying-a-security-by-design-program/
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