The Hidden Risk of Integrations: A Checklist for Vetting Third-Party Apps (API Security)

Modern businesses depend on third-party apps for everything from customer service and analytics to cloud storage and security. But this convenience comes with risk, every integration introduces a potential vulnerability. In fact, 35.5% of all recorded breaches in 2024 were linked to third-party vulnerabilities.  

The good news? These risks can be managed. This article highlights the hidden dangers of third-party API integrations and provides a practical checklist to help you evaluate any external app before adding it to your system. 

Why Third-Party Apps Are Essential in Modern Business

Simply put, third-party integrations boost efficiency, streamline operations, and improve overall productivity. Most businesses do not create each technology component from scratch. Instead, they rely on third-party apps and APIs to manage everything from payments to customer support, analytics, email automation, chatbots, and more. The aim is to speed up development, cut costs, and gain access to features that might take months to build internally. 

What Are the Hidden Risks of Integrating Third-Party Apps? 

Adding third-party apps to your systems invites several risks, including security, privacy, compliance, and operational and financial vulnerabilities. 

Security Risks

Third-party integrations can introduce unexpected security risks into your business environment. A seemingly harmless plugin may contain malware or malicious code that activates upon installation, potentially corrupting data or allowing unauthorised access. Once an integration is compromised, hackers can use it as a gateway to infiltrate your systems, steal sensitive information, or cause operational disruptions. 

Privacy and Compliance Risks

Even with strong contractual and technical controls, a compromised third-party app can still put your data at risk. Vendors may gain access to sensitive information and use it in ways you never authorised, such as storing it in different regions, sharing it with other partners, or analysing it beyond the agreed purpose. For instance, misuse of a platform could lead to violations of data protection laws, exposing your business to legal penalties and reputational damage. 

Operational and Financial Risks 

Third-party integrations can affect both operations and finances. If an API fails or underperforms, it can disrupt workflows, cause outages, and impact service quality. Weak credentials or insecure integrations can be exploited, potentially leading to unauthorised access or costly financial losses. 

What to Review Before Integrating a Third-Party API

Before you connect any app, take a moment to give it a careful check-up. Use the checklist below to make sure it’s safe, secure, and ready to work for you. 

1. Check Security Credentials and Certifications: Make sure the app provider has solid, recognised security credentials, such as ISO 27001, SOC 2, or NIST compliance. Ask for audit or penetration test reports and see if they run a bug bounty program or have a formal vulnerability disclosure policy. These show the vendor actively looks for and addresses security issues before they become a problem. 

1. Confirm Data Encryption: You might not be able to inspect a third-party app directly, but you can review their documentation, security policies, or certifications like ISO 27001 or SOC. Ask the vendor how they encrypt data both in transit and at rest, and make sure any data moving across networks uses strong protocols like TLS 1.3 or higher. 

1. Review Authentication & Access: Make sure the app uses modern standards like OAuth2, OpenID Connect, or JWT tokens. Confirm it follows the principle of least privilege, giving users only the access they truly need. Credentials should be rotated regularly, tokens kept short-lived, and permissions strictly enforced. 

1. Check Monitoring & Threat Detection: Look for apps that offer proper logging, alerting, and monitoring. Ask the vendor how they detect vulnerabilities and respond to threats. Once integrated, consider maintaining your own logs to keep a close eye on activity and spot potential issues early. 

1. Verify Versioning & Deprecation Policies: Make sure the API provider maintains clear versioning, guarantees backward compatibility, and communicates when features are being retired. 

1. Rate Limits & Quotas: Prevent abuse or system overload by confirming the provider supports safe throttling and request limits. 

1. Right to Audit & Contracts: Protect yourself with contractual terms that allow you to audit security practices, request documentation, and enforce remediation timelines when needed. 

1. Data Location & Jurisdiction: Know where your data is stored and processed, and ensure it complies with local regulations. 

1. Failover & Resilience: Ask how the vendor handles downtime, redundancy, fallback mechanisms, and data recovery, because no one wants surprises when systems fail. 

1. Check Dependencies & Supply Chain: Get a list of the libraries and dependencies the vendor uses, especially open-source ones. Assess them for known vulnerabilities to avoid hidden risks. 

Vet Your Integrations Today 

No technology is ever completely risk-free, but the right safeguards can help you manage potential issues. Treat third-party vetting as an ongoing process rather than a one-time task. Continuous monitoring, regular reassessments, and well-defined safety controls are essential. 

If you want to strengthen your vetting process and get guidance from experts with experience building secure systems, we can help. Our team has first-hand experience in cybersecurity, risk management, and business operations, and we provide practical solutions to help you protect your business and operate more safely. 

Build your confidence, tighten your integrations, and ensure that every tool in your stack works for you rather than against you. Call us today and take your business to the next level. 

Article used with permission from The Technology Press.