Plan Defender for API Integration
Implementation Effort: Medium
Planning integration requires coordination between API owners, security teams, and Azure administrators to onboard APIs, configure monitoring, and align with existing security operations.
User Impact: Low
The integration process is handled by administrators and security teams; no direct user involvement is needed.
Overview
Planning the integration of Microsoft Defender for APIs involves preparing your environment to onboard APIs published in Azure API Management and enabling the Defender for APIs plan in Microsoft Defender for Cloud. This integration provides full lifecycle protection for APIs, including inventory visibility, threat detection, and security posture management. Key planning steps include identifying which APIs to protect, ensuring they are managed through Azure API Management, and configuring Defender for APIs to ingest traffic and generate alerts.
The integration also supports connections to SIEM systems and Defender CSPM, enabling centralized monitoring and response. Without proper planning, organizations risk incomplete API coverage, missed threat detections, and misaligned security operations. This capability supports the Zero Trust principle of "Assume breach" by continuously monitoring API behavior and integrating with broader threat detection systems.