API (application programming interface) designers and developers generally understand the importance of adhering to design principles while implementing an interface. No one wants to design or implement a bad API! Even so, it’s sometimes tempting to look for shortcuts to reach those aggressive sprint timelines, get to the finish line, and deploy an API. These shortcuts may pose a serious risk — unsecured APIs.

The 35 million people who saw Skyfall back in 2012 were in for a treat – thrills, tension, and a spectacular hacking attempt against the UK public sector. While many have picked up on the evident flaws in the Bond version of MI6’s approach to cybersecurity, the film provokes an interesting reminder that in our rush to digitize public services, there is certainly more to be done in ensuring that these services are secure.

If you have an application that collects personal data with users in Europe, you’ll soon need to comply with a new European directive called the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).