API keys are everywhere
– embedded in your tools, powering automation, unlocking systems. But too often, they’re treated like throwaway snippets of code instead of the powerful credentials they are.
As software becomes more specialised, APIs have become the connective tissue of modern business. They enable systems to talk, workflows to scale, and AI tools to automate intelligently. Between 2018 and 2030, APIs are expected to surge from under 200 million to 1.7 billion.
But with growth comes exposure. And attackers are paying attention.
What Is an API?
An API (Application Programming Interface) is a tool that lets different software systems talk to each other. For example, when your CRM pulls data from Outlook, or when ChatGPT integrates with Slack – that connection is made possible by an API.
APIs are the glue behind automation, cloud tools, and modern AI. And the keys that unlock them? That’s what this article is about.
Why API Keys Must Be Stored Securely
In today’s cloud-connected, AI-powered workplace, API keys aren’t just convenience tools — they’re direct lines into your most valuable systems. Yet, unlike passwords, they’re often:
- Stored in plaintext or spreadsheets
- Shared casually over email or chat
- Hardcoded into scripts without encryption or tracking
Worse, they’re rarely monitored or rotated.
In 2024, 84% of organisations experienced at least one API-related security incident, with 57% reporting multiple breaches. API-specific attacks are rising, particularly business logic exploits, which now account for 27% of API threats – up 10% year over year.
The Real-World Risk: T-Mobile, 2024
In January 2024, a T-Mobile breach exposed the data of 37 million customers, traced back to insecure API access. This wasn’t a cutting-edge hack, it was a failure in the basics: weak access controls, exposed keys, and missing monitoring.
This high-profile incident is just one example of what can go wrong when API keys aren’t properly managed.
Storing API keys improperly can expose your business to:
- Undetected breaches: no alerts, no MFA, no logging
- Data loss: attackers using stolen keys to export or delete sensitive data
- System manipulation: hackers triggering actions via exposed automations
- Compliance failures: untracked access to systems can void security controls
API keys often bypass normal login processes, meaning these risks can escalate quickly – and silently.
Your organisation may not be at T-Mobile scale, but if you’re using API-driven tools like Microsoft Copilot, Zapier, or ChatGPT, you’re exposed to the same underlying risk. With attacks increasing and API use accelerating, the need for structured, secure key management has never been clearer.
Best Practices for Secure API Key Management
To minimise risk and ensure your API keys are stored securely:
- Use an encrypted documentation tool (like ITGlue) to store API keys securely with access controls
- Never store keys in plaintext, codebases, spreadsheets, or shared inboxes
- Avoid hardcoding keys – use environment variables or secure vaults
- Apply access restrictions – use role-based permissions to control who can see or use each key
- Rotate keys regularly – especially when staff leave or systems change
- Audit usage – monitor key activity to detect misuse or anomalies
By implementing structured key management, you protect not just credentials, but the systems and logic behind them, shielding your business from costly breaches.
Why We Recommend ITGlue
At Total Group, we use ITGlue to centralise and secure API keys, credentials, SOPs, and technical documentation. It helps you:
- Maintain encrypted, permission-based access
- Track changes and usage with full audit trails
- Enforce MFA for sensitive credential views
- Simplify offboarding and restrict expired or risky keys
- Share access securely without revealing raw keys
With APIs multiplying across every department, having a tool like ITGlue is no longer optional – it’s foundational.
Secure Your Keys. Strengthen Your API Security.
API keys are more powerful than ever – but they’re also targets. As API attacks rise and key sprawl increases, you need more than awareness. You need structure, visibility, and control.
Let’s talk about how Total Group can help.
We’ll help you take control of your API key strategy and reduce your attack surface.
