Alternatives to Protect AI

This page compares alternatives to a dedicated API security assessment solution, focusing on capabilities relevant to security teams. The comparisons highlight approaches such as runtime application self-protection, interactive application security testing, and specialized scanners. One alternative is a self-service API security scanner that emphasizes speed, broad framework support, and LLM-specific testing. The list includes options that vary in deployment model, scope, and integration style.

MiddleBrick positions itself as a self-service API security scanner that requires no agents, code access, or SDK integration. It accepts a target URL and returns a risk score with prioritized findings within a minute, using read-only methods where possible. The scanner covers OWASP API Top 10 (2023) categories including authentication issues, BOLA, BFLA, input validation, SSRF, and inventory management. It also includes 18 adversarial probes for LLM/AI security across multiple scan tiers.

MiddleBrick parses OpenAPI 3.0, 3.1, and Swagger 2.0 with recursive $ref resolution, cross-referencing spec definitions against runtime findings. Authenticated scanning is available in tiers above Starter, supporting Bearer, API key, Basic auth, and cookies, with domain verification to ensure only the domain owner can scan with credentials. Header forwarding is limited to allowlisted headers for safety.

The platform offers a Web Dashboard for scanning and score tracking, a CLI via an npm package, and a GitHub Action that can fail builds based on score thresholds. An MCP Server enables scanning from AI coding assistants. Pro tier adds scheduled rescans, diff detection, email alerts, signed webhooks, and compliance report downloads.

MiddleBrick maps findings to PCI-DSS 4.0, SOC 2 Type II, and OWASP API Top 10 (2023). It does not claim certification or compliance for other regulations, using alignment language instead. The scanner is read-only, blocks private and metadata endpoints, and allows data deletion on demand. It does not perform active SQL injection or command injection tests, does not detect business logic vulnerabilities, and is not a replacement for a human pentester in high-stakes audits.

Organizations may also consider runtime application self-protection mechanisms that monitor traffic in production, interactive application security testing tools that instrument code, and manual penetration tests for deep assurance. API gateways with built-in security policies can enforce rate limits and authentication, while schema validation tools help prevent certain classes of input-related issues. These approaches address different layers of the API security lifecycle and may be used alongside a scanner like MiddleBrick.