# Futurum Research Finds API and AI Risks Top Application Security Concerns

> Fernando Montenegro, VP at Futurum, shares new research revealing that API security and AI-driven risks are the top challenges for application security teams as they navigate complex cloud-native environments.

- Canonical: https://trial.futurumgroup.com/press-release/futurum-research-finds-api-and-ai-risks-top-application-security-concerns/
- Kind: Press Release
- Published: 2026-04-23T14:30:15.000Z
- Updated: 2026-04-23T14:30:15.000Z
- Authors: [Fernando Montenegro](https://trial.futurumgroup.com/fernando-montenegro/)
- Practice areas: [Cybersecurity](https://trial.futurumgroup.com/practice-areas/cybersecurity-resilience/)
- Tags: AI security, API Security, Application Security, cloud native, DevSecOps

Austin, Texas, USA, April 23, 2026 Organizations Grapple with a Broad Spectrum of Application Threats as Innovation Outpaces Traditional Security Frameworks New research from Futurum Intelligence reveals that while artificial intelligence (AI) is a critical priority for modern enterprises, the challenges facing application security teams are increasingly diverse. Findings from the 2H 2025 Cybersecurity Decision Maker Survey indicate that security leaders are balancing the need to secure emerging AI workloads with long-standing requirements for API governance and the complexities of cloud-native environments. The study highlights that API security and governance remain the most significant hurdles, followed closely by the management of risks associated with Generative AI and agentic flows. This suggests that as organizations decentralize their application architectures, the interfaces connecting them have become primary points of vulnerability. Figure 1: Top 5 Key Challenges in Application Security Beyond the AI Hype: The Breadth of Modern AppSec The data underscores a strategic tension for security organizations. While the rapid adoption of AI and machine learning (ML) has introduced numerous complex threat vectors, such as data poisoning, manipulation of generative outputs, and significant concerns about agentic workloads, foundational issues, such as vulnerability prioritization at scale, continue to strain limited staff resources. Organizations are finding that traditional security tools often lack the visibility needed to effectively secure containerized applications and automated CI/CD pipelines. Balancing Innovation with Operational Oversight The focus on API governance reflects the growing complexity of the modern digital ecosystem. As the “feel” of security becomes an operational priority, leaders are moving toward architectures that offer better integration and transparency. The research indicates that for application security to be effective, it cannot exist in a silo; it must be seamlessly integrated into the development lifecycle without creating friction for engineering teams. “These responses indicate the immense breadth of the challenge facing organizations today, extending well above and beyond the immediate concerns of AI,” stated Fernando Montenegro, Vice President and Practice Lead at Futurum. “While we may legitimately look to AI to help automate defenses and prioritize vulnerabilities, security leaders shouldn’t lose sight of the big picture. Effective application security requires a holistic approach that addresses the entire lifecycle, from the APIs that connect our services to the automated pipelines that deploy them.” About Futurum Intelligence for Market Leaders Futurum Intelligence’s Cybersecurity and Resilience IQ service provides actionable insight from analysts, reports, and interactive visualization datasets, helping leaders drive their organizations through transformation and business growth. Subscribers can log into the platform at https://app.futurumgroup.com/ , and non-subscribers can find additional information at Futurum Intelligence . Follow news and updates from Futurum on X and LinkedIn using #Futurum. Visit the Futurum Newsroom for more information and insights. Other Insights from Futurum: Anthropic Glasswing: AI Vulnerability Detection Has Crossed a Threshold RSAC 2026: The AI ‘Tragedy of the Commons’ and the Future of Agentic Security Futurum Research Finds Threats and Skills Shortages Dominate SOC Challenges