Hibbett enhances security with Cequence API protection platform

Cequence, a specialist in API security and bot management, has announced that Hibbett, a prominent athletic-inspired fashion retailer, has chosen the Cequence Unified API Protection (UAP) platform to enhance its security infrastructure.

The implementation of Cequence's UAP solution has significantly improved Hibbett's automated threat detection capabilities and provided comprehensive inventory management, compliance, and API protection across all online and in-store brands.

Operating in a hybrid IT environment that includes both on-premises and cloud-based systems, Hibbett had recently migrated critical Software as a Service (SaaS) applications to Oracle Cloud and Azure Active Directory. This migration spurred a substantial increase in API usage, necessitating enhanced visibility to combat data loss, theft, fraud, and potential business disruptions. Ensuring business continuity was a top priority, prompting the search for a security solution capable of discovering and protecting internal and external APIs while allowing the creation of custom policies to mitigate and block bot attacks without affecting revenue streams or existing business partnerships.

Lee Morris, Senior Director of Security and Infrastructure Architecture at Hibbett, stated, "Cequence has allowed us to transform our IT from being a cost centre to a strategic arm of the organisation that is contributing to our bottom line. With the Unified API Protection platform, we are now creating efficiencies in the processes that we couldn't provide without the infrastructure and systems we had in place. The Cequence UAP platform is one of the key technologies enabling our IT security team to become a much larger contributor to our company's success."

Hibbett benefits from the Cequence UAP platform in several ways:

Increased Visibility: The effortless discovery and protection of all internal and external APIs have provided Hibbett with a unified view and control over its API landscape, significantly bolstering its security posture.

Seamless Deployment: The platform enabled a fast and smooth deployment, eliminating the complexities and potential delays often associated with third-party tools.

Holistic Protection: The platform provides a comprehensive range of protection features, including threat detection, delivered through a single, integrated platform.

Customized Response: The ability to create custom policies has allowed Hibbett to effectively target and block malicious bot activity, enhancing its overall security profile.

Increased IT and Time Savings: The platform has reduced the time spent on manual API management and achieved substantial cost savings by consolidating all necessary security features into a single, comprehensive solution.

Ameya Talwalkar, CEO of Cequence, commented, "APIs are the lifeblood of modern retail and e-commerce. Every action you take online, from adding an item to your cart to swiping your card at checkout, relies on APIs to seamlessly transmit data in the background. These interactions wouldn't be possible without robust and secure API security. Securing APIs is critical, but cookie-cutter solutions fail. Hibbett needed a customizable approach to fit their unique needs, and that's what we delivered."

Hibbett's integration of Cequence's UAP platform highlights the growing need for robust API security in the dynamic landscape of retail and e-commerce. The partnership aims to set a standard for API protection, ensuring secure and efficient operations across all retail channels.