Address validation is essential to anyone or any business dealing with names and addresses. Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as making a note of someone’s address and assuming it’s both correct and formatted correctly.

The layout of an address depends on what part of the world you are in. To verify an address or even to add it to a standard database, you need to make sure it is laid out in the right way.

Address validation via API can help you format the address for storing and then checks the validity of the address.

Why Address Validation Is Important

In today’s fast-paced world, you don’t have the time to physically check every address. You also don’t want to take the risk that you’ve been given a false address. If you don’t check the address then scammers will quickly realize. They will give you false details to access your product or service, leaving you out of pocket.

Understanding API

API stands for Application Programming Interface. There are various companies, such as Egon, that offer address validation via API. Here’s how it works.

You can input an address for your customer, or they can do it themselves. The second option is increasingly popular as many customers fill their details in online.

Your site will insist they enter the address details in the right order. However, there is nothing that confirms the address is valid or belongs to the customer.

Your app or site has an API embedded into it. This verifies that all the essential address fields have been completed. It will tell the customer if there is information misspelled or missing and will even suggest the correct amendments. Your API will either suggest a corrected address or simply tell the customer to add the additional information.

During this process, the API verifies that the address is real. It can also check that the name listed at the address is the same as the name being used by the customer. If it isn’t, the API will raise a flag. The customer can continue to place the order, but you’ll be aware of the discrepancy and may need to undertake further checks.

Once the verification is completed, the API puts the address into the right format for your system, allowing effortless integration. The order can then be processed and the package sent with confidence.

Variants of API

One way in which API can be extremely beneficial to you and your customers is to set your system up so that customers enter a name and postcode. The API can then pull up a list of addresses that match the postcode and suggest them to the customer.

It saves time and that makes your service more appealing to any customer, as they generally want to complete the payment process as fast as possible.

Of course, there are variations in how effective postcode searching is. For example, in the UK, everyone is registered on the electoral roll. An API system can check the electoral role and suggest the exact address from just a surname and postcode.

In contrast, the API can only suggest a list of communes from a French postcode. In short, the API needs to be able to cope with different rules in different countries to provide the best possible solution for everyone.

Integration With Services

For an API to be effective it must be integrated into your website and customer-facing systems. This allows it to operate as addresses are being entered.

However, there are times when you’ll receive addresses from a third party, such as Google, Microsoft, or even IBM. You’ll generally use these as plugins to your existing system. Your API can still be used. As an Application Programming Interface, it is capable of integrating with all third-party systems and verifying the address before it is transferred to your system.

In most cases, the standard API can simply be installed. However, the parameters can also be changed when necessary. You may need the help of an IT specialist to make the necessary changes.

Summing Up

Whether used in your system or integrated with others, address validation via API ensures you have genuine addresses. Best of all, once installed, it works by itself, as there is no need to monitor the system, allowing you to focus on what matters, that’s your products and customer satisfaction.

By now, we’re all aware of the effect COVID-19 and the ensuing remote work revolution had on the cybersecurity landscape. Traditional security perimeters disappeared, cloud adoption soared, and cybercriminals took advantage. As such, security professionals scrambled to develop a solution that could handle these new challenges. And they did just that: Gartner, remarkably, coined the term Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) in 2019, pre-empting the pandemic and its impacts by mere months. But SASE isn’t a fix-all solution to our security woes; it comes with challenges. This article will explore what SASE is and the inherent difficulties with it.

What is Secure Access Service Edge (SASE)?

SASE is a modern networking and security architecture that aims to address the evolving challenges of today’s distributed and cloud-centric business environment. SASE represents a shift from the traditional approach of securing data and network traffic solely through on-premises hardware appliances, such as firewalls and VPN gateways. Instead, SASE proposes a cloud-native model that combines network security and wide area networking (WAN) capabilities into a single, integrated solution.

SASE seeks to provide secure access to applications and data for users, regardless of location or device, while ensuring comprehensive security and optimized network performance. These provisions are particularly relevant in today’s landscape, where businesses increasingly rely on cloud-based applications and services and remote work has become more prevalent.

Key characteristics and components of SASE include:

• Cloud-Based Architecture: SASE leverages the cloud as its foundation, allowing scalability, flexibility, and the ability to deliver services closer to users and applications.
• Integrated Security Services: SASE combines various security functions into a unified platform instead of managing a patchwork of disparate security solutions. These functions may include secure web gateways (SWG), firewall-as-a-service (FWaaS), intrusion detection and prevention (IDP), data loss prevention (DLP), and more.
• Zero Trust Model: SASE adopts a “zero trust” approach to security, assuming that no user or device should be inherently trusted. This approach means that users, devices, and applications are authenticated and authorized before accessing resources, regardless of location.
• Software-Defined Wide Area Networking (SD-WAN): SASE incorporates SD-WAN capabilities, which allow organizations to optimize and prioritize network traffic based on application requirements and network conditions. SD-WAN enhances connectivity by dynamically selecting the best path for data transmission.
• Micro-Segmentation: SASE enables micro-segmentation, which involves dividing the network into smaller segments to isolate and secure critical assets and data. This approach helps contain breaches and minimize their impact.
• Identity-Centric Security: Security teams base authentication and access controls on user identities rather than network perimeters. This approach enables organizations to enforce security policies more effectively as users access resources from various locations and devices.
• Centralized Management and Visibility: SASE provides a centralized platform for managing security policies, monitoring network traffic, and gaining insights into user and application behavior.
• Reduced Complexity: By consolidating security and networking functions into a single platform, SASE simplifies management, reduces the need for multiple appliances, and streamlines the deployment and maintenance of security measures.

Top 5 Challenges of Implementing Secure Access Server Edge (SASE)

While SASE offers several benefits, it also has its share of challenges. Here are the top five challenges associated with implementing SASE:

• Complexity of Implementation and Integration: SASE involves the integration of various security and networking functions into a unified cloud-based platform. This integration can be complex, especially for organizations with existing infrastructure and security solutions. Ensuring a seamless integration of different components, such as secure web gateways, firewalls, VPNs, and more, can be challenging.
• Data Privacy and Compliance: SASE centralizes security and networking functions in the cloud, which raises concerns about data privacy and compliance, particularly in regions with strict data protection regulations. Organizations must ensure that their chosen SASE provider complies with relevant data protection laws and industry regulations and carefully manage data access and storage to prevent breaches.
• Network Performance and Latency: SASE relies on a cloud-based architecture, which means that network performance and latency can become concerns, especially for organizations that require real-time applications or have remote offices in areas with limited internet connectivity. The efficiency of SASE heavily depends on the quality and capacity of the organization’s internet connections.
• Vendor Lock-In and Dependency: Adopting a SASE solution often involves reliance on a single vendor for multiple networking and security services. This reliance can lead to vendor lock-in, making it challenging for organizations to switch providers or integrate other solutions that may better suit their needs. Additionally, dependence on a single vendor can introduce risks in case of service outages or changes in vendor strategy.
• Migration and Transition: The migration process can be complex and time-consuming for organizations transitioning from traditional network architectures to SASE. It involves careful planning, reconfiguring existing security policies, and ensuring a smooth transition without disrupting day-to-day operations. Managing this migration while maintaining security and performance can be a significant challenge.

However, it’s important to note that while these challenges exist, many organizations see the potential benefits of SASE, such as improved security, simplified management, and scalability. Successfully addressing these challenges requires thorough planning, selecting the right SASE provider, and potentially re-evaluating existing IT and security strategies to ensure a smooth adoption process.

About the Author: Josh is a Content writer at Bora. He graduated with a degree in Journalism in 2021 and has a background in cybersecurity PR. He’s written on a wide range of topics, from AI to Zero Trust, and is particularly interested in the impacts of cybersecurity on the wider economy.