Modern Security Practices for API Designers
In an era where API breaches cost enterprises billions, this guide covers essential security strategies for REST and GraphQL APIs. Discover practical implementations and architecture patterns that protect against common vulnerabilities.
OAuth 2.0 Authentication
Implement secure access control using industry-standard token-based authentication with refresh token rotation and JWT validation.
Distributed Rate Limiting
Protect against DDoS attacks with token bucket algorithms and Redis-backed windowed counters across microservices.
Strict Input Validation
Prevent injection attacks with real-time schema validation of all request parameters and JSON payloads.
TLS 1.3 Encryption
Implement end-to-end encryption with modern cryptographic protocols for all network communication paths.
JWT Validation Example
// Express.js JWT middleware
const jwt = require('jsonwebtoken');
function authenticateJWT(req, res, next) {
const token = req.headers['authorization']?.split(' ')[1];
if (!token) return res.status(401).send('Missing token');
jwt.verify(token, process.env.JWT_SECRET, (err, user) => {
if (err) return res.status(403).send('Invalid token');
req.user = user;
next();
});
}
Security Best Practices
1. Principle of Least Privilege
- Grant users only the permissions needed for their role
- Use short-lived access tokens with strict scopes
- Implement granular rights-based access controls
2. Defense in Depth
- Layer security controls at multiple points in the application
- Combine firewalls, application security, and network controls
- Implement runtime protections against injection attacks
3. Regular Security Audits
- Perform quarterly penetration testing
- Analyze vulnerability scan reports monthly
- Automate security checks in CI/CD pipelines
API Security Handbook
Comprehensive guide to enterprise API security
Explore 20+ real-world security scenarios, code patterns, and implementation strategies for securing modern APIs in this comprehensive guide.
Download Handbook