API Security Best Practices

1. Use Authentication

  • One of the most crucial components of API security is authentication.
  • Always use secure authentication techniques like JWT or OAuth to confirm user identity.
  • Simple HTTP authentication should never be used as it sends fields without encryption.

2. Use API gateway

  • Always place an API behind a gateway.
  • Since API gateways consolidate both security-related activities and useful business-related operations, this has various advantages.
  • Rate limitation, barring malicious clients, are all characteristics of API gateways.

3. Validate inputs

  • Specify the acceptable inputs in your API documentation.
  • Prior to doing any server-side data modification or writing data to the database, don't forget to verify every input.

4. Prevent improper entry attempts

They can be,

  • Remote Code Execution (RCE)
  • SQL Injection
  • Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
  • Sending API keys or other sensitive data in the URL is not advised. Always use the Authorization header for them.

5. Limit requests (Throttling)

  • You may avoid DoS/brute-force attacks by limiting the number of queries sent.
  • Unfortunately, DDoS assaults don't respond well to this technique.

6. Output data

  • Only the relevant info should be returned. Take care not to return any delicate information, such as API keys or passwords.
  • Remove the X-Powered-By and Server headers from your HTTP response by checking them. Potential hackers may receive information from them.