Should I use API keys or OAuth?

API keys: simple, good for server-to-server, limited security. OAuth: more complex, better for user-delegated access, industry standard. Use OAuth for user data access, API keys for simple service auth.

How do I protect against injection attacks?

Validate all input. Use parameterised queries (SQL injection). Sanitise output (XSS). Don't trust client-provided data. Use allowlists over denylists. Test with security scanners.

What is rate limiting?

Restricting API requests per time period. Prevents: DoS attacks, brute force, resource exhaustion, cost overruns. Implement at API gateway or application level. Return 429 status when exceeded.

How do I handle API security in microservices?

Gateway handles external auth. Internal: service mesh (mTLS), internal tokens. Zero trust: verify even internal calls. Centralise security policies. Log everything for audit.

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API Security

Practices and technologies for protecting APIs from threats including unauthorised access, data breaches, and abuse.

In-Depth Explanation

API security encompasses the practices, technologies, and policies for protecting APIs from threats. As APIs expose critical functionality and data, they are prime targets for attackers.

Security concerns:

Authentication: Verifying identity
Authorisation: Verifying permissions
Data protection: Encryption, privacy
Rate limiting: Preventing abuse
Input validation: Preventing injection
Logging/monitoring: Detecting attacks

Authentication methods:

API keys (simple but limited)
OAuth 2.0 (industry standard)
JWT tokens (stateless auth)
mTLS (mutual TLS certificates)

OWASP API Security Top 10:

Broken Object Level Authorisation
Broken Authentication
Broken Object Property Level Authorisation
Unrestricted Resource Consumption
Broken Function Level Authorisation
Server Side Request Forgery
Security Misconfiguration
Lack of Protection from Automated Threats
Improper Asset Management
Unsafe Consumption of APIs

Business Context

API security is critical as APIs expose sensitive data and functionality. Breaches can result in data theft, financial loss, and regulatory penalties.

How Clever Ops Uses This

We implement comprehensive API security for Australian businesses, protecting against common threats while enabling legitimate access.

Example Use Case

"Securing a payments API: OAuth 2.0 authentication, role-based access control, input validation, rate limiting, encrypted transport, and comprehensive logging."

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Terms

Authentication OAuth JWT API Gateway

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