When I started building APIs, I often focused only on making features work. Security? That came later.
But the hard truth is — security can’t wait. Over the years, I’ve learned that securing APIs isn’t about one big fix; it’s about layering small but critical practices.
Here’s my step-by-step approach:
1. 🔐 Always Use HTTPS
- HTTP sends everything in plain text (yes, even your passwords).
- HTTPS encrypts data during transit, preventing man-in-the-middle attacks.
👉 Rule I follow: Never send sensitive data over HTTP.
2. 🔑 Authentication & Authorization with OAuth + OIDC
- OAuth 2.0 handles authorization.
- OpenID Connect (OIDC) adds authentication.
- I enforce the principle of least privilege:
- Users only get access to the exact endpoints they need.
👉 This keeps the attack surface small and manageable.
3. 🌐 Handle CORS Securely
- Early on, I made the mistake of setting
Access-Control-Allow-Origin: *. - Now, I explicitly whitelist trusted domains (e.g.,
https://myapp.com).
👉 No wildcard * in production.
4. ⏱️ Rate Limiting to Prevent Abuse
- Rate limiting protects against DDoS, scraping, or accidental overload.
- I apply limits per API key or per IP/user.
👉 Example: Free users = 5 requests/sec, Premium users = 15 requests/sec.
✅ My Security Checklist
| Area | Technique Used | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Transport Security | HTTPS | Encrypt data in transit |
| Auth/Authz | OAuth 2.0 + OIDC | Secure identity & access |
| Access Control | Principle of Least Privilege | Minimize exposure |
| Cross-Origin | CORS Whitelisting | Block unauthorized access |
| Abuse Prevention | Rate Limiting | Maintain availability |
Final Thoughts
API security isn’t optional — it’s essential.
These practices have become my personal checklist:
- Encrypt everything with HTTPS
- Authenticate and authorize with OAuth + OIDC
- Lock down access with least privilege
- Be strict with CORS
- Protect performance with rate limits
If you’re just starting out, adopt these early. Trust me, it’s a lot harder to patch security holes later.
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