Five Best Practices for API Security

CIO Applications| Wednesday, June 16, 2021

Encrypting data with Transport Layer Security (TLS) and requiring a signature can help ensure that authorized users only access data.

Fremont, CA: APIs are critical in today's business, and their importance will only increase as new applications and IoT devices are developed. APIs make it easier for developers to connect ecosystems and integrate them, which benefits businesses and their customers.

APIs, on the other hand, are vulnerable to hackers who can use them for wrong purposes. Here are five best practices for API security:

Identify Vulnerabilities

The first step in protecting your API lifecycle is to identify the insecure locations. Make a lifecycle map and be aware of where your API components are located. Understanding how everything works together will help you identify flaws in your API that can be exploited. Scanning for wrong code and testing your routines can also assist you in figuring out where problems can arise.

Use Tokens

An application can use access tokens to access your API. An access token is issued once the authentication and authorization process has been completed. Tokens allow you to build trustworthy identities and then assign tokens to them to govern API access.

Throttling and Rate Limits

When an API receives a large number of calls, it could signal that it is being attacked or that there is a bug in the code. You can defend an API from traffic spikes and DDoS assaults by limiting how often it may be called and slow connections.

Data Encryption

Encrypting data with Transport Layer Security (TLS) and requiring a signature can help ensure that authorized users only access data.

API Gateways

API gateways allow you to authenticate API traffic and operate as a single point of entry for all API calls. They also make it easier for teams to put additional security best practices in place. Enterprises should also keep an eye on their APIs to see which ones aren't in use or don't have any new security features.