Top API Security Best Practices to Protect Your Application

APIs are the backbone of modern web and mobile applications, enabling seamless communication between systems. However, APIs are also prime targets for security breaches. In this blog, we’ll discuss the 12 essential API security best practices to safeguard your application from threats.

1. Use HTTPS

Always use HTTPS to secure your API communication. HTTPS ensures:

• Encrypted data transfer.

• Use of public key, session keys, and secure TCP connections.

This makes it harder for attackers to intercept or manipulate data.

2. Use OAuth2 for Authentication

OAuth2 is a secure and standard protocol to manage API authentication and authorization. It involves:

• Resource Owner

• Authorization Server (e.g., Google)

• Resource Server

This ensures secure access delegation without exposing sensitive credentials.

3. Use WebAuthn

WebAuthn enhances security by enabling passwordless authentication using:

• External authenticators (like biometrics or hardware keys)

• Internal authenticators (platform-based methods)

This eliminates phishing risks associated with passwords.

4. Use Leveled API Keys

API keys are critical for identifying and authorizing requests. Use leveled keys for better control:

• HMAC signatures to validate the client.

• Key scopes to limit permissions for different operations.

5. Authorization Rules

Implement strong authorization rules to control data access:

• Allow users to “view” but restrict modifications unless explicitly permitted.