Don’t make security an afterthought when designing APIs

I found this really cool video about API design on YouTube, and it's got over 250,000 views! That's crazy impressive:

Good APIs Vs Bad APIs: 7 Tips for API Design

Here’s a quick rundown of the key points from the video:

• Use clear naming.
• Ensure reliability through idempotency.
• Add versioning for backward compatibility.
• Add pagination for response.
• Use clear query strings for sorting.
• Security should not be an afterthought.
• Keep cross-resource references simple.
• Rate limiting

When it comes to considering security in API design, I think that's a really good point.

The video was kind of basic, so I pulled together some more details on API security, which includes:

• Authentication and Authorization: Implement robust authentication mechanisms like OAuth 2.0 or API keys. Ensure that users and applications have the appropriate permissions through role-based access control (RBAC).
• Input Validation: Always validate and sanitize inputs to prevent injection attacks (e.g., SQL injection, cross-site scripting). Use libraries and frameworks that provide built-in validation.
• Use HTTPS: Ensure all data transmitted between the client and server is encrypted using HTTPS to protect against eavesdropping and man-in-the-middle attacks.
• Rate Limiting: Implement rate limiting to prevent abuse or denial-of-service attacks. This controls the number of requests a user can make in a given timeframe.
• Data Sensitivity Classification: Identify and classify data handled by the API. Sensitive data should be encrypted at rest, and appropriate measures should be in place to control access.
• Monitoring and Logging: Regularly monitor API usage and log all activities. This helps in detecting unusual patterns that may signify a security breach.
• Error Handling: Avoid revealing sensitive information in error messages. Generic error messages can prevent attackers from gaining insight into the system.
• Versioning and Deprecation: Maintain versioning in your APIs, and have a clear deprecation policy. This helps in smoothly transitioning to newer versions that may enhance security.

So, when it comes to implementing things, during the API runtime, it might be a good idea to bring in a gateway layer, like Kong, and ensure it’s properly configured.

Then, in the design and development phase, we can use debugging tools like Apidog to save time and effort, like API keys and OAuth 2.0, which help us quickly set up and troubleshoot:

I’m sure there are lots of details we can still cover. This is just to get the ball rolling, so feel free to share any thoughts you'd like to discuss with me!