How do you secure REST API from malicious attacks and data breaches?

1 Use HTTPS

The first and most basic step to secure your REST API is to use HTTPS, which encrypts the data in transit between the server and the client. HTTPS prevents attackers from intercepting, modifying, or stealing the data that is sent or received by your REST API. To use HTTPS, you need to obtain a valid SSL certificate from a trusted authority and configure your server to enforce HTTPS connections. You can also use tools like Let's Encrypt or Certbot to automate the process of obtaining and renewing SSL certificates.

2 Implement authentication and authorization

The next step to secure your REST API is to implement authentication and authorization mechanisms that verify the identity and permissions of the users or clients that access your API. Authentication is the process of verifying who the user or client is, while authorization is the process of verifying what the user or client can do. There are different methods and standards to implement authentication and authorization, such as API keys, OAuth, JWT, or OpenID Connect. You should choose the method that best suits your use case and security requirements, and avoid sending sensitive information like passwords or tokens in plain text or in URLs.

4 Apply rate limiting and throttling

Another step to secure your REST API is to apply rate limiting and throttling policies that limit the number or frequency of requests that your API can handle. Rate limiting and throttling can help you prevent denial-of-service attacks, which can overload your server and make your API unavailable or slow. They can also help you protect your API from abuse, spam, or scraping. You can use tools or middleware that provide rate limiting and throttling features, or implement your own logic based on IP address, API key, user ID, or other criteria.

5 Encrypt and backup your data

Another step to secure your REST API is to encrypt and backup your data that is stored in your database or server. Encryption is the process of transforming your data into an unreadable form that can only be decrypted with a secret key, while backup is the process of creating a copy of your data that can be restored in case of loss or corruption. By encrypting and backing up your data, you can protect your data from theft, tampering, or damage. You can use tools or services that provide encryption and backup features, or implement your own methods based on your data type, size, and frequency.

6 Monitor and audit your API

The final step to secure your REST API is to monitor and audit your API activity and performance. Monitoring is the process of collecting and analyzing metrics and logs that show how your API is functioning, while auditing is the process of reviewing and reporting any incidents or anomalies that occur in your API. By monitoring and auditing your API, you can detect and respond to any issues, errors, or attacks that affect your API availability, reliability, or security. You can use tools or platforms that provide monitoring and auditing features, or create your own dashboards and alerts based on your API endpoints, parameters, or responses.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?