API Security Best Practices 🛡️

🔒 Authentication and Authorization

• Use OAuth 2.0 for secure access control. OAuth 2.0 Implementation Guide

• Implement API keys as an additional layer of security.

🔐 Data Encryption

• Always encrypt data in transit using TLS 1.2 or higher.

• Encrypt sensitive data at rest with AES-256 standards.

🛑 Rate Limiting and Throttling

• Set rate limits to prevent abuse.

• Monitor and adjust thresholds dynamically based on traffic patterns.

🧾 Input Validation

• Validate all input data to avoid injection attacks.

• Sanitize user inputs using trusted libraries.

⚠️ Security Headers

• Enable HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) to enforce HTTPS.

• Use Content Security Policy (CSP) to mitigate XSS risks.

📌 Additional Resources

• API Security Checklist for quick reference
• OWASP API Security Top 10 for in-depth vulnerabilities