When implementing authentication systems, follow these security-focused guidelines to protect user data and ensure robust access control:
1. Use Strong Cryptographic Protocols 🔐
- Always enable HTTPS to encrypt data in transit.
- Implement OAuth 2.0 for third-party access (see OAuth 2.0 Guide for details).
- Hash passwords with bcrypt or Argon2 instead of raw storage.
2. Token Management Tips 🎟️
- Issue short-lived tokens (e.g., 15-minute JWTs) and refresh them securely.
- Avoid exposing sensitive data in tokens (e.g., user passwords).
- Validate tokens on every request to prevent replay attacks.
3. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) ⚙️
- Require MFA for critical actions like password changes or account access.
- Support TOTP via authenticator apps (e.g., Google Authenticator).
- Never store user secrets in client-side code or logs.
4. Session Security 📦
- Use secure session cookies with
HttpOnly
andSecure
flags. - Implement CSRF protection via tokens or SameSite attributes.
- Rotate session IDs upon login or sensitive operations.
For deeper insights, explore our Security Architecture Overview. Let us know if you need help designing custom authentication flows!