Introduction

Authentication and authorization are processes that ensure users can only access an API if their identities have been verified. This is done to avoid unauthorized requests and/or misuse of API resources. Private data has to be secured and protected at all costs in order to prevent it from getting into the hands of hackers or individuals with malicious intent.

APIs make use of access policies in order to ascertain the identity of the consumer, protect sensitive data from being accessed by unauthorized entities, and verify the identity of API consumers.

This article intends to inform you of the best practices to manage your API authorization and authentication in order to prevent a breach and protect your data against cyber criminals.

Authentication (AuthN) refers to the process of proving the identity of the user sending the request and verifying their identity and credentials, whereas Authorization (AuthZ) is the mechanism by which an application or other system component verifies whether a particular user has permission to access data and/or interact with it.

The following are some best practices to authenticate and authorize requests.

5 Best Practices for API authentication and authorization

We have enlisted and described several practices and policies that ensure your private data is only disclosed to the right users.

1). Secure the API with Transport Layer Security (TLS)

In API deployment, Transport Layer Security (TLS) is used to protect the information of the API. HTTP is a protocol that can be used for communication between clients and servers—but it's not secure by itself; HTTPS provides this security by adding TLS encryption layers on top of normal HTTP communications. TLS secures the data in transit for the API endpoint by encrypting information. This ensures that third parties cannot gain access to it, and its confidentiality is ensured—even if someone else intercepted this message.

TLS is issued by a certificate authority, and the authentication and encryption files are installed on the website to authorize TLS. An SSL certificate is used for this purpose. A website that uses TLS can be identified by its URL, which uses "HTTPS" rather than the plain old "HTTP."

Version 1.3 of the TLS protocol is the current standard, but version 1.2 could still be used in some circumstances.

2). Secure the API by using an OAuth2.0

OAuth2 is an authorization standard that allows a user to grant access to the user's data on one website in order for it to be used by another site or application without having their credentials (typically their username and password) stolen. The goal of OAuth2 is therefore not only to authorize third parties to access resources, but also to protect the owners from unsafe unauthorized third-party requests.

OAuth serves as an intermediary between the user, the application, and the resource server.

To explain it in detail, the OAuth2 process works in this way:

1. The application requests authorization from the user.

2. The user grants the application access to their account. The extent of the application's access to the user’s account is limited to what the user has authorized.

3. The application presents proof of authorization to the resource server to get the access token.

4. The resource server verifies the user and delivers the token to the application.

Consider this scenario: A user is trying to make a payment to an online business website, and the website needs their credit card details. If the website wants to get that information, OAuth will serve as the mediator to enable this transaction without revealing the credit card details to the website. The user will authorize the OAuth application to get the token access from a third party, i.e., a payment platform that will grant access to the user’s bank account without revealing the card details. It is likely that you have come across an OAuth in action in your day-to-day dealings.

OAuth's primary function is to authorize rather than to authenticate.

3). Give API keys to the API consumers in your client database

This way, you automatically restrict access to your API data by streamlining projects or application requests.

API keys do not directly identify specific users; they work by identifying projects or specific requests. That makes it important to build up a list of allowed IP addresses.

You can set up a client database of consumers who have access to your API using the Identity and Access Management (IAM) service.

API keys function similarly to passwords for the user making the API request, and on the API's end, they enable the appropriate service access and track how their data is being used.

How an API key is sent will depend on the particular API. Some might require that you enter the API key as a query parameter, a body parameter, or in the header of the API request.

While it becomes the responsibility of the API consumer to keep the key safe after it has been assigned to them, it is important to enlighten them on the sensitivity of the key and suggest ways to keep it safe.

4). Consider implementing session binding

Session binding involves binding the IP addresses of the authenticated user to session tokens and authenticated access tokens. This way, if the access token gets stolen or misplaced and gets into the custody of a hacker, and the hacker tries to impersonate the authenticated user from a different IP address, they would get restricted. Session binding recognizes devices and IP addresses.

One drawback of session binding is that if an authenticated user attempts to switch between devices, they might be required to authenticate a new one.

5). Enable authorization for access requests

Surprisingly, not all requests necessitate authorization. There are some basic requests that, when made, do not jeopardize the API data's security. These requests are not subject to authorization. Determine which requests necessitate authorization and enable authentication for those.

There should be a system that distinguishes requests. Access should be given to the particular requests made. The API key should be peculiar to the API request.

Always keep in mind the importance of data security. It doesn't hurt to be a little paranoid when it comes to API security. Nothing should be left to chance or presumption. Secure all ends and treat each request as if it were new. It is also necessary to withhold critical information and not share more than is necessary.

Conclusion

API programming is still in its infancy and continues to evolve at a rapid pace. There are numerous factors to consider when setting up an API, both from a User Experience and a security standpoint. Hackers aren't sitting around waiting for you to create a fancy new web service to bring down. They are tearing everything apart right now, looking for flaws and exploits in the APIs you are deploying. I hope that this list of best practices will assist you in making your API setup more secure in the future.

If you found this article helpful, I would like to connect with you so you can stay updated when other articles get published.

#apis #authentication #authorization #best-practices