🎁 New User? Get 20% off your first purchase with code NEWUSER20 · ⚡ Instant download · 🔒 Secure checkout Register Now →
Menu

Categories

Security Intermediate

What is API Security?

Practices and mechanisms for protecting APIs from unauthorized access, data breaches, and abuse.

API security encompasses authentication (verifying identity — API keys, OAuth tokens, JWTs), authorization (verifying permissions — scopes, RBAC), transport security (HTTPS/TLS), input validation (preventing injection), rate limiting (preventing abuse), and monitoring (detecting anomalies). Common vulnerabilities include Broken Object Level Authorization (BOLA — accessing other users' data by changing IDs), excessive data exposure (returning more fields than needed), and mass assignment (accepting unexpected fields). The OWASP API Security Top 10 lists the most critical API risks. Best practices include using short-lived tokens, validating all inputs, implementing proper error handling without leaking details, and logging all API access for audit.

Related Terms

Rate Limiting
A technique that controls the number of requests a client can make to a server within a specified time period.
Encryption
The process of converting readable data into an unreadable format using algorithms, reversible only with the correct key.
Vulnerability Scanning
Automated testing that identifies known security weaknesses in systems, applications, and network infrastructure.
SOC (Security Operations Center)
A centralized team and facility responsible for monitoring, detecting, analyzing, and responding to cybersecurity threats 24/7.
Security Audit
A systematic examination of an information system to assess compliance with security policies, identify vulnerabilities, and verify controls.
SIEM (Security Information and Event Management)
A platform that collects, correlates, and analyzes security events from across an organization to detect threats and incidents.
 View All Security Terms →