Shield your backend from outside attacks with API Managers by Bárbara Teruggi

API security requires multiple layers of protection (defense in depth/“onion strategy”) - no single solution provides complete security

Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) provide the first line of defense by filtering, monitoring and blocking malicious HTTP/HTTPS traffic

API Management Platforms offer key security capabilities:

• Authentication and authorization controls
• Input/output validation
• Rate limiting and quota management
• Traffic monitoring and analysis
• API key management
• Schema validation for payloads
• Protocol transformation

Three levels of pre-authorization should be implemented:

• Identity verification (who is accessing)
• Resource access control (what can be accessed)
• Operation permissions (what actions can be performed)

Security considerations for consuming third-party APIs:

• Validate response payloads
• Control timeouts and reconnection attempts
• Monitor usage quotas, especially for paid APIs
• Verify redirect URLs
• Implement circuit breakers

Implement API governance to:

• Track and document all APIs
• Monitor versions and changes
• Know your consumers
• Assess third-party integrations
• Manage API lifecycles

Security should be designed from the start rather than added later:

• Analyze data flows
• Consider failure scenarios
• Plan security controls at each layer
• Document security requirements

Regular security reassessment is needed as APIs evolve and new vulnerabilities emerge