How To Secure Your API Key Like A Pro

Want to secure your API Key and maintain the privacy of your application? 

With the popularity of APIs comes the question of their security. Through this blog, first, let us understand what an API Key is and its relevance. We will understand the need for securing it and the measures to prevent any unauthorized invasion and keep it protected.

What is an API Key?

Application programming interface (API) provides its users with a unique passcode for making requests; this unique passcode acts as an API Key. It is your identification for making safe searches in your API service provider. APIs act as a medium between applications to transfer data, and it is an essential tool to access that data. They allow applications to communicate with them and access sensitive data, which makes it a crucial part of software development. It authenticates and authorizes the requests by verifying the identity of the users and giving them access to the required data. It ensures that only authorized users can have access to such resources and maintains the security of the services.

Why do you need an API Key?

Let us discuss a few roles that signify its need for any API service:

Security 

An API key acts as a secure medium to safeguard the search requests and maintain privacy. They also secure the API servers from malicious intent that tries to affect the servers. Their exposure can lead to unauthorized data access, system manipulations, financial losses, and reputational damage.

Maintenance of the API server 

It monitors the usage and maintains a secure experience for users by blocking malicious intents. It acts as an identification tool for making any search request between the user and the service providers.

Authentication

With the help of an API Key, the service providers can verify and authenticate the identity of the user to ensure it is secure and reduce the risk of invasion of privacy. 

Authorization 

Determines the actions the client is allowed to perform and notifies them if the requests exceed the credit limit. These keys can distinguish between two different clients and validate the authentication of both the user and the device. 

Why do you need to secure your API Key? 

As we know, your key is like a password containing alphanumeric characters that grants access to sensitive data and services. Therefore, losing it is equivalent to having a loss of control over their services and data. 

The following are some of the reasons why it needs to be secured:

Data Breaches

The API key needs to be secured from any unauthorized access, as it gives access to all sensitive data, like customer information.

API Abuse 

API Abuse can lead to hacking and unauthorized excessive usage, which can overload the API with spam and fake accounts.

Security Threat

Securing your API key is critical for API data, as attackers can manipulate system functionalities and cause several losses.

Ways to Secure Your API Key

There is a crucial need to safeguard your key and monitor any unusual activity that can lead to a security threat. Here are some points through which you can secure your API key: 

Securely store API keys 

You can securely store your API keys by creating a safe environment variable that keeps them from being exposed or revealed, even if the source is made public. You can also use encrypted files to store them. 

Delete unused API Keys

Several API platforms give their users the privilege to use more than one API key. In that case, if you have more than one key and you are currently not using some of them, then you must delete the unused ones.

Limiting API Key Access

By granting limited and necessary permissions for performing actions, you can use a limited privilege principle. Based on specific roles, you can restrict the passcode key access to users and control. 

API Key Rotation

You should periodically create new API keys and update your applications. To use the new keys, rotate them regularly by using automated tools, and you should delete the old keys.  API Keys never change or get deleted until we do it purposefully, so you should create a security policy that requires changing these keys periodically.

Monitoring API Keys

Strong monitoring and logging should be implemented, as it can help alert you to any unauthorized usage. You can even set alerts and notifications for any suspicious activity or unauthorized usage. 

Conclusion

As you know now that securing your API key is crucial to maintain the security and privacy of your application and data. By following these measures, you can ensure that your key is secured from any unauthorized usage or threat. Keep your API Key private and do not share it publicly to keep it protected from any possible vulnerabilities.

FAQ

What is the best way to secure an API Key?

The best way to secure your API Key is to store it in an environment variable, rather than hardcoding it in your code. Use API gateways to manage them and provide an additional layer of security.

Why do I need to secure an API Key?

API Keys are like passcodes, they need to be secured to prevent your application its sensitive data from unauthorized access and data breaches, which can lead to security vulnerabilities.

How do I restrict the API key?

You can set an application restriction for an API Key by selecting Set an application restriction, under Key restrictions, on the Edit API key page. You can also select the type of restrictions.