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API Security Template for Engineering Teams
A structured template for securing API endpoints covering authentication, authorization, rate limiting, input validation, and monitoring.
Updated 2026-03-05
API Security
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Frequently Asked Questions
Should we use API keys or OAuth 2.0?+
Use API keys for simple server-to-server integrations where the client is a trusted backend system. Use OAuth 2.0 for any scenario involving user delegation, third-party access, or mobile/web clients. Many products use both: OAuth for user-facing flows and API keys for backend integrations.
How should we handle API versioning from a security perspective?+
Maintain security patches across all supported API versions. When deprecating a version, give at least 6 months notice and ensure the replacement version has equal or better security. Never leave a deprecated but still-accessible version unpatched.
What is the right rate limit for a new API?+
Start conservative (100 requests/minute per key) and increase based on real usage data. It is much easier to raise limits than to lower them. Monitor P95 usage across your customer base and set the default limit above P99 usage.
How do we secure webhooks we send to customer endpoints?+
Sign every webhook payload with HMAC-SHA256 using a per-customer secret. Include a timestamp in the signed payload to prevent replay attacks. Document the verification process in your API reference and provide code samples in multiple languages.
Should internal microservice APIs have the same security as external APIs?+
Yes. Zero-trust architecture means internal services authenticate and authorize every request, even within your private network. Use mTLS or service mesh tokens for inter-service communication. The blast radius of a compromised internal service is much smaller when every service verifies identity.
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