Is Your API Truly Secure? Don’t Answer Too Quickly.

Hi 👋,

Welcome to my first-ever newsletter! 🎉

Let’s cut to the chase: Securing APIs is no longer optional—it's a necessity. If you think your APIs are “safe enough” because you’ve checked the usual boxes (firewalls, encryption, maybe a WAF), you’re overlooking one crucial area that could leave your systems wide open for attack: Your API Endpoints.

In my time working with API security and helping businesses tackle vulnerabilities, I’ve noticed one thing repeatedly: Endpoints are often the weakest link in the chain. Hackers know this and actively search for poorly secured endpoints to exploit.

The good news? Fixing it doesn’t have to be complicated. I’m going to break down 5 practical steps I’ve seen make a real difference in securing APIs and preventing breaches. These are tried-and-true strategies that any team can apply—starting today.

1️⃣ Audit Your Endpoints

Before you can secure your endpoints, you need to know where they are and how they’re being accessed. This audit is critical, and many teams skip it. Here’s what I recommend:

• Complete Inventory: Do you have a list of every API endpoint in your system? If not, it’s time to start.

• Authentication Gaps: Are there any endpoints that don’t require proper authentication or authorization? You need to lock them down.

• Old or Deprecated Endpoints: Are there any outdated endpoints still accessible? These can be a security nightmare if left unprotected.

It’s all about visibility. The first step to securing your endpoints is knowing exactly where the risks are. Start by identifying publicly accessible endpoints or those tied to sensitive actions like data modification.

2️⃣ Implement OAuth 2.0 or JWT for Authentication

Without a solid authentication, your API is an open door for attackers. OAuth 2.0 and JWT are the industry standards for securing API access. Here’s why they matter:

• OAuth 2.0: This framework manages who can access your API and what they can do. It’s a powerful tool for controlling permissions and ensuring only authorized users and apps get in.

• JWT (JSON Web Tokens): These tokens prove that the user or app is authenticated and authorized to make requests. Each request carries a JWT, ensuring secure, validated access throughout the session.

If you're not already using these, it’s time to get started. Proper authentication is the foundation of a secure API.

3️⃣ Rate Limiting and Throttling

Rate limiting is one of the simplest yet most effective ways to slow down attackers. By restricting how many requests can be made in a given time frame, you make brute-force attacks a lot less effective.

This strategy is critical to stopping abuse and ensuring your APIs are protected from overload and misuse. Start by setting sensible rate limits to mitigate malicious activity before it escalates.

4️⃣ HTTPS: A Non-Negotiable Standard

If your APIs are still running on HTTP, you’re exposing your data to anyone who wants to listen in. It’s time to make the switch to HTTPS. This ensures all communications between your server and clients are encrypted, preventing hackers from tampering with or eavesdropping on your data in transit.

There’s no excuse for skipping this step. HTTPS is a must for any API that handles sensitive information.

5️⃣ Monitor API Traffic Vigilantly

Setting up your APIs is just the beginning. Continuous monitoring is what will keep them safe long-term. You need to be on the lookout for unusual traffic patterns, unauthorized access attempts, or anything else that doesn’t look right.

By actively monitoring API traffic, you can detect and respond to threats before they lead to a breach. Early detection is always more effective than late intervention.

But here’s the good news—you don’t have to figure this all out on your own. I’m here to walk you through it, step by step. If you ever feel stuck or just need a second pair of eyes on something, don’t hesitate to reach out.

I’m always here to help you make your APIs as secure as possible, so hackers don’t stand a chance. And if you’ve had any security fails or close calls with your endpoints, I’m all ears. No judgment, just a chance for us to learn and grow.

So, What’s your biggest API security headache right now? Hit reply and let me know—I’d love to hear from you.

In my next newsletter, I’ll break down the most common mistakes teams make when securing their APIs—and how to avoid them. Some of these might surprise you (and maybe even make you rethink your current setup).

Talk soon,
Damilola