Check If Your API Is Secure Online
A practical checklist to verify your API is secure. Rate limiting, auth, keys in backend, and more.
What this problem means
You have an API. Is it secure? Many teams ship without basic protections. A checklist helps you verify: rate limiting, authentication, key management, HTTPS, and more.
Why this matters
- Abuse prevention: Unprotected APIs get abused, racking up bills.
- Data access: Weak auth or leaked keys expose customer data.
- Compliance: Auditors and customers expect basic security.
Real-world example
A startup shipped an API without rate limiting. A script was written to automate millions of requests. Within a week, the API was called 10M+ times. The resulting bills exceeded $50,000. A simple checklist would have caught the missing rate limit.
How to fix it
1. Rate limiting: Cap requests per IP or API key. Start with 100-500/min.
2. Keys in backend: Never put API keys in frontend code. Use a backend proxy.
3. HTTPS only: Enforce TLS. No HTTP.
4. Authentication: Require API keys or OAuth for sensitive endpoints.
5. Input validation: Validate and sanitize all inputs.
6. Billing alerts: Set up alerts at 50%, 80%, and 100% of expected spend.
Tools and configurations
- StackRail Assessment: Free production readiness checklist. Get your score.
- Cloudflare: Rate limiting, WAF, HTTPS.
- AWS API Gateway: Throttling, API keys.
- Backend proxy: For external API calls.
Common mistakes
- No rate limiting.
- API keys in frontend code.
- No billing alerts.
- Assuming "we're too small to be targeted."
Quick checklist
- [ ] Rate limiting per IP or API key
- [ ] All API keys in backend only
- [ ] HTTPS enforced
- [ ] Auth for sensitive endpoints
- [ ] Input validation
- [ ] Billing alerts configured
Need help with production readiness? Get a free 30-minute audit.
Book Free 30-Min Production AuditCheck if your system has this risk
Take the 60-second production readiness assessment to identify gaps in your infrastructure.
Start AssessmentRelated guides
Frequently asked questions
- How do I check if my API is secure?
- Use a checklist: rate limiting, keys in backend, HTTPS, auth for sensitive endpoints, input validation, billing alerts. StackRail offers a free production readiness assessment.
- What is the most important API security check?
- Rate limiting. It's the fastest way to prevent abuse. Then: keys in backend, auth, HTTPS, and billing alerts.
- Is there a free API security checklist?
- Yes. StackRail offers a free production readiness assessment. Rate limiting, auth, backups, logging, and more. Get your score in minutes.