🔒 Secure Your APIs with API Keys : Getting started with Cloud APIM Serverless

🔑 API Keys authentication is a fundamental aspect of securing your APIs and controlling access to your resources.

With Cloud APIM Serverless, implementing API Keys authentication for your routes is straightforward and effective.

By generating unique API Keys for each authorized user or application, you can ensure secure access to your APIs while tracking and controlling usage.

In this guide, we'll explore how to set up API Keys authentication on Cloud APIM Serverless routes, empowering you to safeguard your APIs and data effectively.

🤔 What are API Keys?

API keys are unique identifiers that are passed along with API requests to authenticate the calling application.

They help track and control how the API is being used, ensuring that only authorized users can access the API.

🔑 Why using API Keys?

1. 🔒 Security : API keys act as a gatekeeper, restricting access to your API and ensuring that only authorized applications can interact with it.

2. 📊 Usage Tracking : API keys serve as tracking beacons, allowing you to monitor how your API is being used, providing valuable insights and analytics into usage patterns.

3. ⏱️ Rate Limiting : With API keys, you can enforce rate limits to prevent abuse and ensure fair usage, maintaining optimal performance for all users.

🔧 Setting Up API Keys with Cloud APIM Serverless

🆕 Step 1 : Create a Serverless Project

Before setting up API keys, ensure you have an API created within Cloud APIM Serverless. If you haven't created one yet, follow these steps:

1. Log in to your Cloud APIM Serverless dashboard.

2. Click on "New project" and fill in your project name.

3. Use Github as a provider and choose to fork the empty project template

🔐 Step 2 : Enable API Key Authentication

1. Navigate to Your OpenAPI file :

• In your Cloud APIM Serverless dashboard, select the API you want to secure

• Select the "openapi.json" file

• Choose the route you want to enable API Key Authentication or create a new route if you don't have one yet

  • in case you want to create a route, click on 'Create new route' and fill the route with a path on '/todos' and the method to 'GET'.

    Add the 'Override host header' in the plugins

2. Add API Key Authentication plugin :

• In the plugins list click on ‘add plugin'

• Search for ‘ApiKeys’ plugin

• You can now save the default configuration and push your changes to Github

🔑 Step 3 : Generate API Keys

1. Go to the API Keys in your toolbar :

- In the dashboard, navigate to the "API Keys" section.

2. Create a New API Key:

- Click on "+" button to create a new Api Key

- Fill in the details such as the key name, add users as managers, select environments and define your own quotas for each Api Key

- Click "save" to create the API key.

🌐 Step 4 : Use API Keys in Requests

• To access your API using the API key, click on ‘tools’ in your toolbar and then select ‘Tests’

• Select the method you want to use, the route path and the Api Key you’ve created previously

• Click on ‘Run’ button to send the request

• You will see the response body at the bottom of the Test Popup

🚪 Best Practices for API Key Management

🔒 Keep Keys Confidential : Never expose your API keys in public repositories, client-side code, or unsecured locations.

🔄 Rotate Keys Regularly : Periodically regenerate API keys to minimize the risk of compromised keys.

👀 Monitor Usage : Regularly check usage logs to detect any unusual or unauthorized activity.

⏱️ Enforce Rate Limits : Implement rate limiting to protect your API from abuse and ensure fair usage.

🎉 Conclusion

Securing your APIs with API keys is a fundamental step in protecting your services and ensuring efficient usage.

Cloud APIM Serverless makes it easy to set up and manage API keys, providing robust security and insightful analytics.

By following the steps outlined above, you can ensure your APIs are secure and ready for use.

🚀 Get Started Now

Ready to get started with Cloud APIM Serverless ?

Sign up now and take the first step towards secure and efficient API management !

📡 Stay Connected

Follow our blog for the latest updates, tips, and best practices for Cloud APIM Serverless and API management.

🏢 About Cloud APIM

Cloud APIM provides cutting-edge, managed solutions for API management, enabling businesses to leverage the full power of their APIs with ease and efficiency. Our commitment to innovation and excellence drives us to offer the most advanced tools and services to our customers, empowering them to achieve their digital transformation goals.