Application Programmable Interfaces or APIs are structures or mechanisms that enable the interaction between multiple components of the same software or different software over the internet. The primary purpose of APIs is to serve as an intermediary between the user and the service they seek to obtain.
APIs serve four primary functions, as follows. Firstly, APIs allow users to access data provided by different entities across the internet. For instance, Google provides its users with weather data through an API. Without APIs, Google would have to put in place weather detection infrastructure across the globe to collect the data and then submit it to its users.
Application Programmable Interfaces or APIs are structures or mechanisms that enable the interaction between multiple components of the same software or different software over the internet. The primary purpose of APIs is to serve as an intermediary between the user and the service they seek to obtain.
APIs serve four primary functions, as follows. Firstly, APIs allow users to access data provided by different entities across the internet. For instance, Google provides its users with weather data through an API. Without APIs, Google would have to put in place weather detection infrastructure across the globe to collect the data and then submit it to its users.
Lastly, APIs are security and privacy gatekeepers. When an application wants to access data or hardware on your device, the device’s API notifies you and seeks permission to allow such access. Without granting authorization, the application will not access data such as location or your microphone.
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The rudimentary information provided above justifies strong security measures regulating API functionality. These security measures provide authentication and authorization attributes.
Differentiating Between Authentication and Authorization
While the terms may appear similar and have interchangeable meanings in API security, they serve distinct functions. Authentication relates to identification. Identity authentication API indicates the owner of specific user data. With authentication, the API recognizes the user and identifies who the user is. It allows the API to identify registered users to track who is making the request. Before the server can remit information or data to the client, the API must authenticate the client’s identity.
On the other hand, authorization relates to whether the client can undertake the function in question. While the API may recognize and identify the individual in question, the API must also determine whether the individual or entity represented by the client has sufficient permission to undertake the function or access the data requested.
Authentication guarantees the security and integrity of data by ensuring that certain data is directly associated with specific users. On the other hand, authorization prevents malicious action by only allowing access to data by users that are allowed to do so and only allowing legitimate users to undertake specific functions.
Common API Authentication and Authorization Methods
While there are numerous open-source or proprietary authentication methods, the following four strategies are the most common
HTTP Basic Authentication
This simple authentication method relies on Base64 encoding to request authentication information from a client. The HTTP header allows easy integration into any web application. However, this authentication method relies on the security of the client and server connection and is therefore unreliable.
API Access Tokens
The Access Tokens rely on the unique identifier keys that identify every user and client. Thus, when a client accesses an application, the application receives an access token and then passes it as a credential when it calls the target API. This method is ideal for applications where many users require periodic access.
OAuth with OpenID
Using OAuth with OpenID facilitates simultaneous authentication and authorization functionality. This method allows access to private information without providing access to user passwords and credentials. It also relies on the token-based system as follows. A client requests authentication and authorization from the user. If the user grants this, the client obtains an authorization grant which is then issued to the server.
The server grants a resource-specific token that identifies the user and the information that pertains to them. The client then uses the issued token to access data from the resource server and only the data related to the token that the authorization token issued earlier.
JSON Web Token
Other than the OAuth mechanism indicated above, a JSON Web Token or JWT is another authorization method that furnishes clients’ needs to access user data.
JWT facilitates a mechanism to verify the data owner and that the owner is authorized to access said data. When a user logs into a web application, the server creates a JWT token that a third party cannot alter. The token is stored on the client device and verified by the server whenever the client wants to access user data.
Parting Shot
When choosing an authentication or authorization mechanism, you should consider the methods available to the API framework you use. Secondly, ensure that the API authentication and authorization methods provide the requisite security without having to be overly complex and technical. Lastly, if you already have an existing authorization or authentication framework, ensure that the current and new frameworks are compatible and adequately serve the entire infrastructure.