MTLS

Cloud-native Networking and Service Meshes Cloud-native apps run in containers and use a dynamic network. Services scale up and down, versions roll out, and traffic moves across clouds. Traditional networking can become hard to manage in this world. A service mesh provides a dedicated layer to control, secure, and observe service-to-service communication, with minimal code changes. In practice, each microservice runs a small sidecar proxy. The control plane configures how these proxies talk to one another, handles credentials, and gathers metrics. The result is a consistent, observable, and secure fabric for a distributed app. ...

API Gateways and Microservices Security API gateways sit at the edge of a microservices stack. They act like a front door, deciding who can enter and how requests travel to backend services. When security is built into the gateway, teams can protect data, control traffic, and reduce risk across many services. This post shares practical ideas to strengthen API gateways and safeguard microservices without slowing delivery. The goal is simple: clear policies, verified identities, and trusted communication. ...

Application Security in Microservice Architectures Microservice architectures offer speed and flexibility, but they also expand the attack surface. If one service is compromised, trust can spread across the system. Security must be baked into design and operations, not tacked on later. A practical approach uses defense in depth, clear identity, and automated checks. Design and identity Treat every call as untrusted. Use a zero-trust mindset for service-to-service communication. Implement mutual TLS (mTLS) to protect data in transit between services. Use a service mesh or API gateway to enforce policy and provide visibility. For users and services, rely on a central identity system with OpenID Connect (OIDC) and short-lived tokens. Validate tokens at every hop and rotate keys on a regular cadence. ...

API Security: Guarding Microservices and APIs Microservices change how we build software, but they also widen the attack surface. APIs connect frontend apps, backend services, and partners. A solid security plan keeps data safe and downtime low. Core defenses include: Strong identity and access control using OAuth 2.0 and OIDC, with short-lived tokens and proper audience checks. Mutual TLS (mTLS) for service-to-service communication to verify both ends. A capable API gateway to enforce authentication, rate limits, and traffic shaping. Token validation and signing to ensure tokens are valid and tamper-proof. Least privilege for each service and tight secret management. Beyond those basics, design and operation matter. Use threat modeling at the start of each project. Keep secrets outside code and rotate keys regularly. A service mesh helps manage mTLS and observability when you have many services. ...

Secure APIs: Authentication, Authorization and Rate Limiting APIs are the backbone of modern software. To keep data safe and services reliable, you need a clear plan for authentication, authorization, and rate limiting. These three parts work together: authentication verifies who is calling, authorization decides what they can do, and rate limiting controls how fast they can go. Getting all three right reduces risk and improves user experience. Authentication There are several common options that fit different scenarios: ...

API Security Fundamentals: Protecting Endpoints APIs are the doors to modern services. Endpoints face many threats, from weak passwords to automated abuse. A solid security base helps you protect data, keep users safe, and stay reliable as you grow. Think of security as a design choice, not a last step. Protecting endpoints starts with identity and access. Treat every request as untrusted and verify who is calling, and what they can do. A gateway can help by acting as the first line of defense before requests reach internal services. ...

API Gateways and Service Meshes: Managing Microservices In a microservices world, traffic management is essential. API gateways and service meshes address different layers of this problem. A gateway sits at the boundary, while a service mesh operates inside the system. Together they improve security, reliability, and developer speed. What API gateways do API gateways act as a single entry point for external clients. They usually handle TLS termination, authentication, rate limiting, and request routing. They can transform requests, enforce API versions, and cache responses for common calls. If you run many public APIs, a gateway keeps things consistent and controlled. ...

API Security: Protecting Endpoints and Data APIs connect apps, devices, and users. A single weak endpoint can expose data or allow misuse. Security should be built into the API design: check who can call, what they can do, and how data moves. A simple rule helps: assume threats and block them with clear controls. Protecting Endpoints Securing endpoints means controlling access at every entry point. Use a central authentication system and enforce authorization on each request. Validate input to block common attacks and apply rate limits to slow abuse. A gateway or service mesh can apply these rules consistently across many services. ...

Building Secure APIs: Design, Auth, and Rate Limiting APIs power many apps today. To serve users well, you need to design APIs that are easy to use and hard to abuse. A secure API protects data, respects privacy, and stays reliable as traffic grows. Authentication Choose a solid method. OAuth 2.0 with PKCE is a good fit for mobile and single-page apps. For server-to-server calls, consider mutual TLS (mTLS) or client credentials with a trusted backend. Use short lived access tokens, rotate them, and validate on every request. Check the token audience and issuer, and reject tokens that fail these checks. ...

API Gateways and Service Mesh Explained In modern apps, traffic flows from users into the public internet and then between many internal services. Two tools help manage this flow: API gateways and service meshes. They serve different goals, but many teams use both to improve security, reliability, and visibility. What is an API Gateway? An API gateway is the single entry point for clients. It sits at the edge and routes requests to the right service. Common duties include: ...