The key to a good software architecture lies in carefully controlling what gets exposed in public APIs. The hardest part of designing these APIs is deciding what to make accessible to external modules.
Here’s a practical approach:
- Start with nothing public – By default, keep everything internal.
- Expose only what other modules actually need – Avoid unnecessary exposure.
- Design the API around use cases, not data – Focus on functionality rather than raw data structures.
But strong public APIs alone aren’t enough. You need proper security and access control mechanisms.
You Should Know:
Linux & Windows Commands for Secure API Management
- Linux (Permissions & Access Control)
Restrict file permissions chmod 600 /path/to/config Only owner can read/write Check open ports (ensure only necessary APIs are exposed) sudo netstat -tulnp | grep LISTEN Secure API endpoints with firewall rules sudo ufw allow 443/tcp Allow HTTPS only sudo ufw deny 22 Block SSH if not needed
Windows (API Security)
Check active network connections netstat -ano | findstr LISTENING Disable unnecessary services Stop-Service -Name "UnneededService" -Force Set-Service -Name "UnneededService" -StartupType Disabled
Database Security (SQL Permissions)
-- Grant minimal permissions to a DB user GRANT SELECT, INSERT ON database.table TO 'api_user'@'localhost'; -- Revoke unnecessary access REVOKE DELETE, DROP ON database. FROM 'api_user'@'localhost';
Cross-Schema Transactions (Advanced)
If cross-schema transactions are needed, ensure strict controls:
-- Allow limited cross-schema access GRANT SELECT ON schema2. TO 'restricted_user'@'%';
What Undercode Say:
Security-first design is critical in API development. Always follow the principle of least privilege (PoLP). Use encryption (TLS), rate limiting, and strict authentication (OAuth2, JWT) to protect exposed endpoints. Regularly audit permissions and monitor logs for unauthorized access attempts.
Expected Output:
A well-structured, secure API with minimal exposure, hardened system configurations, and strict access controls.
Prediction:
As microservices and cloud-native architectures grow, API security will become even more critical, with zero-trust models and AI-driven anomaly detection playing a bigger role in threat prevention.
References:
Reported By: Milan Jovanovic – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅
