Security | APIFront

Security is Our Foundation

Security is a foundational element of APIFront's design. Our architecture ensures that your enterprise functions remain protected while being accessible to authorized systems.

Feature	Description	Benefit
🔐 Outbound-Only Connectivity	• All connections initiated from internal environments • No inbound ports required • Compatible with existing firewalls	Maintains your current security posture
🛡️ Comprehensive Authentication	• Complete OAuth2 implementation • JWT token management • PKCE support	Enterprise-grade authorization
🔍 Granular Access Control	• Function-level permissions • IP whitelisting • Usage quotas and rate limiting	Fine-grained security control
🔒 Secure Communication	• End-to-end encryption • TLS 1.3 with strong cipher suites • Certificate validation	Data protection in transit

🔐 OAuth2 Protection for Your APIs

After exposing your functions as APIs, the next critical step is securing them. APIFront provides comprehensive OAuth2 protection that secures your entire API gateway, ensuring that only authenticated and authorized clients can access your exposed functions.

Gateway-Level Protection

APIFront implements OAuth2 as a gateway-level security layer, meaning:

Every API Request is Authenticated - All requests to your functions must include valid OAuth2 tokens
Centralized Security Model - Configure once, protect all services and functions
Zero Custom Security Code - No need to implement security logic in your functions
Unified Access Control - Manage all API access through a single security model

Enterprise-Grade Protection

APIFront's OAuth2 implementation goes beyond basic authentication:

Fine-Grained Access Control - Limit access to specific services or functions using OAuth2 scopes
IP Address Restrictions - Limit token usage to specific IP ranges for added security
Token Lifecycle Management - Configure token expiration, refresh policies, and revocation
Rate Limiting - Prevent abuse by implementing rate limits tied to OAuth2 tokens

Supported OAuth2 Grant Types

Grant Type	Description	Best For
🔑 Authorization Code Flow	• Traditional OAuth2 web flow • User authenticates and authorizes access • Exchanged for access token • Highest security	• Web applications • Server-side applications • Applications with backend
🔐 Authorization Code with PKCE	• Enhanced Authorization Code flow • Adds Proof Key for Code Exchange • Protects against code interception • Mobile-friendly	• Mobile apps • Single Page Applications • Public clients
🤖 Client Credentials Flow	• Machine-to-machine authorization • No user interaction • Direct exchange of credentials for token	• Microservices • Backend services • Server-to-server APIs
🎫 Bearer Token Support	• Simple token-based authentication • Streamlined for API access • Alternative to full OAuth flows	• Simple integrations • Legacy system connections • Testing and development

OAuth2 Implementation Example

// Example: OAuth2 Client Credentials Flow
const axios = require('axios');
const qs = require('querystring');

async function getOAuth2Token() {
  try {
    const response = await axios.post(
      'https://apifront.io/oauth/token',
      qs.stringify({
        grant_type: 'client_credentials',
        client_id: 'YOUR_CLIENT_ID',
        client_secret: 'YOUR_CLIENT_SECRET',
        scope: 'user-service:read analytics:read'
      }),
      {
        headers: {
          'Content-Type': 'application/x-www-form-urlencoded'
        }
      }
    );
    
    return response.data.access_token;
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Error getting OAuth token:', error);
    throw error;
  }
}

// Using the token to call your protected API gateway
async function callProtectedAPI() {
  const token = await getOAuth2Token();
  
  const response = await axios.get(
    'https://APIFront_proxy/api/v1/your_Gateway_ID/user-service/get-profile',
    {
      headers: {
        'Authorization': `Bearer ${token}`
      }
    }
  );
  
  return response.data;
}

By implementing OAuth2 protection at the gateway level, APIFront ensures that your valuable internal functions remain secure while still being accessible to authorized AI systems and applications. This critical security layer removes the burden of implementing complex authentication systems while providing enterprise-grade protection for all your exposed APIs.

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