APISIX Authentication and Security Guide

Introduction

Security is crucial when managing APIs. APISIX provides multiple authentication methods to secure your APIs. This guide covers the most common authentication plugins and their implementation in APISIX.

Prerequisites

APISIX installed and running
Basic understanding of API authentication concepts
Access to APISIX Admin API or Dashboard

Note:

This guide assumes you have APISIX already set up. If not, please refer to our APISIX Setup Guide first.

1. JWT Authentication

JSON Web Tokens (JWT) provide a secure way to authenticate API requests. Here's how to enable JWT authentication in APISIX:

{
  "plugins": {
    "jwt-auth": {
      "key": "user-key",
      "secret": "my-secret-key"
    }
  },
  "uri": "/secure-api/*"
}

2. Basic Authentication

Basic authentication is simple to implement but should be used with HTTPS. Configure it like this:

{
  "plugins": {
    "basic-auth": {
      "username": "admin",
      "password": "secret123"
    }
  },
  "uri": "/api/*"
}

3. Key Authentication

API key authentication is popular for its simplicity and effectiveness:

{
  "plugins": {
    "key-auth": {
      "key": "your-api-key"
    }
  },
  "uri": "/protected/*"
}

4. Testing Authentication

Test your protected endpoints using curl:

# JWT Test
curl -i http://localhost:9080/secure-api/test -H 'Authorization: Bearer YOUR_JWT_TOKEN'

# Basic Auth Test
curl -i http://localhost:9080/api/test -u admin:secret123

# Key Auth Test
curl -i http://localhost:9080/protected/test -H 'apikey: your-api-key'

Best Practices

Always use HTTPS in production
Rotate keys and secrets regularly
Implement rate limiting alongside authentication
Use strong secrets and encryption

Conclusion

APISIX provides flexible authentication options to secure your APIs. Choose the method that best fits your security requirements and implement additional security measures like SSL/TLS encryption for complete protection.

View APISIX Documentation on GitHub