About Course
APIs power almost everything we use online, from mobile apps and payments to cloud services and partner integrations. They also expose data and business logic directly, which makes them one of the most targeted parts of modern applications.
API Security Fundamentals is a short, practical course that gives you the foundation to understand API risks and protect against them. Across four modules and eight concise lessons, you’ll learn how APIs work, how to map your attack surface, how authentication and authorization keep access under control, and how to protect data, test securely, and monitor APIs over time.
No deep security background is needed. Each lesson focuses on a few clear ideas, explained in plain language, so you can build real understanding.
This course is Part 1 of our API security series. When you’re ready to go deeper, continue with Advanced API Security.
What You’ll Learn
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
- Explain how APIs work, including requests, responses, endpoints, methods, and status codes
- Understand why APIs are a prime target for attackers
- Map your attack surface and spot shadow and zombie APIs
- Recognize the OWASP API Security Top 10 and identify business-critical APIs
- Tell the difference between authentication and authorization
- Explain why tokens are safer than API keys, and how least privilege limits damage
- Spot Broken Object Level Authorization (BOLA) and understand why it’s so common
- Apply core data protections, including TLS, input validation, rate limiting, secrets handling, and safe error messages
- Define security requirements before development starts, and design secure endpoints with least privilege by default
- Test APIs for authentication, authorization, and input weaknesses
- Choose between automated and manual testing, and retest every fix
- Decide what to log (and what never to log), and spot abnormal usage and failed authentication
- Follow the basic steps of incident response
- Keep APIs secure over time through ownership, inventory upkeep, API retirement, and regular access reviews
Who This Course Is For
- Developers who build or consume APIs and want to write more secure code from the start
- Product owners and managers who need to understand API risks and ask the right questions
- Security beginners who are starting a career in application or cloud security
- QA and testing professionals who want to add security thinking to their work
- IT and operations teams who run, monitor, or support API-driven systems
Who This Course Is For
Do I need a security or coding background?
No. The course is designed for beginners and explains every concept in plain language. A basic familiarity with how apps work is enough.
How long does the course take?
The course has eight lessons of about three minutes each, so you can finish the videos in around 24 minutes. Add a little extra time for the module quizzes.
What topics does the course cover?
It covers how APIs work, the API attack surface, the OWASP API Security Top 10, authentication and authorization, data protection and abuse prevention, secure design, security testing, monitoring, incident response, and ongoing maintenance.
Is there a quiz or assessment?
Yes. Each module includes a five-question quiz so you can check your understanding before moving on.
What is the difference between this course and Advanced API Security?
API Security Fundamentals teaches the “what” and “why”: the concepts, vocabulary, and basic controls. Advanced API Security covers the “how,” with real vulnerable requests, OAuth and JWT details, injection and mass assignment, testing techniques, and detection and response. We recommend completing Fundamentals first.
Course Content
API Security Fundamentals
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How APIs work and why they’re a target
00:00 -
Mapping the attack surface and common risks
00:00
Secure Access & Data Basics
Build & Test Securely
Monitor & Maintain
Student Ratings & Reviews
