Security Best Practices
advancedTopic 11 of 12 in Backend Development
What it is
Backend security covers the practices and tools that protect your server, API, and data from attacks. It includes input validation, encryption, secure headers, and protection against common vulnerabilities.
Why backend developers need it
A single security flaw can expose user data or take down your app. Security is not optional — it is a fundamental part of building software that people trust with their information.
What to learn
OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities
SQL injection and how to prevent it
Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) prevention
Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) protection
Input validation and sanitisation
Secure HTTP headers (Helmet.js)
Rate limiting and brute-force protection
Secrets management and .env files
Practice project
Security Hardening
Take your Blog Backend and harden it: add input validation on every endpoint, set up security headers, implement rate limiting, add SQL injection protection, and test with a vulnerability scanner.