How to Secure Your REST API With IP Address Whitelisting
REST APIs are the most used web services by businesses for data transfer. Businesses can obtain data from different systems using REST API or provide data to different systems with a request object. But security is much more important than the data a REST API provides. Today, REST API security is mostly implemented using an address API based on the public IP address.
With the use of address API, businesses can obtain the IP address information of visitors who want to access target REST APIs. They can then add the necessary security steps at this stage. IP address whitelisting is usually performed at this stage. In this article, we will get to know IP address whitelisting and find answers to many questions about it.
What Is IP Address Whitelisting?
IP address whitelisting adds an IP address-based access authority to a network or web application. In short, this method means that certain IP addresses are allowed to access the target resource, while certain IP addresses are not allowed.
For example, a visitor who wants to make an HTTP request to a REST API obtains its IP address from an ISP or NAT gateway. This visitor makes a request to this REST API with its IP data. Then the IP address whitelisting phase comes into play and checks whether this IP address is in the list of IP addresses that are authorized to access the target REST API. As a result, access to this IP address may be blocked or allowed.
How Does an IP Address REST API Get an IP Address?
An IP address API is usually used to perform IP address whitelisting. This API can obtain the requesting user's IP address from the request header. This API obtains the user's IP address from the "X-Forwarded-For" field, which is a field where the user request connecting to a web server via an HTTP proxy server or load balancer specifies the source IP address.
How to Apply IP Address Whitelisting With the ipstack API?
The ipstack API is a web service that meets many IP address and location needs. Moreover, it also has a free subscription plan, but an API key is required for free use.
The ipstack API is known for providing location data corresponding to the IP address. In addition, the location data it provides contains very detailed and useful information. However, this API has an endpoint for businesses and developers to perform IP address whitelisting called Requester IP lookup endpoint.
This endpoint provides the IP address of the incoming request. In addition, it provides a lot of information about the location of this IP address. This endpoint is very simple to use. It is sufficient to send an HTTP get request to the following URL with our own API key.
https://api.ipstack.com/check?access_key=YOUR_ACCESS_KEY
The example response of this endpoint in JSON format is as follows.
Conclusion
In summary, ensuring security is as important as developing and using REST APIs. Although the REST API has many protection methods, performing IP address whitelisting makes this REST API work in harmony with other protection methods. Today, IP address APIs are frequently used to perform IP address whitelisting.
Use the ipstack address API, and get the IP addresses of your application visitors.
FAQs
Q: What Is the Popular IP Address API List?
A: The use of IP addresses API is increasing day by day. These APIs provide geolocation information corresponding to public IP addresses. Some of the most popular IP address web services today are as follows.
ipify API
IP to Location API
Q: What Are the Advantages of IP Addresses Whitelisting?
A: In short, IP address whitelisting is to ensure that only users with specified public IP or private IP addresses can access the target application or network. Advantages of IP whitelisting:
Security
Access Control
Performance
Ease of Management
Q: Does the ipstack API Requester IP Lookup Endpoint Provide Request IP Address Information?
A: Yes, it does. The ipstack API requester IP lookup endpoint can provide requested public IP information addresses. It also provides detailed information about the location of IP addresses.
Q: What Data Does the ipstack API Provide About From the Client IP Address?
A: The ipstack API provides a very detailed JSON or XML response of the client IP address. This response provides various useful information about the IP address, such as timezone, currency, currency symbol, continent code, continent name, and capital.