API Gateway Authorization
API Gateway Authorization is a security mechanism that controls access to APIs by authenticating and authorizing requests at the API gateway level before they reach backend services. It typically involves validating API keys, tokens (like JWT), or other credentials to enforce security policies, rate limiting, and access control. This centralizes security management, reduces backend complexity, and protects APIs from unauthorized access.
Developers should implement API Gateway Authorization when building microservices, serverless architectures, or public APIs to ensure secure access control and compliance with security standards. It is essential for scenarios requiring user authentication, role-based access control (RBAC), or integration with identity providers (e.g., OAuth, AWS Cognito), as it offloads security logic from individual services to a centralized point.