Secure the boring parts first
Most application breaches come from predictable gaps: weak authentication, missing validation, exposed secrets, broad permissions, and no useful logs. A strong API launch checklist keeps those risks visible.
Production controls
Use strict schema validation, role-based authorization, rate limiting, structured errors, request logging, dependency scanning, and secrets stored outside the repository. Every privileged workflow should leave an audit trail.
What good looks like
A secure API is observable, testable, and recoverable. The team should know how to rotate credentials, block abusive traffic, restore from backup, and investigate suspicious requests without guessing.