Secure ASP.NET Core APIs: JWT and Authorization Policies

Protecting API endpoints from unauthorized write access is a foundational requirement for building reliable backend services. If you are developing Web APIs, you must ensure that only properly authenticated and authorized users can modify data. This course provides the essential knowledge and practical steps needed to implement industry-standard token security in your ASP.NET Core projects. You will learn to differentiate between read and write access controls, ensuring your application is secure and production-ready from the start. What you'll learn: * Understand the structure and workflow of JSON Web Token (JWT) authentication and validation. * Configure the ASP.NET Core pipeline to handle Bearer tokens and authenticate incoming API requests. * Apply built-in authorization attributes to restrict access based on roles and claims. * Master policy-based authorization to define flexible and complex access rules beyond simple roles. * Apply security principles to specifically restrict HTTP write methods (POST, PUT, DELETE) while allowing GET requests. * Practice secure token handling, including expiration and basic considerations for refresh mechanisms. The course begins by defining core security concepts and the lifecycle of a JWT. We then move step-by-step through configuring dependency injection and middleware, culminating in the practical application of authorization attributes and custom policies on controller actions. You will learn how to read and apply security constraints through written explanations and code snippets. This course is designed for beginner developers familiar with C# and ASP.NET Core fundamentals who want to build secure, token-protected APIs. No prior security expertise is required. Start building secure APIs that protect your users' data today.