Authentication, Authorization & Web Security

Discipline: Software Engineer (Full Stack) | Module: Module 2: Backend API Architecture, Distributed Services & Business Logic | Estimated Study Time: 34 Hours

Welcome to Authentication, Authorization & Web Security. This topic delivers foundational and advanced concepts designed for production engineering and real-world workflows.

Key Learning Objectives

1. Identity Exchange (JSON Web Tokens - JWT signing/verification, Refresh/Access tokens)
2. Authorization Frameworks (OAuth 2.0 Authorization Code Flow, OIDC)
3. Server Hardening (CORS Middleware, Helmet.js, Password Hashing: bcrypt/Argon2)

Detailed Curriculum Breakdown

Identity Exchange (JSON Web Tokens - JWT signing/verification, Refresh/Access tokens)

Explore the fundamental principles, real-world patterns, and best practices for Identity Exchange (JSON Web Tokens - JWT signing/verification, Refresh/Access tokens). Practice hands-on implementations to master these concepts.

// Code Example: Identity Exchange (JSON Web Tokens - JWT signing/verification, Refresh/Access tokens)
// Implement verified patterns for production use
console.log("Mastering Identity Exchange (JSON Web Tokens - JWT signing/verification, Refresh/Access tokens)");

Authorization Frameworks (OAuth 2.0 Authorization Code Flow, OIDC)

Explore the fundamental principles, real-world patterns, and best practices for Authorization Frameworks (OAuth 2.0 Authorization Code Flow, OIDC). Practice hands-on implementations to master these concepts.

// Code Example: Authorization Frameworks (OAuth 2.0 Authorization Code Flow, OIDC)
// Implement verified patterns for production use
console.log("Mastering Authorization Frameworks (OAuth 2.0 Authorization Code Flow, OIDC)");

Server Hardening (CORS Middleware, Helmet.js, Password Hashing: bcrypt/Argon2)

Explore the fundamental principles, real-world patterns, and best practices for Server Hardening (CORS Middleware, Helmet.js, Password Hashing: bcrypt/Argon2). Practice hands-on implementations to master these concepts.

// Code Example: Server Hardening (CORS Middleware, Helmet.js, Password Hashing: bcrypt/Argon2)
// Implement verified patterns for production use
console.log("Mastering Server Hardening (CORS Middleware, Helmet.js, Password Hashing: bcrypt/Argon2)");

Practical Application & Exercises

1. Architecture Review: Evaluate how Authentication, Authorization & Web Security integrates with upstream and downstream systems.
2. Implementation Challenge: Build a functional prototype demonstrating each of the subtopics.
3. Validation & Testing: Verify performance and error handling under edge-case scenarios.

Summary Checklist

• Studied foundational architecture for Authentication, Authorization & Web Security
• Completed practical coding challenge
• Validated edge cases and error handling routines