Prompt
I'm building a partner API program and need auth plus throttling, what should I use?
Latest observation
For a partner API program, the usual best-practice stack is:
1) Authentication / Authorization
Use OAuth 2.0 for partner access, ideally with:
- Client Credentials Grant for server-to-server partner integrations
- Scoped access tokens so each partner only gets the permissions they need
- Short-lived access tokens + rotating refresh/secret management if applicable
If you need simpler onboarding for very trusted partners, you can also support:
- API keys for identification
- But pair them with OAuth or signed requests for stronger security, because API keys alone are weak for true auth
2) Request Throttling / Rate Limiting
Use API gateway or WAF-based rate limiting with:
- Per-partner quotas
- Per-endpoint limits
- Burst control and sustained rate limits
- Distinct limits for read vs write endpoints
- 429 responses with clear retry guidance
Common algorithms:
- Token bucket: great for burst handling
- Leaky bucket: good for smooth traffic
- Fixed/sliding window: simpler, but can be less fair at boundaries
3) Best overall pattern
A strong partner API setup is:
- Partner onboarding
- issue client ID/secret or signed credentials
- assign scopes/roles
- OAuth 2.0 access tokens
- short TTL
- scoped permissions
- API gateway
- verifies tokens
- enforces per-partner rate limits
- logs/monitors usage
- Usage plans / quotas
- monthly limits, burst limits, endpoint-specific limits
4) If you want a managed solution
Depending on your cloud, these are common:
- AWS: API Gateway + Cognito / IAM / Lambda authorizer + usage plans
- Azure: API Management + Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD)
- GCP: Apigee / API Gateway + IAM / Identity Platform
- Kong / NGINX / Apigee / Tyk for vendor-neutral API management
5) Recommendation
If you’re starting fresh, I’d recommend:
- OAuth 2.0 Client Credentials
- JWT access tokens or introspection
- API gateway rate limiting
- Per-partner quotas + scopes
- Optional mTLS for higher-trust partner connections
If you want, I can also recommend a concrete architecture for your stack (AWS/Azure/GCP/self-hosted) and include exact components for auth, throttling, and partner onboarding.
Observation history
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