API Key Security: Protecting Your AI Infrastructure

Your API keys control access to powerful (and expensive) AI capabilities. A leaked key can result in massive bills and data breaches. Here's how to protect them.

The Risks

Financial: Attackers can rack up huge bills

Data: Your prompts and outputs may be exposed

Reputation: Misuse can damage your brand

Best Practices

1. Never Commit Keys to Git

Use environment variables and secrets management:

# .env.local (never commit this!)
ABSTRAKT_API_KEY=sk_live_xxxxx

2. Use Scoped Keys

Create separate keys for different environments and purposes:

Development key with low limits

Production key with appropriate quotas

Read-only keys for analytics

3. Implement Key Rotation

Rotate keys regularly and after any suspected compromise:

1. Generate new key

2. Update all services

3. Revoke old key

4. Monitor for issues

4. Set Up Alerts

Configure notifications for:

Unusual usage patterns

Failed authentication attempts

Approaching quota limits

5. Use IP Allowlists

Restrict key usage to known IP addresses when possible.

Abstrakt Security Features

We provide built-in security features:

Key scoping and permissions

Usage alerts and limits

IP allowlisting

Audit logs

Stay safe out there!