Secure your Express application APIs in minutes with Amazon Verified Permissions

This article discusses how to secure Express.js application APIs using Amazon Verified Permissions and the new @verifiedpermissions/authorization-clients-js package. The key highlights include:

• Externalizing authorization logic from application code
• Using Cedar policy language for defining fine-grained permissions
• Integrating with Verified Permissions in six key steps:
  • Creating a policy store
  • Adding authorization middleware packages
  • Creating and deploying a Cedar schema
  • Creating and deploying Cedar policies
  • Connecting policy store to OIDC identity provider
  • Updating application code to authorize API access
• Implementing role-based access control for different user groups
• Simplifying permissions management and reducing custom authorization code

The example uses a Pet Store application to demonstrate how to restrict API access based on user roles like administrators, employees, and customers.