Web Application Security: Understanding HTTP Security Headers

Gain insights into HTTP security headers, learn their risks, explore solutions, and discover how to implement them using Helmet for enhanced web application security.

Beginner

18 Lessons

1h 10min

Certificate of Completion

Gain insights into HTTP security headers, learn their risks, explore solutions, and discover how to implement them using Helmet for enhanced web application security.

AI-POWERED

Explanations

AI-POWERED

Explanations

This course includes

8 Quizzes

This course includes

8 Quizzes

Course Overview

This course teaches you hands-on practical use of HTTP security headers as browser security controls to help secure web applications. For each HTTP security header that can enhance your web application security, you'll learn what is the overall risk of not implementing it, and what does a proposed solution help with. Finally, you'll learn how to implement and configure the security header with Helmet, a popular and well maintained Node.js package on npm.

What You'll Learn

Establishing secure web applications using HTTP security headers

Understanding Content Security Policy

Configuring Node.js web applications securely

Learning how to test and monitor for security headers and vulnerable JavaScript libraries

Roadmap for next steps in web controls and security headers spec

What You'll Learn

Establishing secure web applications using HTTP security headers

Course Content

Introduction

Get familiar with HTTP security headers, browser controls, essential tools, and the Helmet package.

Requirements Headers as Browser Security Controls Helmet - a Node.js Package for HTTP Security Headers

HTTP Security Headers

Discover the logic behind HTTP security headers, their implementations, and their roles in web protection.

HTTP Strict Transport Security X Frame Options

Content Security Policy X XSS Protection X Content Type Options Referer and Referrer Policy

Testing for Security Headers

Work your way through testing web application security headers with WebPageTest, Lighthouse, and Check My Headers.

The State of HTTP Security WebPageTest Chrome's Lighthouse Check My Headers command-line application

Summary

What's Next?

Grasp the fundamentals of establishing CSPs, monitoring security, evolving headers, and additional learning resources.

Establish a CSP and Security Headers standard Monitor your web application Other browser security headers and controls Educational resources

Course Author

Show License and Attributions

Trusted by 1.4 million developers working at companies

Anthony Walker

@_webarchitect_

Emma Bostian 🐞

@EmmaBostian

Evan Dunbar

ML Engineer

Carlos Matias La Borde

Software Developer

Souvik Kundu

Front-end Developer

Vinay Krishnaiah

Software Developer

Eric Downs

Musician/Entrepeneur

Kenan Eyvazov

DevOps Engineer

Anthony Walker

@_webarchitect_

Emma Bostian 🐞

@EmmaBostian

Hands-on Learning Powered by AI

See how Educative uses AI to make your learning more immersive than ever before.

Instant Code Feedback

Evaluate and debug your code with the click of a button. Get real-time feedback on test cases, including time and space complexity of your solutions.

AI-Powered Mock Interviews

Put your skills to the test in a simulated interview setting. Receive personalized feedback based on your performance. Available in Premium & Premium Plus plans.

Adaptive Learning

At various checkpoints throughout Educative courses, you will be prompted to take a quick assessment. Receive a condensed curriculum tailored to your strengths and skill gaps.

Explain with AI

Select any text within any Educative course, and get an instant explanation — without ever leaving your browser.

AI Code Mentor

AI Code Mentor helps you quickly identify errors in your code, learn from your mistakes, and nudge you in the right direction — just like a 1:1 tutor!