API Key Management for AI Apps: Rotation, Scopes, Quotas, and Abuse Prevention
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API Key ManagementAI SecurityLLM APIRate Limits
AI applications often use multiple kinds of keys: provider keys, internal service keys, customer API keys, team keys, and temporary tokens.
Managing them well protects security and cost.
Provider keys
Provider keys should be stored server-side only. Do not expose them to browsers, mobile apps, or customer scripts.
Use an internal backend or gateway to call providers.
Customer keys
If customers access your AI API, issue your own keys with:
- scopes
- quotas
- expiration
- rate limits
- model permissions
- audit logs
Customer keys should never map directly to raw provider keys.
Rotation
Support key rotation without downtime:
- create new key
- allow overlap period
- revoke old key
- log the change
This is important for enterprise customers.
Abuse prevention
Monitor:
- unusual token usage
- many failed requests
- expensive model spikes
- unexpected geographies
- leaked keys
Rate limits and quotas reduce damage.
Final thoughts
API key management is core AI infrastructure. Use scoped keys, server-side provider credentials, quotas, rotation, and audit logs from the beginning.