In web application development, the backend for frontend (BFF) pattern provides many advantages to software developers. This is especially the case in SecOps and cybersecurity. For example, the BFF pattern facilitates designing web applications that prevent insecure access tokens from being stored in a browser. It protects those apps from cyber attackers hoping to use those tokens for a range of nefarious activities.
Let's take a deeper dive into the backend for frontend pattern. Considering Duende's family of products, this article focuses more on the BFF's security benefits and best practices. Adopting this design strategy provides the means to create a tailored backend specifically for the frontend application to improve security and perform tedious frontend tasks such as mapping API calls, mutating responses, and token management. This makes the software development process more efficient and applications easier to deploy and protect. Here's a closer look!
Explaining the BFF Security Pattern
Simply stated, the backend for frontend pattern creates specific server-side applications to support different front-end clients. This architectural design approach makes it easier to secure applications: the BFF pattern facilitates the server-side management of critical access and refresh tokens. It removes token management from the browser, squarely placing it in the server's more secure environment. Additionally, this pattern allows for different cybersecurity approaches to be developed for each client.
The SecOps Benefits of the Backend for Frontend Pattern
Exploring the cybersecurity benefits of adopting the BFF pattern helps developers make an informed decision about using it. Here are some of the most essential security advantages gained when using the backend for frontend pattern.
- Improved Reliability: On the server, developers enjoy a variety of options for improving reliability and performance. For example, leveraging community packages to handle failed API calls and retries.
- Enhanced Logging and Diagnostics: OpenTelemetry also provides a great resource for application tracing. Additionally, using a database to support session management makes those applications more stable.
- Streamlined Front-End Development: Freed from having to manage tokens and other security logic in client-side code, developers enjoy improved efficiency. This separation of code makes the entire software development process more efficient and productive. Expect easier software maintenance and defect fixing as a result.
- A Stronger Cybersecurity Footprint: Once again, managing access and refresh tokens on the server provides a more secure single page application (SPA). It offers a great way to protect corporate application suites, technical infrastructures, and customer data.
- More Flexible Application Development: The backend for frontend pattern provides significant flexibility to software architects and developers. Seamlessly add new features and functionality, with the BFF essentially serving as a proxy between the frontend and backend.
These advantages highlight the importance of leveraging the BFF pattern to secure your company's web-based applications. In addition to making the software development process more efficient, it provides the flexibility to easily add new features. However, the enhanced support for your company's cybersecurity footprint remains its most critical benefit.
Challenges to Consider when Adopting the Backend for Frontend Pattern
Let's examine a few common challenges developers encounter when implementing the BFF pattern on a software development initiative. Be sure to remember these insights during the design phase of your next project.
- Performance Overhead: Moving token management to the server might cause slight performance degradation for SPAs. For example, the backend management of proxy APIs sometimes causes bottlenecks. In this situation, consider the Token-Mediating Backend pattern at the expense of slightly reduced security.
- Preventing CSRF Attacks: Even when implementing the BFF pattern, you still need to consider protection against Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) attacks. Note that the Duende BFF framework includes baked-in CSRF attack protection!
- Increased Complexity for Development Teams: Adopting the BFF ultimately adds some complexity to the software development process. This is especially the case for complex applications with multiple backends. Ensuring strong project management and communication within the development team becomes critical.
- Increased Operational Costs: JavaScript applications typically can be served from low-cost and low-performance hosting environments, since most of the processing and resources are on the client. Introducing a BFF for a frontend introduces another production component that could increase costs. Luckily, the soon-to-be-released Duende BFF v4 includes multi-frontend support for a single BFF, reducing resource costs.
Best Practices for adopting the BFF Pattern to secure Applications
Check out these best practices for implementing the BFF pattern on web applications. We also provide our own advice on ensuring a successful adoption.
- Keep your BFF Code Lightweight: A complex BFF could result in performance issues for your application. Keep your BFF lightweight, with code focusing only on security functionality, like token management. Simply put, ensure business logic resides in its own APIs.
- Implement Robust Security Functionality: Leveraging the BFF pattern for security remains one of its most important applications. In addition to handling access and refresh token management at the server, also implement XSS and CSRF protection. Once again, adding that additional protection becomes easier when using the Duende BFF framework.
- Leverage a Rigorous Software Development Process: Given the added complexity of a BFF solution, a focused software development process becomes critical. This is especially the case when the solution has multiple backends for different frontends. A sound managerial approach keeps everyone focused on building great and secure software.
The IETF's overview of the backend for frontend pattern offers a detailed explanation of this architectural pattern. They also provide useful insights and best practices on BFF adoption. Explore Duende's documentation library and tutorials for advice on implementing our BFF security framework.
Want to Learn More?
If you want to leverage the backend for frontend pattern on your next project, connect with the experts at Duende. Our Backend for Frontend Security Framework provides an easy way to implement the BFF pattern. It also comes with critical CSRF protection, ensuring the security of apps using both local and third-party APIs.