Applying Spring Security Framework with KeyCloak-Based OAuth2 to Protect Microservice Architecture APIs: A Case Study

In this study, we implemented an integrated security solution with Spring Security and Keycloak open-access platform (SSK) to secure data collection and exchange over microservice architecture application programming interfaces (APIs). The adopted solution implemented the following security features: open authorization, multi-factor authentication, identity brokering, and user management to safeguard microservice APIs. Then, we extended the security solution with a virtual private network (VPN), Blowfish and crypt (Bcrypt) hash, encryption method, API key, network firewall, and secure socket layer (SSL) to build up a digital infrastructure. To accomplish and describe the adopted SSK solution, we utilized a web engineering security method. As a case study, we designed and developed an electronic health coaching (eCoach) prototype system and hosted the system in the expanded digital secure infrastructure to collect and exchange personal health data over microservice APIs. We further described our adopted security solution’s procedural, technical, and practical considerations. We validated our SSK solution implementation by theoretical evaluation and experimental testing. We have compared the test outcomes with related studies qualitatively to determine the efficacy of the hybrid security solution in digital infrastructure. The SSK implementation and configuration in the eCoach prototype system has effectively secured its microservice APIs from an attack in all the considered scenarios with 100% accuracy. The developed digital infrastructure with SSK solution efficiently sustained a load of (≈)300 concurrent users. In addition, we have performed a qualitative comparison among the following security solutions: Spring-based security, Keycloak-based security, and their combination (our utilized hybrid security solution), where SSK showed a promising outcome.