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Free course · For developers

Secure Web and API Development for Small Teams

Practical, defensive security habits for small teams building web apps and APIs.

Beginner7 lessons3.5 hoursQuizzes and exercisesNo sign up
Start lesson 1 →
What you will learn

Outcomes

01

Explain the main OWASP Top 10 risk categories and spot them in your own code

02

Store passwords safely and configure sessions and cookies correctly

03

Validate input, use parameterised queries and encode output by context

04

Keep secrets out of code and rotate them when needed

05

Serve sites over HTTPS with sensible security headers, logging and alerts

06

Follow a basic incident response checklist when something goes wrong

Before you start
  • Basic experience building a web application or API in any language
  • Familiarity with HTTP requests, responses and cookies
  • Access to a project you can safely review and change, ideally in a test environment
Syllabus

7 lessons

Each lesson ends with key takeaways, a practical exercise and a three question quiz.

01The OWASP Top 10 Explained for BeginnersUnderstand the main web application risk categories in the OWASP Top 10 and what each means for everyday code.30 min02Secure Authentication and Session Management Done RightStore passwords safely, protect login flows and manage sessions and cookies correctly.30 min03Input Validation and Output Encoding: Preventing Injection and XSSValidate data at the boundary, use parameterised queries and encode output for the context where it appears.30 min04Secrets Management for Developers and Small TeamsKeep API keys, passwords and tokens out of code, store them safely and rotate them when needed.30 min05HTTP Security Headers and HTTPS: A Practical Setup GuideServe every page over HTTPS and add security headers that make common browser attacks harder.30 min06Security Logging and Monitoring for Web ApplicationsLog the right security events, protect sensitive data in logs and set up alerts that someone actually reads.30 min07Incident Response Checklist for Small Development TeamsPrepare for security incidents and follow a clear checklist to detect, contain, recover and learn.30 min
Sources

Where the facts come from

Checked against official documentation and primary sources. Tools change quickly, so always confirm against the current docs.

  1. OWASP Top Ten OWASP Foundation, 2026
  2. OWASP Cheat Sheet Series OWASP Foundation, 2026
  3. HTTP headers reference MDN Web Docs, 2026
  4. Let's Encrypt documentation Internet Security Research Group, 2026
Questions

About this course

Is this course free?

Yes. All 7 lessons of Secure Web and API Development for Small Teams are free to read on xdqlabs.com, with no sign up.

Who is this course for?

It is written for developers at beginner level. Prerequisites: Basic experience building a web application or API in any language; Familiarity with HTTP requests, responses and cookies; Access to a project you can safely review and change, ideally in a test environment.

How long does it take?

About 3.5 hours across 7 lessons. Each lesson has key takeaways, a practical exercise and a short quiz.

Can XDQ Labs train my team or build this for us?

Yes. XDQ Labs runs team workshops and delivers software, AI agent and compliance projects for companies in India, the US, the UK and the Gulf. Write to enquiry@xdqlabs.com.

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