Essential Web Security Headers

Security headers protect against common web vulnerabilities. Here's how to implement them.

Content-Security-Policy (CSP)#

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Strict-Transport-Security (HSTS)#

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Complete Helmet Configuration#

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Best Practices#

Implementation:
✓ Start with Report-Only mode
✓ Test thoroughly before enforcing
✓ Use helmet for Express apps
✓ Configure per environment

CSP:
✓ Start restrictive, loosen as needed
✓ Use nonces for inline scripts
✓ Avoid 'unsafe-inline' if possible
✓ Monitor CSP reports

Maintenance:
✓ Regularly review headers
✓ Test after dependencies update
✓ Monitor security reports
✓ Keep up with new standards

Security headers provide defense-in-depth against common web attacks. Start with Helmet's defaults, customize CSP for your needs, and use tools like Mozilla Observatory to verify your configuration. Test thoroughly in staging before deploying to production.

Essential Web Security Headers

Content-Security-Policy (CSP)#

CSP with Nonces#

Strict-Transport-Security (HSTS)#

X-Frame-Options#

X-Content-Type-Options#

Referrer-Policy#

Permissions-Policy#

Cross-Origin Headers#

Complete Helmet Configuration#

Next.js Security Headers#

Testing Security Headers#

Best Practices#

Conclusion#

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