Data Security & Compliance

RBIH APIs are built with enterprise-grade security and strict compliance with Indian regulatory frameworks. This guide covers security measures, data protection protocols, and compliance requirements for integrating with RBIH services.

Security Framework Overview

RBIH implements a multi-layered security approach:

• Identity & Access Management: JWT-based authentication with role-based access
• Data Encryption: End-to-end encryption for data in transit and at rest
• Network Security: IP whitelisting, TLS 1.3, and secure protocols
• Application Security: Input validation, output encoding, and secure coding practices
• Infrastructure Security: Secure hosting, monitoring, and incident response

Regulatory Compliance

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Guidelines

RBIH APIs comply with all relevant RBI directives:

Digital Payment Security Controls

• Two-Factor Authentication: Enhanced authentication for sensitive operations
• Transaction Monitoring: Real-time fraud detection and prevention
• Audit Trails: Comprehensive logging for regulatory reporting
• Data Localization: All data processing within Indian borders

Outsourcing Guidelines

• Risk Assessment: Regular third-party risk evaluations
• Service Level Agreements: Defined performance and security standards
• Business Continuity: Disaster recovery and backup procedures
• Regulatory Reporting: Timely submission of compliance reports

Information Technology Act, 2000

Compliance with India's primary cybersecurity legislation:

Data Protection Requirements

• Reasonable Security Practices: Implementation of industry-standard security measures
• Sensitive Personal Data: Enhanced protection for personal and financial information
• Breach Notification: Mandatory reporting of security incidents
• Cross-Border Data Transfer: Compliance with data transfer restrictions

Personal Data Protection (PDP) Framework

Alignment with emerging data protection regulations:

Privacy by Design

• Data Minimization: Collection of only necessary data
• Purpose Limitation: Use of data only for specified purposes
• Storage Limitation: Retention policies with automatic deletion
• Transparency: Clear privacy notices and consent mechanisms

Data Classification & Handling

Data Categories

RBIH APIs handle different categories of data with appropriate security controls:

Public Data

• Examples: State codes, district names, general API documentation
• Security Level: Basic encryption in transit
• Access Control: No special restrictions
• Retention: Indefinite

Internal Data

• Examples: API usage statistics, service performance metrics
• Security Level: Standard encryption and access controls
• Access Control: Role-based access for authorized personnel
• Retention: 7 years for audit purposes

Confidential Data

• Examples: Client credentials, API keys, business configurations
• Security Level: Enhanced encryption and multi-factor authentication
• Access Control: Strict need-to-know basis
• Retention: As per business requirements with regular review

Sensitive Personal Data

• Examples: Aadhaar numbers, PAN details, biometric data, financial records
• Security Level: Highest encryption standards and zero-trust access
• Access Control: Encrypted storage with tokenization
• Retention: Compliance with regulatory requirements

Data Encryption Standards

Encryption in Transit

// All API communications use TLS 1.3
const tlsConfig = {
  protocol: 'TLSv1.3',
  ciphers: [
    'TLS_AES_256_GCM_SHA384',
    'TLS_CHACHA20_POLY1305_SHA256',
    'TLS_AES_128_GCM_SHA256'
  ],
  certificateTransparency: true,
  hsts: {
    maxAge: 31536000,
    includeSubDomains: true,
    preload: true
  }
};

Encryption at Rest

• Algorithm: AES-256-GCM for symmetric encryption
• Key Management: HSM-based key management with regular rotation
• Database Encryption: Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) for all databases
• File System: Encrypted storage volumes with secure key management

Authentication & Authorization

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

For production environments, RBIH implements additional security layers:

class MFAHandler {
  async authenticateWithMFA(credentials, mfaToken) {
    // Step 1: Validate primary credentials
    const primaryAuth = await this.validateCredentials(credentials);
    if (!primaryAuth.valid) {
      throw new AuthenticationError('Invalid credentials');
    }
    
    // Step 2: Validate MFA token
    const mfaValid = await this.validateMFAToken(
      credentials.clientId, 
      mfaToken
    );
    if (!mfaValid) {
      throw new AuthenticationError('Invalid MFA token');
    }
    
    // Step 3: Generate enhanced JWT with MFA claim
    return this.generateMFAJWT(credentials.clientId, {
      mfaAuthenticated: true,
      authTime: Date.now(),
      riskLevel: 'low'
    });
  }
}

Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)

const accessControl = {
  roles: {
    'api-consumer': {
      permissions: ['read:identity', 'read:verification'],
      services: ['aadhaar-redact', 'pan-verification'],
      rateLimit: 'standard'
    },
    'financial-institution': {
      permissions: ['read:identity', 'read:financial', 'write:lien'],
      services: ['*'],
      rateLimit: 'premium'
    },
    'government-entity': {
      permissions: ['read:*', 'write:*', 'admin:audit'],
      services: ['*'],
      rateLimit: 'unlimited'
    }
  },
  
  validateAccess(role, service, operation) {
    const roleConfig = this.roles[role];
    if (!roleConfig) return false;
    
    const hasServiceAccess = roleConfig.services.includes('*') || 
                           roleConfig.services.includes(service);
    const hasPermission = roleConfig.permissions.some(perm => 
      perm === `${operation}:*` || perm === `${operation}:${service}`
    );
    
    return hasServiceAccess && hasPermission;
  }
};

Data Masking & Tokenization

Sensitive Data Protection

class DataProtection {
  // Aadhaar number masking
  maskAadhaar(aadhaarNumber) {
    if (!aadhaarNumber || aadhaarNumber.length !== 12) {
      return null;
    }
    return `XXXX-XXXX-${aadhaarNumber.slice(-4)}`;
  }
  
  // PAN masking
  maskPAN(panNumber) {
    if (!panNumber || panNumber.length !== 10) {
      return null;
    }
    return `${panNumber.slice(0, 3)}XXXXXX${panNumber.slice(-1)}`;
  }
  
  // Tokenization for storage
  async tokenizeData(sensitiveData, dataType) {
    const token = await this.generateSecureToken();
    
    // Store mapping in secure vault
    await this.secureVault.store(token, {
      data: this.encrypt(sensitiveData),
      type: dataType,
      timestamp: Date.now(),
      expiresAt: this.calculateExpiry(dataType)
    });
    
    return token;
  }
  
  async detokenizeData(token) {
    const vaultData = await this.secureVault.retrieve(token);
    if (!vaultData || Date.now() > vaultData.expiresAt) {
      throw new Error('Token expired or invalid');
    }
    
    return this.decrypt(vaultData.data);
  }
}

Audit & Logging

Comprehensive Audit Trail

All API interactions are logged for security and compliance:

class AuditLogger {
  async logAPIRequest(request, response, context) {
    const auditEntry = {
      timestamp: new Date().toISOString(),
      requestId: context.requestId,
      clientId: context.clientId,
      ipAddress: this.hashIP(request.ip),
      userAgent: request.headers['user-agent'],
      endpoint: request.path,
      method: request.method,
      statusCode: response.statusCode,
      responseTime: context.responseTime,
      dataAccessed: this.categorizeDataAccess(request.path),
      // Never log sensitive data
      sanitizedRequest: this.sanitizeRequest(request.body),
      compliance: {
        rbiCompliant: true,
        dataProtectionCompliant: true,
        auditRequired: this.isAuditRequired(request.path)
      }
    };
    
    // Store in secure audit database
    await this.auditDB.insert(auditEntry);
    
    // Real-time monitoring for suspicious activity
    await this.securityMonitor.analyze(auditEntry);
  }
  
  sanitizeRequest(requestBody) {
    const sanitized = { ...requestBody };
    const sensitiveFields = [
      'aadhaarNumber', 'panNumber', 'mobileNumber',
      'documentImage', 'biometricData', 'accountNumber'
    ];
    
    sensitiveFields.forEach(field => {
      if (sanitized[field]) {
        sanitized[field] = '[REDACTED]';
      }
    });
    
    return sanitized;
  }
}

Security Event Monitoring

class SecurityMonitor {
  constructor() {
    this.riskScores = new Map();
    this.alertThresholds = {
      failedAuthAttempts: 5,
      rapidRequests: 100,
      suspiciousPatterns: 3
    };
  }
  
  async analyzeSecurityEvent(auditEntry) {
    const risks = [];
    
    // Check for failed authentication patterns
    if (auditEntry.statusCode === 401) {
      risks.push(await this.checkFailedAuthPattern(auditEntry));
    }
    
    // Check for unusual request patterns
    if (await this.isUnusualPattern(auditEntry)) {
      risks.push('unusual_pattern');
    }
    
    // Check for data exfiltration attempts
    if (await this.isDataExfiltrationAttempt(auditEntry)) {
      risks.push('data_exfiltration');
    }
    
    // Calculate risk score and alert if necessary
    const riskScore = this.calculateRiskScore(risks);
    if (riskScore > this.alertThresholds.suspiciousPatterns) {
      await this.triggerSecurityAlert(auditEntry, risks, riskScore);
    }
  }
  
  async triggerSecurityAlert(auditEntry, risks, riskScore) {
    const alert = {
      timestamp: new Date().toISOString(),
      severity: this.getSeverity(riskScore),
      clientId: auditEntry.clientId,
      ipAddress: auditEntry.ipAddress,
      risks: risks,
      riskScore: riskScore,
      recommendedAction: this.getRecommendedAction(riskScore)
    };
    
    // Send to security team
    await this.notificationService.sendSecurityAlert(alert);
    
    // Auto-remediation for high-risk events
    if (riskScore > 8) {
      await this.initiateAutoRemediation(auditEntry.clientId);
    }
  }
}

Incident Response

Security Incident Handling

class IncidentResponseManager {
  constructor() {
    this.incidentLevels = {
      'P1': { response: '15 minutes', resolution: '4 hours' },
      'P2': { response: '1 hour', resolution: '24 hours' },
      'P3': { response: '4 hours', resolution: '72 hours' }
    };
  }
  
  async handleSecurityIncident(incident) {
    // Step 1: Classify and prioritize
    const classification = this.classifyIncident(incident);
    
    // Step 2: Immediate containment
    if (classification.level === 'P1') {
      await this.emergencyContainment(incident);
    }
    
    // Step 3: Notify stakeholders
    await this.notifyStakeholders(classification);
    
    // Step 4: Evidence collection
    await this.collectEvidence(incident);
    
    // Step 5: Recovery actions
    await this.initiateRecovery(incident);
    
    // Step 6: Post-incident analysis
    await this.schedulePostIncidentReview(incident);
  }
  
  async emergencyContainment(incident) {
    if (incident.type === 'data_breach') {
      // Immediate actions for data breach
      await this.revokeCompromisedTokens(incident.affectedTokens);
      await this.blockSuspiciousIPs(incident.sourceIPs);
      await this.enableEnhancedMonitoring();
    }
    
    if (incident.type === 'service_compromise') {
      // Service-specific containment
      await this.isolateAffectedServices(incident.services);
      await this.activateBackupSystems();
    }
  }
}

Data Retention & Purging

Automated Data Lifecycle Management

class DataLifecycleManager {
  constructor() {
    this.retentionPolicies = {
      'audit_logs': { retention: '7 years', format: 'encrypted' },
      'api_logs': { retention: '3 years', format: 'compressed' },
      'identity_verification': { retention: '5 years', format: 'tokenized' },
      'financial_data': { retention: '10 years', format: 'encrypted' },
      'temporary_tokens': { retention: '24 hours', format: 'plain' }
    };
  }
  
  async scheduleDataPurging() {
    for (const [dataType, policy] of Object.entries(this.retentionPolicies)) {
      const cutoffDate = this.calculateCutoffDate(policy.retention);
      await this.purgeExpiredData(dataType, cutoffDate);
    }
  }
  
  async purgeExpiredData(dataType, cutoffDate) {
    const expiredRecords = await this.dataStore.findExpiredRecords(
      dataType, 
      cutoffDate
    );
    
    for (const record of expiredRecords) {
      // Secure deletion with cryptographic verification
      await this.secureDelete(record);
      
      // Log deletion for audit
      await this.auditLogger.logDataDeletion({
        recordId: record.id,
        dataType: dataType,
        deletionDate: new Date().toISOString(),
        complianceReason: 'retention_policy'
      });
    }
  }
}

Privacy Controls

User Consent Management

class ConsentManager {
  async recordConsent(userId, dataTypes, purpose, legalBasis) {
    const consentRecord = {
      userId: userId,
      dataTypes: dataTypes,
      purpose: purpose,
      legalBasis: legalBasis,
      timestamp: new Date().toISOString(),
      ipAddress: this.getCurrentIP(),
      consentId: this.generateConsentID(),
      status: 'active'
    };
    
    await this.consentStore.store(consentRecord);
    return consentRecord.consentId;
  }
  
  async validateConsent(userId, dataType, purpose) {
    const consents = await this.consentStore.getActiveConsents(userId);
    
    return consents.some(consent =>
      consent.dataTypes.includes(dataType) &&
      consent.purpose === purpose &&
      consent.status === 'active'
    );
  }
  
  async revokeConsent(userId, consentId) {
    await this.consentStore.updateStatus(consentId, 'revoked');
    
    // Trigger data deletion where consent was the only legal basis
    await this.dataLifecycleManager.reviewDataForDeletion(userId);
  }
}

Third-Party Security

Vendor Risk Management

class VendorSecurityAssessment {
  async assessVendor(vendorId, services) {
    const assessment = {
      vendorId: vendorId,
      assessmentDate: new Date().toISOString(),
      services: services,
      securityScore: 0,
      riskLevel: 'unknown',
      findings: [],
      recommendations: []
    };
    
    // Security questionnaire
    assessment.securityScore += await this.evaluateSecurityPractices(vendorId);
    
    // Compliance validation
    assessment.securityScore += await this.validateCompliance(vendorId);
    
    // Technical assessment
    assessment.securityScore += await this.conductTechnicalReview(vendorId);
    
    // Risk classification
    assessment.riskLevel = this.classifyRisk(assessment.securityScore);
    
    return assessment;
  }
  
  async monitorVendorSecurity(vendorId) {
    const monitoring = {
      incidentReporting: true,
      securityUpdates: true,
      complianceReviews: 'quarterly',
      performanceMetrics: true
    };
    
    return monitoring;
  }
}

Compliance Reporting

Automated Compliance Reports

class ComplianceReporter {
  async generateRBIReport(quarter, year) {
    const report = {
      reportingPeriod: `Q${quarter} ${year}`,
      generatedDate: new Date().toISOString(),
      sections: {
        securityIncidents: await this.getSecurityIncidents(quarter, year),
        dataBreaches: await this.getDataBreaches(quarter, year),
        systemAvailability: await this.getAvailabilityMetrics(quarter, year),
        auditFindings: await this.getAuditFindings(quarter, year),
        complianceStatus: await this.getComplianceStatus()
      }
    };
    
    // Digital signature for report integrity
    report.signature = await this.signReport(report);
    
    return report;
  }
  
  async submitComplianceReport(report, reportType) {
    // Encrypt report for transmission
    const encryptedReport = await this.encryptReport(report);
    
    // Submit to regulatory portal
    const submissionResult = await this.regulatoryAPI.submit({
      reportType: reportType,
      encryptedData: encryptedReport,
      submissionDate: new Date().toISOString()
    });
    
    // Log submission for audit
    await this.auditLogger.logReportSubmission({
      reportType: reportType,
      submissionId: submissionResult.id,
      status: submissionResult.status
    });
    
    return submissionResult;
  }
}

Security Best Practices

For API Consumers

1. Credential Management

   • Store API credentials in secure key management systems
   • Rotate credentials regularly (recommended: every 90 days)
   • Never embed credentials in source code or configuration files

2. Network Security

   • Use only HTTPS for all API communications
   • Implement certificate pinning for mobile applications
   • Regularly update TLS configurations

3. Data Handling

   • Minimize data collection and retention
   • Implement data masking for non-production environments
   • Use tokenization for sensitive data storage

4. Application Security

   • Validate all input data before API calls
   • Implement proper error handling without exposing sensitive information
   • Use secure coding practices and regular security reviews

For RBIH Integration

1. Environment Separation

   • Maintain strict separation between sandbox and production
   • Use different credentials for different environments
   • Implement proper environment-specific configurations

2. Monitoring & Alerting

   • Implement comprehensive logging and monitoring
   • Set up alerts for security events and anomalies
   • Regular security assessments and penetration testing

3. Business Continuity

   • Implement proper backup and disaster recovery procedures
   • Test incident response plans regularly
   • Maintain updated security documentation

By following these security and compliance guidelines, organizations can ensure secure, compliant, and reliable integration with RBIH APIs while meeting all regulatory requirements and maintaining the highest standards of data protection.