---

name: instantly-security-basics description: | Apply Instantly security best practices for secrets and access control. Use when securing API keys, implementing least privilege access, or auditing Instantly security configuration. Trigger with phrases like "instantly security", "instantly secrets", "secure instantly", "instantly API key security". allowed-tools: Read, Write, Grep version: 1.0.0 license: MIT author: Jeremy Longshore jeremy@intentsolutions.io

Instantly Security Basics

Overview

Security best practices for Instantly API keys, tokens, and access control.

Prerequisites

• Instantly SDK installed
• Understanding of environment variables
• Access to Instantly dashboard

Instructions

Step 1: Configure Environment Variables

Copy# .env (NEVER commit to git)
INSTANTLY_API_KEY=sk_live_***
INSTANTLY_SECRET=***

# .gitignore
.env
.env.local
.env.*.local

Step 2: Implement Secret Rotation

Copy# 1. Generate new key in Instantly dashboard
# 2. Update environment variable
export INSTANTLY_API_KEY="new_key_here"

# 3. Verify new key works
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer ${INSTANTLY_API_KEY}" \
  https://api.instantly.com/health

# 4. Revoke old key in dashboard

Step 3: Apply Least Privilege

Output

• Secure API key storage
• Environment-specific access controls
• Audit logging enabled

Error Handling

Examples

Service Account Pattern

Copyconst clients = {
  reader: new InstantlyClient({
    apiKey: process.env.INSTANTLY_READ_KEY,
  }),
  writer: new InstantlyClient({
    apiKey: process.env.INSTANTLY_WRITE_KEY,
  }),
};

Webhook Signature Verification

Copyimport crypto from 'crypto';

function verifyWebhookSignature(
  payload: string, signature: string, secret: string
): boolean {
  const expected = crypto.createHmac('sha256', secret).update(payload).digest('hex');
  return crypto.timingSafeEqual(Buffer.from(signature), Buffer.from(expected));
}

Security Checklist

• API keys in environment variables
• .env files in .gitignore
• Different keys for dev/staging/prod
• Minimal scopes per environment
• Webhook signatures validated
• Audit logging enabled

Audit Logging

Copyinterface AuditEntry {
  timestamp: Date;
  action: string;
  userId: string;
  resource: string;
  result: 'success' | 'failure';
  metadata?: Record<string, any>;
}

async function auditLog(entry: Omit<AuditEntry, 'timestamp'>): Promise<void> {
  const log: AuditEntry = { ...entry, timestamp: new Date() };

  // Log to Instantly analytics
  await instantlyClient.track('audit', log);

  // Also log locally for compliance
  console.log('[AUDIT]', JSON.stringify(log));
}

// Usage
await auditLog({
  action: 'instantly.api.call',
  userId: currentUser.id,
  resource: '/v1/resource',
  result: 'success',
});

Resources

• Instantly Security Guide
• Instantly API Scopes

Next Steps

For production deployment, see instantly-prod-checklist.