APIs have become crucial components in the software development ecosystem. APIs determine how software solutions interact with one another. They act like connectors that hold multiple software systems together and prevent them from falling apart. As more companies embrace API, it continues to become a crucial component in facilitating the integration between the various applications in complex business scenarios.

However, merely building APIs is not enough. It is equally important that these APIs are managed optimally to ensure that your business needs are addressed. This article will help you navigate the APIM meaning and the various aspects of API management. By the end of the article, you will also get to know how to choose the right service provider for managing the APIs in your environment.

What Is API Management (APIM)?

API management is basically the process that involves overseeing the various stages of an API lifecycle. It includes designing, publishing, securing, monitoring, and maintaining API connections between the various applications of your organization. With the right API management tools, you can ensure that your APIs are safe, reliable, and scalable. This will allow you to unlock the maximum potential of your assets.

As per the Gartner API Strategy Survey 2024, 82% of respondents reported that their organizations use APIs internally, while 71% also use APIs provided by third parties such as SaaS vendors. Companies like APPSeCONNECT have also directly contributed to the popularity of API management by allowing companies to make easy use of APIs wherever required.

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Why Is API Management Important?

APIs are basically everywhere. Suppose you are trying to book air tickets using an online travel service rather than restricting yourself to a single airline. The site consumes APIs provided by multiple airline services, thereby allowing you to find the best deals.

API management comes with various advantages. Let us have a quick look at some of the major API management benefits:

Secure:

With API management, you can easily protect the APIs and the related systems. This is done with granular user authentication and authorization. You can also make use of governance and policies to further secure the APIs.

Performant:

The API management system offers high resilience along with a highly available infrastructure. It also helps you manage the throttling of each API endpoint. This further improves your system performance.

Scalable:

API can grow along with your business. This makes your business extremely scalable. You can accommodate growth as and when required. You can also downsize your infrastructure as per your needs.

Easy to Use:

APIs are extremely easy to use. You no longer have to write hundreds of lines of code before connecting the systems together. You also do not require enhanced expertise to manage the APIs.

Want to know more about how you can enjoy the various features of APIM? Well, APPSeCONNECT is your solution. APPSeCONNECT’s enhanced set of features will make API management as easy as “ABC” for your company. It will also ensure that you are able to get the maximum return from your investment.

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What Are Some Of The Key components of APIM platforms?

APIM platforms come with various key components that further contribute to the benefits of api management. The key components include:

API Gateway:

API gateways handle the request and presentation of APIs to a user or client device. The gateways are also used within a microservices architecture. They can streamline B2B Integrations.

APPSeCONNECT’s API Gateway can be used to automatically handle incoming requests and load balance the requests as and when required. It ensures that the data flow is consistent across the various systems in the environment.

Developer Portal:

API Portal allows the API developers and owners to deploy and onboard APIs. This includes access control of the API through various plans and contracts. You can also manage the entire API lifecycle through the API portal.

API Analytics:

API analytics offers users various dashboards that can be used to display different operational aspects and business metrics. The data can be used to gather insights into performance constraints as well as usage patterns and trends of the API.

Security Features:

API management platforms also offer various security features to protect the APIs. This includes authentication and authorization protocols, encryption, validation, and more. Robust API security also involves extensive monitoring to detect and mitigate threats.

You can also rely on APPSeCONNECT’s enhanced set of security features while implementing APIM in your environment. Some of APPSeCONNECT’s extraordinary security features include role-based access control, encrypted data transfer, and secure authentication.

As per Forbes, the market capitalization of companies that have adopted APIs has grown by more than 12%.

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What Are The Common Use Cases of APIM?

APIM comes with various use cases. This makes it a popular choice among businesses belonging to various sectors. Now that you are already aware of what is API platform, let us have a glance at the common use cases of APIM:

Digital Transformation:

With the help of APIM, you can strengthen the digital boundaries of your organization and take your business success to new heights.

Microservices Architecture:

APIM can also be used for the management and governance of APIs in a microservices-based architecture. This allows for enhanced scalability.

Partner Integration:

API management allows seamless integration with external partners. This is done through various standardized APIs.

Legacy System Modernization:

You can take the help of APIM to modernize the legacy systems by exposing them to APIs.

IoT Device Management:

With APIM, you can also simplify the management and control of various advanced IoT devices in your environment.

Related Read: The Ultimate Guide to API Integration for Businesses

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APIM and API Gateway - What's the Difference?

API management and API gateways have very different roles in the API ecosystem. Together, they form a very powerful combination for optimizing and managing the APIs in modern business architecture.

API management offers comprehensive solutions for designing, securing, monitoring, and governing APIs across the API lifecycle. API gateways, on the other hand, are specialized components within the management suite. They act as a single entry point for client requests to backend services. The gateways also handle security, routing, and performance optimization.

Examples of API Management platforms:

Here’s a quick look at some of the most popular APIM platforms:

APPSeCONNECT:

APPSeCONNECT holds the reputation of being one of the most reliable iPaaS platforms that can be used to integrate different applications like ERP, CRM, etc., using its enhanced API management capabilities. APPSeCONNECT’s cloud-based API management platform can be used to create, edit, and configure APIs for third-party applications:

Here are a few operations that can be performed by APPSeCONNECT’s API management services:

  • Create new APIs from existing APIs
  • Enabling security policies for APIs
  • Enabling onboarding of developers and assigning them different apps for API management
  • Creation of API proxies
  • Management of API mapping for data integration

APPSeCONNECT’s enhanced integration strategy has allowed Saddleback, a renowned name in the UK cycling industry, to enhance its operational efficiency and productivity.

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APPSeCONNECT has an overall 4.7 rating on Capterra. It has also earned positive reviews from companies from all across the globe.

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Other API Management Platforms:

Boomi: Boomi offers API management solutions for building and integrating applications. It supports full API lifecycle management. The platform comes with a lot of advanced features and functionalities. However, the training cost is comparatively high.

Mulesoft: Mulesoft is again one of the most reliable solutions for management. It is quite popular and widely used among companies. It can be used for usable assets, automatic data transformation, API testing, etc. However, its services and features come with a high price tag. Its learning curve is also quite steep.

Parameters APPSeCONNECT Mulesoft Boomi
API Lifecycle Management Complete management Partial management Partial management
Cost-effectiveness Highly flexible pricing options available. Can be expensive. The training cost is high. Can be expensive, especially when you opt for advanced features.
User-friendliness Extremely user-friendly with dashboards and drag-and-drop features. The learning curve is moderate. Steep learning curve, especially for the advanced features.
Security Highly secure with advanced security features. Standard security features available. Standard security features available.
Compliance GDPR, HIPAA, CLOUD ACT, and other industry-specific compliances Standard compliance features available. Standard compliance features available.

So, if you are willing to maximize the benefits of APIM, it is high time that you reach out to the experts at APPSeCONNECT and avail of their services.

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