Api management involves creating and monitoring application program interfaces (APIs) in a secure, scalable environment. By managing APIs, companies can ensure that the APIs are available to developers and applications.
API management may differ depending on the needs of individual organizations, but some basic functions are included, such as monitoring and versioning.
Increasing dependence on APIs and the increasing use of APIs have made API management increasingly critical. API development and management have unique requirements and processes.
APIs must be thoroughly tested, well documented, highly secure, regularly updated, and highly reliable. And it’s not enough to understand the process, one also needs to know how to use API data and integration to make a process even better.
As these requirements often outpace what can be accomplished by software-based projects, API management tools are also increasingly used.
Why is API Management Important?
APIs enable applications to access company assets and data. Customers, employees, and partners are also connected via APIs. Therefore, API management is critical to enabling developers and organizations to secure, scale, govern, analyze, and monetize API programs.
In API Management, API security is a top concern; it safeguards APIs from unauthorized access or threats. Security of APIs goes beyond authentication and authorization. Protecting sensitive data requires policies and standards.
API management platforms can help companies define uniform API protection policies. API governance is a key part of API management as well. API governance further ensures API programs are built proactively to benefit the business enterprise.
API Management Tools
Programs communicating directly and using each other’s functions rely on application programming interfaces (APIs).
APIs are windows into an organization’s data and functionality. Applications with backend systems can be written with it.
The various API management tools available on the market to help organizations to deploy, test, and manage APIs effectively, with each offering unique benefits:
JMeter
JMeter (link outside IBM) is an open-source application designed to test web applications, part of the Apache Software Foundation.
The JMeter load test tool measures the performance of RESTful APIs over time. It consists of three main components: MongoDB, Express, and Node.js.
SoapUI
API testing tool SoapUI (link resides outside IBM) automates web APIs’ regression, compliance, and load tests. Developers can easily drag and drop scripts into SoapUI for easy configurations in multiple situations, including QA, development, and production.
SoapUI also lets developers test their APIs for the latest vulnerabilities, including SQL injections and cross-site scripting.
API Connect Test & Monitor
It is a zero-code API testing tool designed by IBM. It lets developers test any API endpoint with a secure authentication method, including OAuth while remaining secure.
With API Connect Test & Monitor, numerous manual tasks are automated over other API test and monitoring tools, improving performance. The feature set includes collaborative testing models, API validation, codeless interfaces, and API health alerts.
Benefits of API Management
In many businesses, APIs are already used in their day-to-day operations. Organizations that need to integrate APIs across an increasing number of systems and applications can find it time-consuming and resource-draining to rebuild these integrations every time.
API management allows enterprises to reuse API integration functionality while saving time and money without compromising security.
An API management solution enables integration assets to be deployed and reused quickly and efficiently.
Enterprises can reduce development costs by easily sharing API documentation and coding constructs between teams with centrally managed API platforms.
API management platforms let users track API usage and integrate state-of-the-art security protocols, such as OAuth, JWT, and OpenID, to safer existing services.
API Management Summary
Today’s business world is driven by software and APIs. Public or private APIs, powerful and convenient APIs are crucial to a truly useful application. It’s no wonder that entire software classes have sprung up around API management due to APIs’ complexity. Data can be retrieved from another program by using APIs. Parsing all of this information may be overwhelming if you know how to read and write requests. A browser or app provides easy-to-use data presentation.
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