APIs are now an integral part of all digital businesses and platforms. But their rising use is opening doors for security threats. This is where API management tools and API management platforms come to your rescue.
An API management platform is a service that ensures the security of APIs of a company. It monitors the activity of the APIs and allows only authorized access to it. It also prohibits malicious activities and limits the number of queries sent by a single user. Most API developers consider API management platforms a must for their API security. In this article, you will find a detailed overview of API platforms with their benefits and comparison to the conventional methods of integration. In the end, you will find a list of the 20 best AI platforms to choose from.
What is an API Management Platform?
The API management platform is a warehouse of APIs of different enterprises. It keeps the APIs secure and also serves as a medium of distribution and management. It allows the APIs to transfer data to and from multiple applications and software.
API management serves as a gateway. It allows only limited and authenticated requests to APIs for connecting with other software and applications. It inhibits all malicious activities and protects APIs from DoS (Denial of Service) attacks.
Why are API or Enterprise IPAAS platforms a game-changer for the enterprise?
When we look at API platforms, the first and foremost thing that comes to our mind is security. But API management or Enterprise IPAAS platforms provide much more than just security.
API management platform not only protects your APIs from malicious attacks and unauthentic access but also provides a platform for connecting APIs of different enterprises over the cloud. It is more like a social forum of APIs where developers can share their configurations and coding. It boosts productivity and reduces the integration cost.
Moreover, the API platform tracks and monitors the number of customer requests and usage of APIs. It also provides analytical reports to the developers. It helps the enterprise to understand the demand of the customers and assists them in better estimating the future need. The enterprise can evolve and grow through strategic development by fulfilling the demand of the customers in a better way. It is beneficial for both customers and developers.
How do API Platforms contrast with other conventional methods of integration?
Integration is not something new for developers and IT people. It is a decades-old concept, but the latest API platforms have revolutionized it. The following are some of the reasons:
- Efficiency: Old integration methods use separate coding for connecting two software or apps. It was a tedious and time taking process. Now modern API platforms do not require coding for each connection. The integration has become faster with API.
- Security: API platforms assure secure networking as compared to conventional methods of integrations. It protects the back end of the server by inhibiting all malicious attacks.
- Cost-Effectiveness: API integration is cost-effective as compared to conventional methods of integration. API platforms are shared enterprise spaces where developers share their coding construct and configuration, and everyone can benefit from it. It saves both time and cost.
- Scalability: Traditional integration methods are used to allow only selected software to connect, and that too within an enterprise. API platforms give the freedom of connecting applications and software across multiple enterprises.
- Versatility: Another benefit of API over traditional integration methods is its versatile application. For instance, a marketer uses multiple apps and software through his laptop or even smartphone for implementing his marketing strategies. It is possible only due to API integration and is not possible through conventional methods of integration.
What are the typical Use Cases for using API Platforms?
The most common use cases of API management are:
API Integration
The connection between the APIs of two or more applications is called API integration. The APIs of different apps convey messages to each other using a special language known as JSON. The purpose is to get the solution of some problem.
Online payment portals, chatbots, and marketing tools are examples of API integration.
B2B Integration
Business-to-business integration, commonly known as B2B integration, is another use case of API management. In B2B integration, an API of a business communicates with the APIs of other businesses to coordinate and work more efficiently.
For instance, many e-commerce portals and other sites ask their customers to register with their social media handles. This way, it connects with APIs of those social media platforms to get the desired information about the customer or site visitor.
Data As A Service (DaaS)
Data as a Service (DaaS) is a cloud-based computing and storage system. It is a type of data management that stores, processes, and manages data of different organizations through cloud storage. It facilitates the organizations by providing software and hardware tools on a shared basis. It is another use case of API management platforms.
What are the top features of an API (or Enterprise IPAAS) Platform?
Some of the key features of API or Enterprise IPAAS platform are:
- It provides a secure connection between apps and software.
- It protects the back-end server from plausible malicious attacks.
- It often has an easy-to-use interface.
- It manages and regulates the incoming customer request to APIs.
- It makes the connection between different software fast and efficient.
- It accelerates data transformation.
- It is flexible because there is no need to create separate coding for connecting APIs of different enterprises.
- It is cost-effective.
- It is inclusive as it allows small organizations to benefit from the coding structure of big developers.
- It helps in scaling up your business.
- It makes virtual applications versatile.
- It monitors customers’ behavior and provides an analytical report.
- It helps in understanding the demands and requirements of the customers.
- It assists developers in better promotion of their services.
- It increases the scope of cloud-based tools and software.
- It promotes sharing of resources between enterprises.
How do Enterprises Evaluate API (or Enterprise IPAAS) Platforms?
Here are few factors that enterprises evaluate while choosing API platforms:
Availability
Availability is one crucial factor that enterprises evaluate in API platforms. A platform that is always available with no history of prolonged downtime and allows a good number of customer requests, is preferred over fluctuating ones.
Flexibility
Flexibility refers to the available options in the API platform. An enterprise looks into the codes already available with the platform and its ability to create custom codes instantly for connecting apps and software. Flexibility denotes the adaptability of the API platform.
Efficiency
A fast and efficient platform is preferred over the others. Enterprises need platforms that can efficiently connect one app to another and also quickly deals with the flow of customer requests. Developers evaluate the speed and efficiency of a platform through various means like access latency and throughput.
Security
Security is one of the main concerns that drive enterprises towards API platforms. Enterprises prefer such API management platforms that efficiently detect and deal with malicious activities. There are high risks of damage to the back-end server while connecting through APIs. Therefore, a secure API platform is a must.
Quality
Consistent and high-end services tell about the quality of an API platform. Enterprises that are not tight on a budget first evaluate the quality of API platforms while choosing one. Satisfied users are the best way to evaluate the quality of the service provider.
Cost
Cost is another crucial factor that enterprises evaluate while choosing an API platform. They calculate their rate of return, i.e., the average cost and provided facilities by the platform. It gives them a clear idea about how beneficial it is to invest in a particular IPAAS platform. Sometimes companies compromise on the average quality platform due to budget constraints.
Top 20 API Platforms to Consider
There are multiple API platforms available today for enterprises. We have selected the top 20 API platforms you must go through while choosing the platform for your enterprise.
Wrapping Up
API or Enterprise IPAAS platforms have revolutionized the integration. In present times, you don’t need coding for connecting apps and software, not even for customized connections. Now APIs talk with each other in their language and provide you the relevant service.
With every passing day, we are witnessing more evolved API platforms. They all are there to facilitate the developers and enterprises. Choosing one is a difficult decision. But if you have a clear vision of what you need from the platform and what are the requirements of your customers, then it becomes a bit easy to choose the most suitable API platform. The size of the enterprise, expected traffic, and budget also plays a significant role in selecting API platforms.