APIs are integral to modern software development, enabling different systems to communicate and share data seamlessly. However, as your company’s API portfolio grows, managing them can become increasingly complex. Azure API Management offers a robust solution to reduce this complexity. In this blog post, we’ll delve into what Azure API Management is, explore its core features, and see how it can streamline your API lifecycle management.
What is API Lifecycle Management?
API lifecycle management involves overseeing an API from its initial design through to its retirement. While designing, coding, and deploying APIs are crucial steps, effective management doesn’t stop there. Post-deployment tasks are equally important and include:
- Providing API Documentation, Testing, and Code Samples: Ensuring developers can easily understand and integrate your APIs.
- Onboarding and Off-boarding Users: Managing access as new developers join or leave.
- Managing API Subscriptions and Keys: Handling the distribution and security of subscription keys.
- Implementing API Revisions Safely: Updating APIs without disrupting existing services.
- Managing Multiple API Versions: Supporting different versions to accommodate various user needs.
- Implementing Access Controls: Enforcing authentication and rate limits to secure your APIs.
- Providing API Reporting and Analytics: Monitoring usage and performance for continuous improvement.
What is API Management in Azure?
Azure API Management is a cloud service provided by Microsoft Azure that helps you publish, secure, transform, maintain, and monitor your APIs. It acts as a frontdoor for your backend services, allowing you to manage all your APIs from a single, unified platform without altering your existing infrastructure.
Core Components of Azure API Management
Azure API Management comprises three main components:
1. Gateway
The gateway is the frontline of your API ecosystem. It handles all incoming API calls and performs essential functions:
- Credential Verification: Checks API subscription keys and authenticates users.
- Policy Enforcement: Applies usage quotas, rate limits, and security policies.
- Transformation: Modifies requests and responses for compatibility with backend services.
- Routing: Directs API calls to the appropriate backend endpoints.
- Caching: Stores responses to improve performance and reduce load.
- Analytics Collection: Gathers metadata for monitoring and analytics.
2. Administration Interface
Accessible through the Azure portal, the administration interface allows you to manage your APIs and the API Management service itself. Key tasks include:
- Defining or Importing API Specifications: Create new APIs or import existing ones.
- Implementing Usage Policies: Set quotas, rate limits, and other usage restrictions.
- Setting Security Policies: Configure authentication methods and access controls.
- Managing Users: Onboard developers and control access permissions.
- Packaging APIs into Products: Group APIs for easier subscription management.
- Defining API Transformations: Modify API requests and responses as needed.
- Managing API Revisions and Versions: Update APIs without disrupting existing services.
- Running Analytics: Monitor API usage, performance, and errors.
3. Developer Portal
The developer portal is a customizable website where developers can:
- Review API Documentation: Access detailed guides and reference materials.
- Try APIs Using the Interactive Console: Test APIs directly from the portal.
- Access Code Samples: Get sample code in various programming languages.
- Subscribe to APIs: Obtain subscription keys and manage their access.
- View Usage Analytics: Monitor their own API consumption and performance.
Azure API Management Tiers
Azure API Management offers several service tiers to suit different needs:
| Tier | Designed For | Cache | SLA | Developer Portal | Built-in Analytics | Throughput (req/sec) |
| Consumption | Lightweight usage | External only | 99.95% | No | No | N/A |
| Developer | Evaluation and testing | 10 MB | None | Yes | Yes | 500 |
| Basic | Entry-level production usage | 50 MB | 99.95% | Yes | Yes | 1000 |
| Standard | Medium-volume production usage | 1 GB | 99.95% | Yes | Yes | 2500 |
| Premium | High-volume or enterprise production usage | 5 GB | 99.95% | Yes | Yes | 4000 |
Applying Policies to API Requests and Responses
Managing policies across multiple APIs can be challenging. Policies control various aspects of API behavior, such as security, usage limits, and transformations. Azure API Management simplifies this by allowing you to define policies in one place. Key policy categories include:
- Access Restriction: Enforce rate limits, quotas, and IP filtering.
- Authentication: Require credentials like API keys, certificates, or tokens.
- Caching: Improve performance by storing responses.
- Validation: Ensure requests and responses meet specified criteria.
Policies are defined in XML documents and can be applied at different stages of the API request and response pipeline, providing granular control over API behaviour.
Conclusion
Azure API Management offers a comprehensive solution for reducing API complexity in your organization. By centralizing the management of APIs, you can enhance security, improve performance, and provide a better experience for both developers and end-users. Whether you’re just starting with APIs or managing a large portfolio, Azure API Management can scale to meet your needs.
By leveraging Azure API Management, you not only streamline the administration of your APIs but also provide developers with the tools and information they need to integrate your services efficiently. This leads to faster development cycles, improved collaboration, and a more robust API ecosystem.