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You may already know that we are living in the Era of APIs.
However, it’s not just about opening your data and embracing it. A management layer, with a dedicated platform, is necessary for every business that wants to have an efficient API strategy.
But, first, let’s define API platform as:
Middleware that developers use to publish and set up interfaces and where applications connect service data as needed.
Here are four main reasons to use a management platform for your API:
To develop mobile applications for customers, partners and employees you need a good wireless connection performance.
In other words, it is necessary to use a great RESTful APIs, with access at runtime and design focused on data services that are being consumed.
Think about it as a cloud connection technology that takes and brings data, in a secure way that the mobile app needs.
And, as apps become more and more transactional, the need to use complete and practical interfaces as APIs are very necessary.
Therefore, a platform is essential to ensure the highest level of connectivity in your business.
The complexity and scope of API data services are growing exponentially.
The increasingly sophisticated and interesting mobile applications, with more connections, content and collaboration, are also displayed as barriers to all points where these integrations occur.
In other words, RESTful interfaces provide the means, but a system that supports the large volume is still needed.
This gap is occupied by the management platforms.
Today, being up to date with Android and iOS is enough for most businesses.
But at any time, it may be necessary to support services on new systems or even on systems that today are short-range (such as Windows Phone), but which may emerge in the future.
It is also interesting to think about the variety of smart devices (such as wearables) and sensors. A RESTful API offers a low resistance barrier for entry into any of these media.
And if your API is public, you may not even need to write code for the new platform, as the developer community helps to fulfill that need.
The platform offers your IT team all the tools to manage transactions and access to your servers.
That's because you don't have infinite resources to make them available to your users, customers and partners.
If you have a smartphone, you know that the tendency to check your status on social networks, messages, emails, news, etc., is much greater than what was done before when all we had were desktops.
In terms of applications, each one can absorb a large amount of data from its API, so its allocation of resources (network, database, financial) for each application must be done in a controlled and intelligent way.
There are several platform providers. What characteristics should I pay attention to analyze a platform?
It depends on what you need.
Choosing the right technology is an important step, because you will probably be using the same technology for a long time. So, consider the following aspects:
Safety? Cost? Scalability to new markets? All of that?
Every case is a different case, but definitely, defining your priorities is the first step to continue the decision process.
How will legacy systems (those it’s already in use) interact with the new API management platform?
A very interesting way of thinking here is to create an “engagement platform” for the API, adding the management platform, application development, middleware operations and other related systems.
This will be a cost center for your business and the steps of the entire process should talk fluidly.
These guidelines should help you find a good solution for your API needs.
Did you like it, but still don't know how to create your API?
Check out our API Design tips
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