Riding the next wave of API management trends with Google APIGEE X

A fragmented API ecosystem is fueling disruption in an age of connectivity where Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) have been increasingly embraced as an integral approach to accelerate Digital Integration-led Automation. APIs are crucial for connecting enterprise applications and without them, scaling the seamless integration of legacy systems with traditional IT architecture can get chaotic.

Today, IT ecosystems are getting more dynamic and complex with rapidly growing numbers of complex apps, connected devices, digital platforms, and technologically empowered consumers. Many enterprises who embarked on their API journey to become more agile often struggle to manage the mammoth volumes of data exposed from comprehensive API Integrations. This is precisely where a unified API Management Platform takes hold. It allows an organization to scale enterprise-level processes and workflows, all while accelerating Digital Transformation faster.

API management is an epicenter of digitalization. It works as connective tissue in the digital ecosystems by seamlessly productizing, publishing, harvesting, and managing all API connections and reusable assets within an enterprise setting using a unified platform. It minimizes friction and complexities between digital assets, including apps, data, and services without the need for plunging into ground-up development and draining internal resources.

Business efficiency, reduced development cycles, increased revenue opportunities, greater flexibility, resilience, high responsiveness, scalability, seamless user experience, enhanced security, and futureproofing are some notable benefits of adapting to an API management solution within an organization. Compared to legacy approaches deployed to IT architecture, an API Management Solution fosters innovation faster, along with business agility and 360-degree visibility by eliminating technological and organizational challenges, making processes more responsive.

Prominent API management trends reshaping technology landscape

APIs have revolutionized complex digital landscapes. To stay competitive, businesses across industries are adopting APIs to push innovation and become digital-first companies. With APIs sitting at the core of connected systems and applications, API Management plays a crucial role in transforming an organization's capabilities, ranging from API repositories to security policy enforcement, analytics, and enhanced reporting of fraud management.

Let's delve deeper and unravel the four prominent API Management trends that will transform the technology landscape in 2021 and beyond.

• Trend 1 - API-first mindset and API-led connectivity

Application Programming Interfaces are everywhere. They are consumed by mobile devices, websites, enterprise systems and applications, partner portals, and vendor ecosystems. To capitalize on their transformative benefits, an enterprise having top priorities like accelerating agility and flexibility must embrace the API-first mindset, and API-led connectivity in order to innovate faster and thrive in today's digital ecosystem.

 The API-first mindset not only enables IT leaders to quickly unlock data assets and integrate anything across existing enterprise architectures and, ensures quicker time-to-market, lower TCO, and higher-quality deliverables - at its core. At the same time, embracing API-led connectivity, microservices, and reusable APIs play a vital role in a seamless flow of data between multiple applications. It ensures greater operational visibility, enhanced business agility, and an omnichannel customer experience in a digital landscape.

• Trend 2 – Service Mesh

Many recent studies show that approximately 91% of forward-thinking organizations are planning a transition to microservices-based architecture to capitalize on benefits like end-user experience, traffic management, enhanced workflows, greater flexibility, and improved visibility. With the adoption of microservices architectures becoming mainstream, leveraging service mesh with API management facilitates accelerated microservices agility.

When combined with API management, the service mesh will enable an enterprise to manage, scale, secure centrally, and discover anything across any architecture. Additionally, service mesh will use its internal security mechanisms to ensure seamless "service-to-service" communication while controlling all the microservices running behind the APIs.

•  Trend 3 – API security and governance

In response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, businesses moved their operations to virtual settings across all industries ranging from manufacturing to retail, finance, and hospitality. Shifting customers, employees, and partner-facing operations to digital mediums surely unlocked new opportunities for continuous innovation. However, the accelerated usage of APIs has created new security concerns by providing hackers access to sensitive data.

 To keep the growing security threats at bay, API Security and Governance play an imperative role. Together, they deal with crucial API Management challenges, including:

•  lack of central control and access to digital assets
•  changes in scale over time
•  orchestration and security threats
•  poor visibility mechanisms

With enhanced investments in security and governance, organizations will be able to protect their digital assets against potential security vulnerability and achieve business agility along with digital excellence.

• Trend 4 - AI and ML - Powered API management

Undoubtedly, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are game changers. Both technologies simplify API security and management within an enterprise. The widespread adoption of "AI and ML-powered" API security and monitoring solutions often save time for users, developers, and consumers. The successful integration of AL and ML into API Management enables businesses to:

• prevent malicious attacks, bugs, and slowdowns 
• handle authentication measures and static security checks
• improve scalability and efficiency of legacy systems

With AI and ML, enterprises can reduce the human effort associated with API management and control any unauthorized access to digital assets with higher levels of precision.

Ride the API management trend wave with Google APIGEE X

Google’s Apigee API Platform will assist businesses to achieve digital excellence and take full advantage of APIs in the wake of the global pandemic. It is a powerful and user-friendly platform enabling businesses to develop, scale, and manage APIs anywhere with greater precision and visibility.

The next generation Apigee API management platform integrates with Google Cloud's AI, networking tools, and security. The key reasons why IT leaders are adopting the Apigee API Platform primarily include AI-powered automation, multilayer security and privacy, deployment flexibility, innovative user experiences, API monetization, reCAPTCHA Enterprise, Cloud Armor (WAF) and Cloud CDN, and enhanced API security.

Indeed, Apigee X is an innovation-enabler for API Management as it applies Google's AI and machine learning capabilities to predict API traffic patterns, detect anomalies in real-time, and prevent bot attacks. At its core, this full lifecycle API management platform brings strong capabilities of operations management, security management, and vulnerability management - facilitating 360-degree visibility into your API program.

Our approach

Kellton Tech is a forward-thinking Digital Transformation Partner empowering businesses with the API-first approach and API product mindset. We help enterprises achieve business excellence and frictionless enterprise experiences within an API ecosystem by redefining their API strategies and product roadmaps. At Kellton, our team enables enterprises to seamlessly adopt an enterprise-grade Apigee API management platform and harness the power of a cloud-native development approach effectively. Talk to our experts to know more about our digital capabilities for application modernization with a data-as-a-service layer for legacy back-end applications or API modernization.