API management is one of those things that most businesses don’t think about until it’s too late. And by then, it’s usually too late to fix the damage. API management is the process of ensuring that your APIs are operational and accessible from all corners of your business. It’s important not only for the security of your data but also for the efficiency and productivity of your team. Fortunately, there are a number of API management tools out there that can help you achieve these goals. In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the best API management tools on the market today.
What are API Management Tools?
API management tools allow developers to create, publish, and maintain APIs while automating the process of managing relationships with providers. Tools vary in their features and capabilities, but they all share common features such as a user interface that provides overviews of all the APIs in a given system, an API repository that stores the published APIs, and a means to manage relationships with providers.
API management tools also typically include features to monitor API performance, track errors and exceptions, and generate reports on API usage. Some of the most popular API management tools include Apigee’s APIs Manager, Heroku’s Platform Buildpack for Ruby, Twilio’s Developer Portal, and AWS’s Lambda@Edge.
Why Use API Management Tools?
API management tools are designed to help organizations manage and monitor their APIs in a centralized manner. By centralizing API management, organizations can24can more easily identify and address issues related to their APIs. Additionally, API management tools can help developers find and use APIs more easily, as well as monitor the health and performance of an API. Finally, by managing all of an organization’s APIs in one place, API management tools can help ensure consistency across different platforms and applications.
API management tools come in a variety of flavours, but they all share some common features. All of these tools allow you to define your API policies, manage users and access levels, track usage data, create reports, and more. Many also offer integrations with other software development tooling such as source control systems (git or SVN), issue tracking systems (JIRA or GitHub), Content Management Systems (CMS) like WordPress or Drupal, as well as code review platforms (Code Review).
Some of the most popular API management tools include Apigee (formerly Appcelerator), CloudBees ChatOps for Java APIs, Felicitas, Harpy, Okta, Pythian, Samza, and Sencha Touch.
Types of API Management Tools
API management tools can help you manage and govern APIs, as well as keep track of API usage and performance. Some of the most popular API management tools include Apigee, Apigee Edge, and Appcelerator API Management.
Apigee is a comprehensive API management platform that offers features such as authentication, authorization and logging. Apigee also offers APIs for monitoring, versioning, and analytics.
Apigee Edge provides enhanced capabilities such as automated compliance testing and dynamic routing of traffic through your APIs. Appcelerator API Management allows you to manage your APIs from a single console with a variety of integrations including Salesforce, Heroku, Google Analytics, SugarCRM and more.
Evaluation Process for API Management Tools
The evaluation process for API management tools is critical to ensure that the tool meets the needs of an organization and its developers. Tools must be evaluated on how well they support organizing and managing an organization’s APIs, tracking and reporting on usage, and integrating with other systems. Additionally, evaluation should consider whether the tool offers features specific to API management, such as analytics or governance capabilities.
Some key factors to consider when evaluating an API management tool include:
-Are the features necessary for supporting an organization’s APIs?
-Is the tool easy to use?
-Does the tool integrate with other systems?
-Is the tool configured appropriately for my organization?
Conclusion
API management is essential for any business that depends on third-party services. Without a good API management system in place, it can be difficult to keep track of who is accessing your data and how which can lead to security breaches. There are a number of different API management tools available, so it’s important to find the one that best suits your needs. Make sure you take time to test out each tool before making a decision, so you can find the perfect one for your business.
