Systems | Development | Analytics | API | Testing

It’s the eternal struggle for any business to add more value while keeping costs down. Luckily, modern business technology makes this a little easier with the employment of the right API. An API ecosystem revolves around software that specializes in linking together incongruent apps, products, and services. The API is more than middleware – it’s grown into an innovative business concept that can transform your business and digital strategy.

‘Microservices’ and ‘Microservice-based architecture’ are concepts that are experiencing a rapid increase in popularity throughout the developer community and it’s ability to deliver simplicity in an increasingly complex web of applications, systems and databases is evident. But despite the popularity of microservice-based architecture, you may wonder what makes it so special. What are microservices and why should you join the trend?

Securing and monitoring APIs is difficult work. According to Gartner, “application leaders independently must design and execute an effective API security strategy to protect their APIs.” But many IT departments struggle with knowing how APIs are behaving.

The term “digital strategy” has become something of a buzzword, but when it comes to defining your company’s approach to APIs and its digital economy, it’s paramount that you create a truly strategic plan that has the support of your organization’s executive. Without a validated, well-articulated, and executive-backed plan, your organization will find it almost impossible to consistently and successfully hit its targets.

DreamFactory specialises in REST API generation for any number of database types however an underrepresented benefit is the ability to mount and manage any third party API via a HTTP service connector. This gives you the ability to generate documentation and secure an existing API as if it were created natively within DreamFactory.

Supporting your digital strategy with the right technology is critically important. However, it’s even more important to recognize that the technology you choose should really center around enabling your organization’s business operations. Although technology alone cannot galvanize and nurture your ideal ecosystem, taking a balanced approach to your digital strategy is critical to success.

Data has become an incredibly powerful tool that helps brands streamline processes and improve customer services. To facilitate this, you will often need an API that moves data between applications without compromising the value of your information or creating vulnerabilities that can be exploited. Securing an API therefore becomes a crucial aspect of any data integration project. An API solution that meets security essentials will make it much more resistant to cyber threats.

According to Deloitte, 96% of organizations are using APIs in 2021, representing a 16% increase from just last year. The value of APIs for modern-day organizations is hardly questioned, with Deloitte pointing out that they represent “a strategic enabler in modern enterprises to build up connected experiences and unlock value from existing data.” Is you business considering how API strategy fundamentals like technology integration can support your long term goals?

As your organization undergoes major digital transformations and starts adopting new technologies, it’s critical to evaluate how you’re currently looking at your technology assets. Do you see them as differentiated business capabilities? Adopting a product mindset with developing your API ecosystem becomes simpler when you can shift your focus away from the technical implementation process and its challenges and start focusing on your strategy and its relevant business outcomes.

SaaS applications generally tend to manage customer data in a multitenant database, meaning all customers share the same database. The data is secured, or segmented, by a unique identifier that maps a particular table record to a customer. This approach to data management means the SaaS can avoid the overhead and complexity of managing customer data within separate databases. Increasingly, SaaS customers are asking for API-based access to their data.