This document discusses the need for internal API communities within enterprises to promote reuse of existing digital assets and integration with cloud services. It describes how API management platforms can help publish the right APIs, ensure APIs are reliable and secure, and engage developers. Key capabilities of an API management platform include lifecycle management, developer engagement features, integration with identity and access management systems, and API gateway services. Common pitfalls to avoid include platform lock-in, protocol limitations, and lack of control over the API lifecycle.

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Powering Internal
API Communities
Ian Goldsmith
Sachin Agarwal

2. Copyright © 2001-2014 SOA Software, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
API and SOA Resources
• Resource Center
– http://resource.soa.com/
• Webinar Recording
– http://resource.soa.com/resource/webinars
• Follow us on:
www.facebook.com/soasoftware
www.linkedin.com/company/soasoftware
@soasoftwareinc

3. Copyright © 2001-2014 SOA Software, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
YouTube.com/SOASoftware/

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slideshare.net/SOA_Software/

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What is an Internal API Catalog?
The application of API technologies inside the enterprise
• Easy to consume
• Well documented
(human-readable)
• Self-service

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Why do Enterprises need API Communities?
• Support Digital Transformation Initiatives
• Reuse of in-house developed assets
• Controlled use of cloud services

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Promise of SOA
• Built using UDDI Registries, WSDL and
SOAP
• Addressed service definition and control
• However, developer adoption remained a
challenge

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Promise of APIs
• Documentation
• Self-Service Access
• Greater Adoption
• However…APIs lack control

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Making Internal API Communities Work
• Make sure you publish the right APIs
– Deliver real value
– Focus on API Design
– Reusable
• Make it easy to consume an API
– Searchable catalog
– Well documented
– Self Provisioned
• Make sure the APIs are:
– Reliable
– High performance
– Secure
Fundamentally, this is Governance

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Publishing the right APIs
• Increase responsiveness to business
• Improve business/IT alignment
• Manage API DevOps
• Automate API and App Provisioning
• Visualize Asset Relationships

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Ensure Reliability and Security
• Authenticate and Authorize, integrate with
existing Identity & Access Mgmt. systems
• Federate API access with Business
Partners - OAuth
• Risk and Compliance factors with
publishing APIs
• Routing and load-balancing for
performance and high-availability

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Developer Engagement
• Search Indexing
• Documentation
• Groups
• Built-in Testing
• Social Platform

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API Platform
• Measure the impact of
your programsAnalytics
• Build your developer
and partner ecosystem
Developer
Engagement
• Secure and protect
your systemsGateway Services
• Simplify and speed up
development
Service
Integration
• Build the right services
& APIs the right way
Lifecycle
Management

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The role of an API Gateway

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What are the Common Pitfalls?
• Platform lock-in
• Protocol limitations
• Lack of control (lifecycle)
• Not integrating enterprise infrastructure
– IDAM
– Monitoring (SIEM, SNMP)
– SCM
– Databases

16. Copyright © 2001-2014 SOA Software, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
API and SOA Resources
• Resource Center
– http://resource.soa.com/
• Webinar Recording
– http://resource.soa.com/resource/webinars
• Follow us on:
www.facebook.com/soasoftware
www.linkedin.com/company/soasoftware
@soasoftwareinc