Your platform needs an application program interface gateway-based architecture as your services break into microservices. The gateway offers functionalities that provide speed, expansion, and layer ability between your backend and your platform's users. Multiple gateways are readily available for use in the development sector, but not all of them are of good use. Therefore, you need some time to decide thoroughly and choose the right gateway for your platform if you want to deliver the best services to your users.
Factors to consider for the right API Gateway
1. Authentication layer.
Only users with authentication approval can use and access the backend application data. API gateway ensure authentication and coordinate with existing authentication providers. The gateways also ensures no changes happen to the backend data when changes happen on authentication.
2. Authorization.
After the gateway approves authentication, it gives authority to the information the user will access. The gateway should be able to extract common complexities from the backend by working with in place authorization procedures.
3. Default logging.
As an API gateway sits between backend interface and consumers, it helps bring together logging capabilities of all application program interfaces. In addition, this helps in analyzing different interfaces together by providing a mutual relationship identification to request headers.
4. Default monitoring.
The right API gateway should be able to provide default monitoring in all application program interfaces. Should be able to coordinate with monitoring features in tracking consumer information such as requests, responses, time consumed, etc.
5. Backend load reduction.
The gateway should be able to prevent the misuse of the backend interface by permitting a limited number of requests. In addition, with the possibility of higher rate limits, the right gateway should provide revenue by allowing consumers of a third party to access your platform.
6. Redundancy capabilities.
A good gateway should be able to dismiss, balance, support, and share data without compromising the performance of your platform. It should also support the extraction of exact copies of data and provide low data delays for your users.
7. Mechanization.
Your gateway choice should allow you to increase your velocity by automating build processes, testing, and your developers’ deployment workflow.
8. Prediction capabilities.
Your platform gateway should be able to determine high and low activities after monitoring application program interfaces. In addition, it should work with other application services that provide the same ability for a better interface experience.
9. Request payload transformation.
Your platform moves from a simple object access protocol, which is used to exchange information, to representational state transfer that guides the architecture of your platform. During this transition process, your gateway needs a payload transformation component for the process to be successful.
Whether your platform is a public or a private application, it needs API gateways to help deliver a quality application program interface. Your platform can only thrive and be of success if you consider the above factors when deciding on the gateway to settle on. The decision-making process can be challenging and overwhelming, and you are encouraged to seek assistance from application program interface experts.
