Open Source
An open source is a good option if you’re looking for a platform that offers more flexibility and customization. However, it may not be the best choice if security is an essential factor.
A proprietary solution will generally have tighter controls over access to APIs and data in your application, which can help secure your application against malicious attackers. However, because they are closed source (meaning no one knows how they work), these platforms tend to be less flexible than open-source solutions when customizing them with additional features or integrations with other systems.
On-Premise vs. Cloud (vs. Hybrid)
While cloud and hybrid are two terms that are frequently used interchangeably, there is a difference between them. Cloud refers to the fact that your API management platform will run on the internet. On-premise means you own your data, while hybrid refers to an API management platform that runs locally but can also access data stored in a cloud service (like Amazon Web Services).
Support for Multiple API Formats
Supporting multiple API formats is one of the most critical factors in choosing an API management platform. It’s also one of the most complicated to understand and evaluate.
There are two options when choosing between different formats: pick one format over another or use multiple APIs simultaneously. The first option makes more sense if your organization only needs access to a few services, while the second option makes more sense if your organization has access to many benefits and wants them all tied together under one roof, e.g. an API like freecurrencyapi.com just returns responses in JSON-format, whereas openweathermap.org used to only return XML-responses.
Developer Portal
Your developer portal should be easy to use, support multiple languages and have a sandbox environment. It also needs to include sample applications that developers can use as examples of how the API works.
How flexible and scalable do you need your API Management Platform to be?
It’s essential to consider the flexibility and scalability of your API Management Platform. How many APIs do you have? Is there a need for a more flexible platform that can handle multiple types of providers, applications, and users? In addition, what is your API strategy? Do you plan on using only one provider or multiple ones? And how many developers does your company have working on its codebase (or even just one developer)? Are there any differences between these factors in terms of cost, security, and other aspects that are important for an API management solution?
Conclusion
An API Management Platform is an excellent tool for building and maintaining APIs, but it can get complex if you don’t have the right platform for your needs. We’ve broken down the top 5 factors to consider when choosing an API Management Platform like apigee.com to help save you time and money by guiding what makes an ideal choice for your business.
