How to Set up Azure API Management?

Azure API Management is a totally controlled organization provided by Microsoft that allows you to create, put up, and manage APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) in your packages. It gives a scalable and regular way to reveal your APIs to outside builders, partners, and customers, and allows you to govern, get proper of entry to, show utilization, and have a look at rules in your APIs.

What is Azure API Management?

The fully managed Azure API Management (APIM) service from Microsoft Azure allows organizations to develop, publish, protect, keep an eye on, and manage APIs (application programming interfaces). For companies looking to effectively manage their APIs, improve security, and improve developer engagement by making use of the benefits provided by the Azure cloud ecosystem, Azure API Management offers a comprehensive solution.

Move faster with unified API management

With one system, we can streamline each phase of the API lifecycle, from design to monitoring. It improves operational efficiency and development speed through the provision of fast API creation, strong security, and real-time analytics. Scalable innovation and consistent governance are guaranteed by this integrated approach.

Manage APIs across clouds and on-premises

We are able to manage APIs in on-premises and cloud environments using Azure API Manager. Regardless of where they are hosted, it provides an integrated platform for generating, protecting, and tracking APIs, ensuring uniform governance and performance. This flexibility enables multi-cloud and hybrid cloud strategies, providing successful API integration and management across different infrastructure setups.

Improve API discoverability

Azure API Management enables easier finding of APIs by offering a developer interface that is easily adaptable and allows for simple exploration and access to APIs. Developers can test endpoints from within the portal as well as understand how the API works thanks to the interactive documentation offered by the portal. Developers may easily determine and employ the best APIs for their purposes with the help of features like API versioning, tagging, and categorization, which enhances user experience overall and encourages more collaboration and innovation.

In-depth feature comparisons for Gravitee API Management vs Azure API Management

API Access Management and API Security

API Security and API Access Management are the two important components of the API Management service. API Access Management is the procedure to determine who may utilize your APIs and under what conditions. A multiple of instances of the processes utilized to do this are Azure Active Directory (AAD) integration for improved identity management and role-based access control (RBAC) and subscription keys, which developers use to authenticate the API searches. Admins may set granular permissions to ensure that only those with permission can access specific APIs or activities.

The primary objective of API security is to prevent unauthorized use and violations of APIs. This entails use the authentication techniques like OAuth 2.0, JWT (JSON Web Tokens), and primary authentication to confirm the veracity of API users. Security updating can be used to impose IP filtering, rate limits, and quotas in order avoid misuse and ensure equitable use. Additionally, Azure API Management provides threat protection capabilities like data masking, request validation, and record to help identify and fix the potential security related issues. When combine these features ensure that APIs are protected against fraud and only accessible by registered users.

API Design

API architects define the features and structure of their applications using methods like Azure Functions and API Management. Azure API Management gives opportunities for versioning and customization in addition to simplify the method of developing the APIs by integrate the OpenAPI standards. Azure Functions makes serverless API development possible through enabling developers to define self-growing endpoints. When combined, these services simplify the process of developing APIs on Azure, providing scalability, flexibility, and ease of use to both API architects and users.

API Monitoring

Track and assess the functionality, use, and overall health performance of APIs as part of Azure's API monitoring programmed to guarantee that they will conform the performance of requirements and service level agreements (SLAs). Among the features it offers, Azure Monitor and Application insights provides the superior monitor capabilities. These tools allow for the continuous detection and correction of problems through offering real-time insights into resource use, error rates, response times, and API usage. Based on the established limitations, administration we can create personal alerts and notifications to assist them take rapid action to increase the API performance. Azure's API monitor tools assist in guarantee to the reliability, availability, and optimal performance of APIs, thereby improving the user experience generally.

Steps to set up Azure API Management

Follow the steps mentioned below to set up azure API management.

Step 1: Sign in to the Azure Portal

• Go to the Azure portal (https://portal.Azure.Com/).
• Sign in together along with your Azure account credentials. To know how to create Azure Virtual machines refer to What are Azure Virtual Machines?.

Step 2: Create an API Management Instance

• In the Azure portal, click on the "Create a resource" button.
• Search for "API Management" inside the are seeking for bar and pick "API Management" from the search results.
• Click on "Create" to start the advent procedure.

Step 3: Configure API Management Instance

1. During the API Management instance advent technique, configure the following settings:
   • Subscription: Choose your subscription.
   • Resource institution: Choose an present day aid group or create a new one.
   • Region: Choose the location in that you want your API Management example to be placed.
   • Name: Provide a totally specific call for your API Management example. This may be a part of the URL in your API endpoints.
   • Organization call: Provide the call of your organization.
   • Administrator email: Provide an e-mail cope with for the administrator of the API Management example.
   • Pricing tier: Choose the pricing tier that meets your requirements.
2. Click on "Create" to create your API Management instance.

Step 4: Create or Import APIs

• Log in to the Azure portal and navigate to the "API Management" blade.
• Select "APIs" from the left-hand menu.
• Click at the "Add API" button to begin growing a brand new API.
• Choose the choice that suits your desires. If you want to create an API from scratch, select "Blank API". If you want to import an current API from Azure Functions,  Azure Logic Apps, or different assets, pick "API App".
• Follow the on-display instructions to configure the API settings, inclusive of the URL, backend service, authentication, and guidelines.
• Once you've got finished configuring the API settings, click at the "Create" button to create the API.
• Your API will now appear in the listing of APIs within the Azure portal. You can edit its settings, upload operations, and control its lifecycle from this web page.

Step 5: Configure API Policies

• In the "API Management" blade, click on "APIs" within the left-hand menu.
• Click on the call of the API you need to configure regulations for.
• Click on "Policies" within the left-hand menu.
• Use the policy editor to configure pointers at one among a kind scopes, collectively with international, API, or operation diploma. Policies will assist you to personalize the behavior of your APIs, which includes consisting of authentication, authorization, charge proscribing, caching, and logging.

Step 6: Configure API Products

• In the "API Management" blade, click on on on "Products" within the left-hand menu.
• Click on "Add" to create a latest product or pick out an current product.
• Configure the product settings, together with call, subscription, terms, and competencies.
• Click on "Create" to create the product.
• In the "APIs" tab of the product, companion the APIs which you want to consist of within the product.

Step 7: Publish APIs

• In the "API Management" blade, click on on on "APIs" inside the left-hand menu.
• Click at the name of the API you want to publish.
• Click on "Publish" within the left-hand menu.
• Choose the preferred publishing technique, collectively with "Internal", "External", or "Partner".
• Follow the on-show commands to configure the publishing settings, collectively with authorization, protection, and utilization quotas.
• Click on "Create" to put up the API.

Step 8: Monitor and Manage APIs

• Logging: You can configure logging settings to seize API usage and mistakes, set log retention recommendations, and export logs to garage alternatives for in addition assessment.
• Analytics: You can view and observe utilization analytics on your APIs, which encompass API calls, mistakes, latency, and reaction instances. You also can  configure indicators, installation custom dashboards, and export analytics information for in addition assessment.
• Developer Portal: The developer portal is a customizable portal that allows builders to find out, research, and take a look at your APIs. You can personalize its look, content, and behavior to suit your agency's wishes.
• Manage APIs: You can manipulate several additives of your APIs, consisting of versioning, lifecycle, safety, and get right of entry to control. You can also  configure  notifications, import/export APIs, and manipulate API certificates and domain names.

These skills in Azure API Management allow you to show and manipulate your APIs efficaciously, making sure their availability, performance, and safety, and presenting a continuing experience for builders who use your APIs.