Securely mediate and consume partner APIs Using Vordel API Server
Consume Third-Party APIs Securely & Efficiently with Vordel API Server |
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API is how enterprises systems connect to each other (B2B) as well as how enterprises connect to Cloud based services. Consuming partner or Cloud service APIs requires the ability to mediate the interface protocols as well as security requirements. APIs from different partners and Cloud service providers use different protocols and authentication mechanisms. Vordel API Server provides organizations a platform to broker partner APIs efficiently and securely.
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Mediate Security Requirements |
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Most APIs require authentication of the calling client. Different organizations and APIs use different authentication schemes. For example, Amazon Web Services uses a custom HMAC (Hash Message Authentication Code). Social media APIs prefer OAuth. Financial services APIs rely more on certificates. Without an API broker, each application consuming the APIs must be capable of handling all the authentication schemes and have the means to secure the tokens, keys and certificates. Enterprise also needs to have a rigorous process of distributing these security artefacts to the application developers. Vordel API Server improves efficiency and security by serving as the central security broker between the client applications and the partner APIs.
Vordel API Server mediates the authentication schemes so applications can standardize on one scheme of choice. Vordel API Server is also the single secured repository for security artefacts; dynamically injecting the required tokens, keys, and certificates into API calls. Vordel API Sever also centrally manages trust relationships with trading partners as well as being the SSL termination point.
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Mediate Protocols with Vordel API Server |
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In addition to authentication scheme, APIs can also use different protocols. Newer web centric APIs tend to be based on REST and JSON. Web Service style APIs are usually based on SOAP and XML. Traditional EDI style APIs rely on FTP based secured file transfer protocols. Even REST-style APIs have a few different popular coding patterns. Message and payload also come in a broad range of formats, based on any number of industry standards or proprietary formats. Vordel API Server performs protocol transformation, such as SOAP-to-REST and XML-to-JSON, on the wire. The API Server acting as a protocol broker enables applications to call any partner API without explicit support for the protocol used by that API.
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Virtualize, Aggregate And Mash-Up APIs |
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Enterprise APIs may need to aggregate data and functionality from other internal or partner APIs. Having a single API that aggregates data across different source APIs simplifies API adoption for application developers. Mashing up functionality from different APIs can create value-added services and improve richness of user-application interaction. Virtualizing third-party APIs can help to control the propagation of changes from source APIs. Vordel API Server enables API virtualization, aggregation, and mash-up through a simple drag-and-drop user interface, without coding or scripting.
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