APIs act as bridges between modern software programs. They allow different services to share data and features across various platforms like clouds, partnerships, and devices. Companies building flexible systems use many APIs to connect their tools with third-party services, AI applications, IoT endpoints, and mobile apps.

However, managing many APIs creates challenges. Without a central system to manage them, things become disorganized. This can lead to security vulnerabilities, unreliable performance, extra costs, and wasted dev cycles on redundant API creation.

This blog walks you through how to manage multiple API gateways and simplify your API ecosystem.

Why Do Businesses Need Multiple API Gateways?

API gateways started with simple jobs such as routing and security. As companies got bigger and their needs changed, these gateways needed to handle such complex tasks as optimizing performance, meeting regulatory standards like GDPR and CCPA, and managing a variety of ecosystems. These growing needs require deploying several gateways, which delivers these benefits:

  • Avoids Vendor Lock-In: Relying on several API gateways reduces dependence on a single provider. This flexibility makes it easier to upgrade to new tech and switch vendors without being limited by the constraints of one platform.
  • Handles a Variety of Technical Needs: Different systems and business units may require certain technical configurations. Using multiple gateways makes sure everything works together smoothly, no matter how it’s built. This leads to better performance overall.
  • Resolves Gateway Conflicts: Diverse services often need dedicated routing, transformation, or security settings. Using multiple gateways prevents these bottlenecks or mismatches.
  • Optimizes Microservices Performance: In a microservices architecture, multiple gateways provide granular control and scalability for each service. This setup improves workload management and allows faster responses to changing business needs.
  • Supports Advanced Routing Needs: Businesses can optimize latency, comply with regional regulations, and enforce custom authentication rules by using gateways designed for specific traffic management tasks.

Challenges in Managing Multiple API Gateways

While multiple API gateways simplify processes in many ways, it also introduces certain complexities. Without a clear understanding of priorities and use cases, you risk using more resources inefficiently. Some common challenges are:

  • Performance Variations: Differences in gateway configurations, hardware capabilities, and processing methods can result in inconsistent response times. This affects your customer experience and complicates performance optimization.
  • Authentication Challenges: Each gateway may use different methods for authentication and authorization, such as API keys, tokens, or OAuth. Ensuring a unified and secure approach across all platforms increases the burden on development and security teams.
  • Integration Complexity: Distributed APIs often require diverse integration patterns and workflows. Development teams must navigate unique tools, protocols, and configurations for multiple gateway platforms, increasing both development time and maintenance effort.

8 Steps To Manage Multiple API Gateways

Managing API gateways in a microservices architecture is only challenging if you do not have a clear strategy. The key to smooth management lies in selecting a gateway solution that integrates well, offers monitoring and security, and supports your microservices’ loose coupling. Some API gateway best practices are:

1. Start Small

Avoid overcomplicating your setup by starting with a scalable API gateway solution tailored to your current needs. Once your organization grows, expand your gateway setup gradually.

2. Implement Centralized Configuration Management

Streamline your API management by using infrastructure-as-code (IaC) tools to centralize gateway configurations across environments. This ensures consistency and reduces errors by automating updates and deployments. IaC also improves scalability and makes tracking changes easier, providing a reliable, standardized process for managing gateways.

3. Develop Automated Governance Frameworks

Establish policy-as-code frameworks to automate the enforcement of security, compliance, and performance standards across your multiple gateways. By defining policies in code, you guarantee consistent, instant compliance and minimize human error.

4. Establish Clear Routing and Traffic Management Protocols

Design intelligent traffic routing mechanisms to distribute requests based on factors like performance, geographical location, and service health. This ensures optimized response times, reduced latency, and high availability by directing traffic to the most efficient and stable gateways.

5. Create Reliable and Effective Authentication and Access Control Systems

Implement centralized identity management to ensure uniform security policies across all API gateways. Standardizing authentication and access controls guarantees that your customers and services are securely authenticated and sensitive data is protected throughout the system.

6. Create Clear Documentation

Document all gateway configurations, connections, and updates with detailed diagrams and live documents. Comprehensive documentation allows teams to understand architecture, track changes, and troubleshoot effectively. Proper documentation improves transparency, promotes collaboration, and simplifies API ecosystem management.

7. Plan for Failures

Prepare for disruptions by implementing redundancy strategies that ensure continuous API availability. Set up failover systems, backup solutions, and health checks to maintain operation even when a gateway encounters issues.

8. Use CI/CD Pipelines

Automate the process of updating, testing, and deploying API gateways using continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipelines.

This approach accelerates development cycles, ensures consistent deployments across environments, and reduces manual errors. With automated pipelines, you can quickly respond to changes, maintain high-quality standards, and streamline gateway management.

Simplify API Management With the Boomi Enterprise Platform

Managing multiple API gateways in a microservices environment requires careful planning and strategic implementation. By starting small, using centralized configuration management, and developing automated governance frameworks, you can build a scalable and secure API ecosystem.

Boomi API Management offers a comprehensive solution for designing, governing, securing, and monitoring APIs. This delivers flexibility and strong security to your business. Below is a list of Boomi’s key features:

  • Centralized API Management: Streamlines the administration of multiple APIs across various environments using a single API control plane.
  • Secure API Gateways: Provides strong security with advanced authentication, authorization, and encryption mechanisms.
  • End-to-End Visibility: The Boomi platform offers comprehensive monitoring and analytics to track API performance, identify bottlenecks, and optimize operations.
  • Scalability: Accommodates high-volume transactions and growing API demands while maintaining performance and reliability.
  • Low-Code Integration: Provides intuitive low-code tools for API configuration, minimizing reliance on extensive developer resources.
  • Instant Updates: Facilitates rapid API updates without service interruptions, ensuring swift operational continuity.
  • Cost Efficiency: Streamlines API management by consolidating tasks into a single platform, reducing the costs associated with maintaining separate gateways.
  • Compliance and Governance: Ensures regulatory compliance with built-in governance tools that uphold data integrity and adherence to industry standards.

Discover how Boomi can help you manage API sprawl with a fully-fledged API Control Plane.