IBM API Connect for API Management

Innovation in the API Economy

Stay competitive in the application programming interface (API) market with IBM API Connect/ IBM API Management and create winning experiences for employees, suppliers, customers, and consumers.

In an increasingly interconnected world, APIs stand as the digital reflection of an organisation.

Not only do companies need to create digital capabilities for end users, but also API experiences that set them apart in the minds of the developers and organisations they support. APIs require the same management as other products and services, requiring a commitment to both the external API “look and feel” and the supporting infrastructure from the API’s inception to retirement—api lifecycle management.

Key Business Drivers For API Adoption

• Speed: Accelerate execution across the business.
• Reach: Expand to new customers and markets.
• Innovation: Disrupt industries by driving new business models.
• Efficiency: Manage company interactions across geographies and lines of business.

What Is IBM API Connect?

IBM API Connect is a cloud-based API management solution, designed to make your job easier and more productive as soon as possible. With the aim of simplifying the development, security, and management of APIs, this system features:

• Simple coding.
• Self-service developer portals.
• Real-time analytics.
• Built-in security.

IBM API Connect FAQs

Who Is IBM API Connect Ideal For?

IBM API Connect serves organisations of all sizes seeking comprehensive API lifecycle management. This includes businesses wanting to securely expose existing services, foster innovation through developer engagement, and gain meaningful insights into their API programs.

IBM API Connect benefits various roles and purposes, including:

• Organisations modernising their digital ecosystems
• Developers needing efficient API building, testing, and management
• IT teams requiring robust API security and governance
• Businesses looking to monetise API access through a managed marketplace

How Can IBM API Connect Be Deployed?

IBM API Connect offers flexible deployment options to match your business requirements, including Amazon AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, IBM Cloud, on-premise, and hybrid environments. The cloud option provides rapid provisioning for quick productivity gains. Its multi-cloud architecture ensures portability across different cloud platforms.

Which Industries Can Benefit From IBM API Connect?

IBM API Connect delivers value across numerous sectors, including:

• Finance and banking, enabling secure data sharing and open banking initiatives
• Insurance, providing safe and secure access to quotations, renewals and claims submissions and management
• Healthcare, facilitating secure patient data exchange and healthcare application integration
• Retail and e-commerce, creating seamless customer experiences across channels
• Telecommunications, securely exposing network services, enhancing customer experience, and streamlining operations
• Manufacturing, connecting IoT devices and optimising supply chains
• Government, providing citizen access to public services and data
• Automotive, provide in vehicle services and entertainment whilst maintaining a vehicles service history and early fault reporting

What are the key features of IBM API Connect?

IBM API Connect delivers comprehensive capabilities for end-to-end API management:

• API Lifecycle Management: Robust tools for the complete API journey—creation, versioning, testing, documentation, deployment, and retirement. Features automated API creation and version control for faster service delivery.
• Security and Governance: Strong security through OAuth, OpenID Connect, and TLS protocols, plus governance controls ensuring compliance across cloud environments.
• API Gateway: A secure entry point for API traffic that enforces policies like authentication, authorisation, and rate limiting.
• Developer Portal: Self-service platform for developers to discover, explore, and use APIs, complete with documentation, code samples, and testing tools.
• Analytics and Monitoring: Real-time insights into API performance, traffic patterns, and usage metrics, with dashboards tracking latency, consumption, and other key indicators.
• Multi-Cloud Design: Support for various deployment options (on-premises, cloud, hybrid) with microservices architecture for flexibility.
• API Socialisation: Tools to package and promote APIs to targeted consumer markets.
• Monetisation: Support for various revenue models to help organisations optimise their API business strategy.

These capabilities enable organisations to effectively create, secure, manage, and promote APIs, driving innovation and digital transformation.

How does DeeperThanBlue help with IBM API Connect implementation?

DeeperThanBlue provides end-to-end services for IBM API Connect implementation:

1. Design & Architecture: We create customised IBM API Connect solutions aligned with best practices and your specific business needs, ensuring the platform supports your organisational objectives.
2. Build & Development: Our team applies agile methodologies to develop and test high-quality solutions using IBM API Connect, including API creation, security implementation, and integration with existing systems.
3. Upgrades & Migrations: We facilitate smooth transitions when upgrading or migrating to IBM API Connect, ensuring business continuity while future-proofing your investment.
4. Health Checks & Performance Reviews: Regular evaluations of your IBM API Connect environment ensure optimal performance, with timely application and security updates to maintain service levels.
5. Support and Managed Services (AMS): We provide ongoing support tailored to your organisation’s requirements, ensuring reliable and efficient API management operations.
6. License Management: If your IBM API Connect license has expired, we can assist with reinstatement and renewal, helping maintain compliance and access to platform features.

By leveraging our digital transformation expertise, DeeperThanBlue helps organisations maximise IBM API Connect’s potential for secure, scalable, and efficient API management.

Can DeeperThanBlue provide ongoing support for IBM API Connect?

Yes, DeeperThanBlue offers comprehensive ongoing support for IBM API Connect environments:

• Support and Managed Services (AMS): Tailored support services meeting your organisation’s specific business needs, ensuring smooth and secure API management operations
• Health Checks & Performance Reviews: Regular assessments ensuring your IBM API Connect environments meet service levels and remain current with latest application and security updates
• Licence Management: Assistance with reinstating and renewing lapsed IBM API Connect subscriptions and support, maintaining access to platform features

Through these services, DeeperThanBlue helps organisations sustain optimal performance and compliance with IBM API Connect, providing continuous support for API management requirements.

How much does IBM API Connect cost?

IBM API Connect pricing varies by plan and deployment model:

1. Free Plan
   • IBM API Connect Lite Plan: No charge
   • Up to 50,000 API calls monthly
   • Community support and basic features, suitable for small-scale use or startups
2. Subscription-Based Plans
   • Standard Plan: From approximately $83 monthly when consumed as a service on AWS Covers basic API management needs
   • Enterprise Plan: From $100 monthly Priced by usage ($100 per 100,000 API calls monthly) Includes advanced analytics, 24/7 IBM support, and flexible deployment options
3. Premium Plan
   Premium Tier: Starting at $2,280 monthly Designed for enterprises requiring single-tenant gateways and enhanced capabilities
4. Custom Pricing
   For larger deployments or hybrid environments, IBM offers tailored pricing through its business partners such as DeeperThanBlue working in conjunction with the IBM sales team, including multi-datacentre availability, unlimited developers, and advanced analytics
5. Pay-as-You-Go Options
   AWS Marketplace examples:
   • $996 annually for 100K API calls
   • $12,000 annually for 100M API calls
   • Up to $30,240 annually for 1.2B API calls
6. Regional Pricing
   UK pricing (via G-Cloud): Starting at £456.48 per unit monthly for hybrid or reserved instances
   For pricing specific to your needs, contact IBM or an authorised partner like DeeperThanBlue.

How do I upgrade my existing API Connect environment?

Follow these steps for a smooth IBM API Connect upgrade, or get in touch with DeeperThanBlue—we can help you through the entire process:

1. Plan the Upgrade
   • Assess Current Version: Identify your current IBM API Connect version and supported upgrade paths, noting some upgrades may require interim steps
   • Define Goals: Determine your deployment model (on-premises, cloud, hybrid) and any architectural changes to implement during upgrade
   • Review Compatibility: Verify compatibility with existing infrastructure, including gateways, management servers, and developer portals
2. Prepare for the Upgrade
   • Backup Data: Create comprehensive backups of configurations, databases, and APIs for restoration if needed
   • Set Up a Test Environment: Install the target API Connect version in a test environment and restore your backup to validate the process
   • Validate Pre-Requisites: Ensure all system requirements are met, including Kubernetes or OpenShift configurations if applicable
3. Execute the Upgrade
   • Upgrade Management Clusters: Start with non-primary management servers, upgrading one at a time and validating each before proceeding
   • Upgrade Gateway Clusters: After management clusters are complete, update gateway clusters sequentially
   • Use Automation Tools: Leverage resources like the API Connect Migration Utility (AMU) for efficient data migration
4. Test Post-Upgrade
   • Verify Configuration: Check Cloud Manager and API Manager to confirm successful migration of configurations, APIs, products, and catalogues
   • Check Developer Portal: Ensure proper display of APIs, products, and user roles
   • Conduct Functional Testing: Validate API functionality through comprehensive test cases
5. Optimise and Go Live
   • Switch Traffic: Route API traffic from the old environment to the upgraded system, often possible without downtime if properly planned
   • Monitor Performance: Use analytics tools to track system performance and address issues promptly

Additional Notes:

• Major version upgrades (e.g., v5 to v10) may require temporarily maintaining parallel environments.
• For complex upgrades, consult IBM’s documentation or work with specialists like DeeperThanBlue.

How does IBM API Connect integrate with other IBM products?

IBM API Connect seamlessly integrates with the IBM ecosystem:

• IBM App Connect
  Complements API Connect with pre-built connectors for applications and data sources. While API Connect manages the API lifecycle, App Connect streamlines application and data integration for automated workflows. DeeperThanBlue provides IBM App Connect Enterprise (IBM ACE) integration support.
• IBM DataPower Gateway
  API Connect incorporates DataPower Gateway for enhanced security and performance. Features enterprise-grade security (TLS profiles, authentication protocols, policy enforcement) while supporting high transaction volumes (up to 30,000 TPS), ensuring secure, scalable API traffic management.
• IBM Cloud
  API Connect works with IBM Cloud services for cloud-native deployment and management. Tools like SwaggerHub can synchronise API definitions directly with IBM Cloud, streamlining development workflows.
• IBM Automation Tools
  Works with IBM Automation solutions for optimised workflows and governance, supporting automated testing, analytics, and monitoring to improve productivity and decision making.
• Integration with Other IBM Products
  Compatible with additional IBM enterprise tools like Responsiv Unity API Gateway, enabling API monetisation, developer engagement, and cross-environment API management.
  These integrations make IBM API Connect a powerful solution for organisations requiring comprehensive API management within the IBM ecosystem.

How can IBM API Connect help with digital transformation initiatives?

IBM API Connect accelerates digital transformation through:

Accelerating Innovation

IBM API Connect helps organisations quickly create, manage, and secure APIs to:

• Rapidly expose existing services to new mobile, IoT, and web applications
• Drive innovation through developer engagement and API socialisation
• Reduce API development costs by up to 50% and speed delivery by over 50%

Enhancing Integration and Connectivity

Facilitates seamless cross-platform integration by:

• Simplifying connections between diverse systems and improving data sharing
• Enabling third-party service integration and technology experimentation
• Supporting all modern API types for versatile integration needs

Improving Security and Governance

Addresses critical security requirements by:

• Providing robust security through OAuth, JWT, and API keys for authentication
• Offering strong governance controls for regulatory compliance
• Implementing traffic management features to protect backend systems

Enabling Data-Driven Decision Making

Provides actionable insights through:

• Detailed analytics tracking API usage and performance
• Real-time performance data for experience optimisation
• Insights into high-impact APIs within your program

Supporting Flexible Deployment

Adapts to various transformation strategies with:

• Deployment flexibility across on-premises, cloud, or hybrid environments
• Microservices architecture compatible with any deployment environment
• SaaS deployment options for diverse business needs

These capabilities help organisations unlock existing asset value, create new digital services, and adapt to market changes—essential elements for successful digital transformation.