Cloud APIs are critical in digital transformation. But how do you manage cloud APIs? And what makes them different from other APIs?

Consider this your complete guide to using APIs in cloud computing. 

Read along or jump ahead to the section that interests you most:

What is Cloud API?

A cloud application programming interface (cloud API) enables applications to communicate and transfer information to one another in the cloud. Cloud APIs essentially enable you to develop applications and services in the cloud. APIs also connect multiple clouds or connect cloud and on-premises apps.

Using cloud APIs gives businesses a competitive advantage.

That’s why APIs play a critical role in cloud computing. And that role is only going to expand as organizations’ cloud deployments expand and grow more complex.

Cloud is just one of the API basics you need to know. Learn them all. 

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What Is the Role of APIs in Cloud Computing?

APIs enable cloud computing in the enterprise. You can use enterprise APIs in cloud computing to enable access to different platforms and efficiently manage security. You can even use API gateways to move workloads across different cloud environments.

There’s no way around it. Cloud is the future of API management. And you’ll need cloud APIs in order to build a thriving digital ecosystem, ensure governance, and integrate your applications.

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How Does a Cloud API Work?

Here’s how cloud APIs work. Developers access cloud APIs to connect services. The API communicates with the cloud service and brings the information back to the developer and their application. As a result, the cloud API enables communication and integration between cloud services.

As you build and manage cloud APIs, there are some considerations you’ll need to make.

Architecture

First, there’s your API architecture. How will you design your API architecture for the cloud?

There are four key layers you’ll need to consider when planning your cloud architecture:

  1. Information management layer — your data repositories. 
  2. Application layer — where your applications live.
  3. Integration layer — where APIs connect your services.
  4. Interaction layer — where your API gateway enables interaction between employees, customers, and partners.

The API gateway plays a critical role in your cloud deployment. It allows you to deploy across multiple clouds, enforce security policies, and control access. 

Orchestration

Next, you’ll need to consider API orchestration. How will you orchestrate your individual API calls to cloud services? 

To do this, you’ll need to use your API gateway. You can design your API catalog and use the gateway to decide how to service each request in the cloud.  

Integration

Finally, you’ll want to consider API integration. How will you use APIs to integrate your cloud native applications? 

To do this, you’ll need an API platform like Akana. Using Akana ensures you can connect your cloud applications easily, create new cloud APIs, and work with your existing data sources. 

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Why Are Cloud APIs Important?

Cloud APIs are important to drive digital transformation success. Using cloud APIs helps you accelerate time-to-market and gain a competitive advantage.

Create New Markets

APIs enable innovation. They empower you to create new markets and opportunities for your business.

Take John Deere, for example. John Deere uses APIs to create smart, connected products. This helps them build a new type of marketplace for the food system. 

Deliver Better Customer Experiences

APIs allow you to deliver better customer experiences — without sacrificing security. That’s because cloud APIs allow you to connect applications and expose services. 

Take this Fortune 500 company, for example. They use cloud APIs to ensure security and protect back-end data, while exposing services to customers. This ensures customer satisfaction and better experiences. 

Create New Partnerships

APIs enable partnerships to flourish. That’s because you can use APIs to make services available to your partners — and vice versa — so you can innovate faster.

Take this North American Bank, for example. They use cloud APIs to create new, innovative partnerships with disruptive IoT and FinTech companies. 

Modernize Mainframe Applications

APIs help you modernize mainframe applications and leverage their data in the cloud. 

Watch the webinar below to learn how to use APIs to go from mainframe to cloud in minutes:

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Cloud Native Technologies

Cloud native technologies drive innovation. Kubernetes, for instance, is disrupting the industry and enabling innovation. 

And behind every good cloud native app is a cloud native API. But how can get the most out of those cloud APIs? By having the right API platform.

With a platform like Akana, Kubernetes API management is easy. And you can ensure your Kubernetes API architecture is exactly the way it needs to be. 

Watch the webinar below to learn how to deploy and run Akana on Kubernetes, too:

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Types of Cloud Deployments

When you’re using cloud APIs, it’s also important to consider the different types of cloud deployments. 

Which is better — multicloud vs. hybrid cloud? 

With the right multicloud strategy, you can drive more innovation and revenue for your business. But a hybrid cloud strategy might be necessary if you’re facing compliance regulations. 

The right choice might be to have a multicloud AND hybrid cloud integration with APIs.

What about your API management deployment? Which one is best choice for deploying your platform and driving revenue?

For most organizations, a cloud or hybrid deployment is a better choice than on-premises. 

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Cloud API Management Solutions

To get the full benefits of cloud APIs, you need the right cloud API management solution. Some cloud solutions, like AWS API management, come with risks of outages. 

The Akana API platform, on the other hand, is the best choice for enterprises where the risks of outages are simply too high. Akana stays up when other platforms go down. 

The Akana platform is an ideal cloud native solution.

That’s because Akana:

  • Makes it easy to create APIs and deploy in the cloud.
  • Strengthens security for cloud deployments with automated policies.
  • Partners with you to develop the right cloud API strategy.

Plus, Akana also acts as an API integration platform to unite your cloud-native applications.

Manage Cloud APIs With Akana

Watch an on-demand demo to see why Akana is the best platform to manage your cloud APIs at scale.

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