Integrating Azure API Management into DevOps for Enhanced Support and Collaboration

  • Author: Ronald Fung

  • Creation Date: 23 May 2023

  • Next Modified Date: 23 May 2024

A. Introduction

Azure API Management is a fully managed service that enables organizations to create, publish, secure, and monitor APIs. By integrating this service into our DevOps processes, we can:

  1. Centralize the management of APIs

  2. Streamline API development and deployment

  3. Enhance security and compliance

  4. Improve performance through caching and throttling

  5. Monitor API usage and analytics

B. How is it used at Seagen

To ensure the successful integration of Azure API Management into our DevOps pipeline and empower our DevOps team to support users effectively, we propose the following steps.

2.1. Define Roles and Responsibilities

  1. Identify key stakeholders from development, operations, and security teams

  2. Assign roles and responsibilities to DevOps team members, including API management support

  3. Establish a support structure to assist users with API management tasks

2.2. Implement API Management in CI/CD Processes

  1. Integrate API Management into the development and deployment stages of our CI/CD pipeline

  2. Automate API publishing and versioning using Azure DevOps, Git repositories, or other tools

  3. Implement API testing and validation during the build and release stages

  4. Utilize Infrastructure as Code (IAC) to automate API Management configuration and deployment

2.3. Train and Up-skill the DevOps Team

  1. Provide Azure API Management training for the DevOps team

  2. Organize workshops and hands-on sessions to familiarize the team with API management processes

  3. Encourage team members to pursue relevant certifications and share knowledge

2.4. Provide Support to Users of API Management

  1. Develop and maintain documentation, including guidelines, best practices, and FAQs

  2. Offer assistance with API design, implementation, and troubleshooting

  3. Set up communication channels, such as a help desk, chat, or forum, for users to ask questions and seek assistance

  4. Organize regular knowledge-sharing sessions or webinars

2.5. Foster Continuous Improvement and Collaboration

  1. Monitor API performance, security, and usage metrics to identify areas for improvement

  2. Collaborate with users and stakeholders to gather feedback and insights

  3. Update API management processes, documentation, and best practices based on lessons learned and emerging technologies

C. Features

Azure API Management is a powerful service for creating, publishing, securing, and monitoring APIs. Integrating it into our DevOps processes will enhance collaboration, streamline workflows, and improve security and performance. This document outlines a strategy for incorporating Azure API Management into our DevOps pipeline and enabling our DevOps team to provide effective support to users. The strategy includes defining roles and responsibilities, implementing CI/CD processes, training and up-skilling, and continuous monitoring and improvement.

Integrating Azure API Management into our DevOps processes will enhance collaboration, streamline workflows, and improve security and performance. By following the proposed strategy, we can ensure the successful integration of Azure API Management and empower our DevOps team to provide effective support to users. This will ultimately enable our organization to deliver better, more reliable, and secure services to our customers and partners.

D. Where implemented

LeanIX

E. How it is tested

Testing Azure API Management into DevOps involves ensuring that APIs are designed to meet the needs of all stakeholders involved in the project and that they can be deployed and managed in a DevOps environment. Here are some steps to follow to test Azure API Management into DevOps for enhanced support and collaboration:

  1. Define the scope and requirements: Define the scope of the project and the requirements of all stakeholders involved in the project. This will help ensure that the APIs are designed to meet the needs of all stakeholders.

  2. Create test plans: Develop test plans that cover all aspects of the API functionality, including input validation, authentication and authorization, error handling, and performance testing. The test plans should be designed to meet the needs of a DevOps environment, including continuous integration and continuous deployment.

  3. Conduct integration testing: Test the APIs in an integrated environment to ensure that they work correctly with other systems and applications. This may involve testing the APIs with different operating systems, browsers, and devices.

  4. Conduct user acceptance testing: Test the APIs with end-users to ensure that they meet their needs and are easy to use. This may involve conducting surveys, interviews, or focus groups to gather feedback from users.

  5. Automate testing: Automate testing of APIs to ensure that they are functioning correctly and meeting the needs of all stakeholders. This may involve using tools like Azure DevOps to set up automated testing pipelines.

  6. Monitor performance: Monitor the performance of the APIs in production to ensure that they are meeting the needs of all stakeholders. This may involve setting up monitoring tools, such as Azure Application Insights, to track API usage and identify performance issues.

  7. Address issues: Address any issues that are identified during testing and make necessary changes to ensure that the APIs are functioning correctly and meeting the needs of all stakeholders.

By following these steps, you can ensure that Azure API Management is tested thoroughly and meets the needs of all stakeholders involved in the project. This can help improve support and collaboration in a DevOps environment, leading to faster deployments and more efficient operations.

F. 2023 Roadmap

Products: Need multiple products based on domain and sub-domain, potentially 60 products

TF: remove number of subscriptions

Email: Fix the email distribution so managers can approve access

TF: Provide a name based on domains/subdomains following “domain - sub” Tags are required and should be lowercase

Support: DevOps team needs to review the subscription request

Required:

  • API description

  • Field descriptions

  • Parameters and definitions

  • Resource and definitions

For dev and staging set rate limit to 100 / 5 min Recommend OpenAPI / Swagger

G. 2024 Roadmap

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H. Known Issues

There are several known issues that can impact Azure API Management into DevOps for enhanced support and collaboration. Here are some of the most common issues to be aware of:

  1. Integration issues: Integration issues can arise when integrating APIs with other systems and applications in a DevOps environment. It is important to ensure that APIs are designed to work seamlessly with other systems and applications to avoid integration issues.

  2. Security issues: Security is a critical concern when it comes to API management in a DevOps environment. If the APIs are not properly secured, they may be vulnerable to attacks or data breaches. This can impact support and collaboration in a DevOps environment as it may cause trust issues between different teams involved in the project.

  3. Performance issues: Performance is another critical concern when it comes to API management in a DevOps environment. If the APIs are not performing well, it can impact the user experience and cause delays in processing requests. This can impact support and collaboration in a DevOps environment as it may cause delays in project completion.

  4. Versioning issues: Versioning issues can arise when managing multiple versions of APIs in a DevOps environment. It is important to ensure that versioning is properly managed to avoid conflicts between different versions of APIs.

  5. Change management issues: Change management is another critical concern when it comes to API management in a DevOps environment. If changes are not properly managed, they can cause issues with the APIs and impact support and collaboration. It is important to have proper change management processes in place to ensure that all stakeholders are aware of any changes and their impacts.

Overall, Azure API Management into DevOps requires careful planning and management to ensure that all stakeholders are working together effectively. By being aware of these known issues and taking steps to address them, you can improve support and collaboration in a DevOps environment and ensure the success of your project.

[x] Reviewed by Enterprise Architecture

[x] Reviewed by Application Development

[x] Reviewed by Data Architecture