api managementintegrationcloud

Azure API Management at Scale

Enterprise API platform on Azure APIM with global security, reusable policies, multi‑API support, and self‑hosted gateways for low latency, delivered via GitHub CI/CD.

Overview

This case study covers an enterprise Azure APIM rollout focusing on security, reusability, and performance. The platform enforces global security, provides reusable policy fragments, supports multiple API types, and uses self‑hosted gateways for hybrid, low‑latency access.

graph LR
  subgraph Azure
    APIM[Azure API Management]
    KV[Key Vault]
    MON[Azure Monitor]
    GH[GitHub Actions]
  end
  subgraph Edge
    SHG[Self‑hosted Gateway]
  end

  Producers[API Producers] --> APIM --> Consumers[API Consumers]
  APIM --> SHG
  APIM --> KV
  APIM --> MON
  GH --> APIM

  classDef az fill:#C7D2FE,stroke:#1F3A8A,stroke-width:2px,color:#111
  classDef edge fill:#FDE68A,stroke:#B45309,stroke-width:2px,color:#111
  class APIM,KV,MON,GH az
  class SHG edge

Notes

Global inbound policy: authentication/authorization (e.g., JWT), client certificate validation, base rate limiting/quotas.
Reusable policy fragments: header transforms, request/response shaping, caching hints; referenced across APIs.
Per‑API policies: traffic shaping, URL rewrites, SOAP pass‑through, webhook/event endpoints; versioning and revisions used for safe evolution.
Self‑hosted gateway: deployed close to workloads for lower latency and hybrid routing; governed centrally via APIM.
CI/CD: APIM configuration as code (ARM/Bicep) with GitHub Actions workflows; secrets in Key Vault; observability via Azure Monitor/Log Analytics.
APIOps repo: APIs as code (OpenAPI, policies, templates) with PR‑based reviews, automated lint/validation, and GitOps deployments to APIM.

Problem

A fragmented API estate with inconsistent security, duplication of policies, and high latency for on‑prem consumers slowed delivery and increased risk.

Solution

Designed a layered APIM architecture: global inbound security policy (JWT validation, client cert, rate limit), reusable policy fragments for common transformations, and per‑API policies (rewrite, cache, set‑header). Supported REST, SOAP pass‑through, and event/webhook APIs with versioning and revisions. Deployed self‑hosted gateways close to workloads to reduce latency and enable hybrid routing. Implemented CI/CD with GitHub Actions (APIM config as code via ARM/Bicep) and integrated secrets via Key Vault. Adopted an APIOps repo to treat APIs as code (OpenAPI specs, policy fragments, service templates) with PR‑based workflows and automated validations. Added full observability with Azure Monitor and Log Analytics for quotas, errors, and latency.

Outcome

Unified governance and consistent security, reduced latency for on‑prem consumers, faster onboarding with policy reuse, and predictable releases with CI/CD.

Technologies

Azure API ManagementAPIM PoliciesSelf‑hosted GatewayAzure Key VaultAzure MonitorGitHub ActionsOpenAPIARM/BicepAPIOps (GitOps)