Gateway and backend connectivity
Choose how APIs are exposed and how the gateway reaches backend services, including private connectivity where needed.
Azure technical area · Rollitech
Azure API Management
Create a managed API gateway and governance layer for publishing, securing, observing, and evolving APIs.
Understand the service
What is Azure API Management?
Azure API Management (APIM) is a managed platform for publishing APIs through a gateway, applying policies, organizing products, and supporting API consumers. It does not replace application authorization or good API design. A useful APIM architecture makes ownership, identity, backend connectivity, versioning, traffic controls, observability, and developer onboarding consistent across the APIs that belong in the platform.
Technical design
Building blocks of an API platform
The architecture depends on workloads, identity, connectivity, and the operating model; there is no single design for every organization.
Products and subscriptions
Group APIs for intended consumers and define onboarding, access, subscription, and lifecycle rules.
Identity and authorization
Plan client authentication and backend identity; use authorization at the backend for business actions and sensitive data.
Policies and traffic controls
Apply reusable policies for validation, transformation, rate limits, caching, and routing without hiding backend responsibilities.
Versioning and change
Define API versions, revisions, compatibility expectations, retirement communication, and release ownership.
Observability and developer experience
Capture gateway and backend signals, set alerts, publish useful API documentation, and support a maintainable developer portal.
From design to operations
How Rollitech helps build an APIM service
We clarify scope, assumptions, and ownership before configuration, then validate the result and hand over usable operating guidance.
Inventory APIs and consumers
Identify API owners, current gateways, consumers, backend systems, authentication, and business-critical flows.
Design the operating model
Define environments, products, access rules, policy standards, version ownership, and the API publishing process.
Onboard APIs in stages
Configure a representative API, validate policies and backend connectivity, then refine reusable onboarding patterns.
Enable ongoing governance
Document monitoring, version changes, consumer support, policy review, and responsibility for backend security.
Before implementation
Questions for an APIM design
- Which APIs belong behind a managed gateway, and which need private or external access?
- How will identity be verified at the gateway and authorization enforced by each backend?
- Who owns API products, version compatibility, policy exceptions, and consumer support?
Make APIs easier to secure, discover, and operate.
Discuss API ownership, consumer needs, and backend constraints to define an APIM scope.