Introduction to AWS Security Services – Microsoft AWS

Application programming interfaces (APIs)

APIs are the linchpins in a microservices architecture, acting as the front door to your microservices. They serve as the essential connectors that facilitate seamless interactions between different services and external consumers. Their adaptability allows them to be consumed by a diverse array of clients, including web browsers, mobile apps, and third-party services, making them indispensable in modern software architectures.

One of the standout features of APIs is their ability to hide the underlying programming complexity. They offer a simplified interface that allows developers to interact with a system without getting entangled in the intricacies of inter-service communication. This abstraction enables developers to focus more on building features and less on the complexities of network protocols or data serialization.

In addition to their role as facilitators of communication, APIs also serve a vital function in security. They often act as a secure frontend that exposes your backend services to consumers. By functioning as a secure proxy, they ensure that only authorized requests can access the backend services. This is particularly important for maintaining the security and integrity of a microservices architecture. When integrated with AWS services such as API Gateway, they offer additional layers of security such as authentication, rate limiting, and data validation.

The following figure (Figure 6.8) shows how an API can be used to allow various types of clients to communicate with a microservice using the HTTP protocol:

Figure 6.8 – API-enabled communication with microservices

API Gateway

Amazon API Gateway is a comprehensive, fully managed service that streamlines the process of creating, deploying, and managing APIs. In a microservices architecture, it serves as a robust frontend, handling a multitude of tasks associated with processing API calls. These tasks range from traffic management and authorization to access control and monitoring. In the following image, some of the key features and functionalities that make API Gateway indispensable in a secure microservices environment can be seen.

The following diagram (Figure 6.9) illustrates API Gateway implementation in a microservices environment:

Figure 6.9 – API Gateway implementation