Is the best API governance strategy a boring one?

API governance is crucial for ensuring scalable, secure, and efficient enterprise operations, as highlighted by industry experts such as James Hirst, who has observed a range of governance approaches across diverse sectors. While fast-paced companies often view governance as restrictive, larger organizations like banks and healthcare providers see it as essential due to regulatory pressures. The challenge lies in balancing agility with governance, as companies must decide when and how to implement governance structures to manage API complexity effectively. Successful API governance requires engaging stakeholders and maintaining processes that are understandable, measurable, and easy to report, which can significantly enhance return on investment by reducing total cost of ownership and improving business capabilities. Despite the perception of governance as an overhead, it can drive better ROI when aligned with organizational goals, as demonstrated by companies like Atlassian, which uses governance metrics to improve API integrations. The key to effective governance lies in its integration into development processes and its ability to adapt over time, ensuring that it continues to deliver value without becoming burdensome.