The role of an API gateway in platform engineering

API gateways play a crucial role in platform engineering by safeguarding various types of APIs, which are essential for automation and self-service software delivery capabilities. As the use of APIs in organizations continues to grow, with 92% of organizations maintaining or increasing their investment in APIs, the need for robust protection against data breaches becomes increasingly vital. An API gateway serves as a management service that provides a unified entry point for API calls, handling tasks such as authentication, protocol mediation, analytics, and caching. It is essential for platform engineers to leverage API gateways to protect internal, public, and third-party APIs by managing access, enforcing rate limits, and enhancing security. By doing so, they help prevent unauthorized access and mitigate the risks associated with leaked API keys, thereby maintaining the integrity and security of the organization’s digital assets.