API Platform
API Platform Architecture & Management
I design API platforms as governed product infrastructure — secure, observable, versioned, and scalable across teams, tenants, and clusters.
Typical outputs
A blueprint your team can implement: gateway architecture, governance rules, and a safe rollout plan.
- API gateway reference architecture
- Versioning + deprecation policy
- AuthN/AuthZ and boundary model
- Rate limits, quotas, and policy framework
- Observability & SLA/SLO instrumentation plan
- Migration plan from legacy APIM or ingress-centric setups
When API management becomes a scaling problem
As API surface grows, problems move from routing to governance: compatibility, policy consistency, and security boundaries. API management becomes a platform capability — not a tool choice.
Uncontrolled API evolution
Breaking changes leak into production because versioning, contracts, and deprecation rules aren’t enforced.
Policy inconsistency
Rate limits, auth, and validation are implemented differently across services, gateways, and teams.
Security boundary confusion
Public, partner, and internal APIs mix. Responsibility between gateway, mesh, and app layers is unclear.
No API visibility
You can’t confidently answer who uses which APIs, what breaks SLAs, or where reliability and cost risks are.
What I deliver
The output is implementable architecture and governance: patterns, policies, and a rollout plan that reduces risk and increases delivery speed.
API Gateway & Edge Architecture
A reference design for gateways, routes, and policy placement across environments and clusters.
- Gateway placement (edge vs internal) and traffic boundaries
- Routing strategy and API segmentation (public/partner/internal)
- Rate limiting, quotas, throttling, and request validation model
- Ingress → gateway modernization path (where relevant)
Lifecycle Governance: Versioning & Deprecation
Rules that make API change safe, predictable, and scalable across teams.
- Versioning strategy and backward compatibility rules
- Deprecation policy with timelines and communication plan
- Contract-first practices (OpenAPI/AsyncAPI) and review gates
- Change control patterns for multi-team environments
Security & Identity Boundaries
Clear responsibility split between API gateway, service mesh, and application layers.
- OAuth2/OIDC patterns and token propagation approach
- mTLS responsibilities (mesh vs edge) and zero-trust boundaries
- Policy enforcement for sensitive endpoints and tenants
- Abuse prevention and auditability requirements
Developer Experience & Enablement
APIs scale when they’re easy to discover, test, and consume safely.
- API discovery and documentation model (portal-ready)
- Standard templates for new APIs (routing, auth, policies)
- Consistency guidelines for errors, pagination, idempotency
- Onboarding workflow for internal teams or partners
Observability, SLOs & Operational Control
Instrumentation that makes API performance and reliability measurable and actionable.
- Distributed tracing and request correlation strategy
- API usage metrics, analytics, and SLA dashboards
- SLO definitions for critical APIs and error budgets
- Operational alerting and incident diagnostics patterns
Engagement models
Most teams start with an architecture sprint and then execute with advisory or oversight.
API Platform Architecture Sprint (2–4 weeks)
Deep dive into current state, define target architecture, and create a migration plan.
Output: blueprint + policies + rollout plan
Advisory Retainer
Ongoing guidance as your team implements governance and evolves the platform.
Output: reviews, decisions, standards enforcement support
Implementation Oversight
Hands-on supervision of delivery with your engineers and vendors.
Output: execution alignment, risk reduction, quality gates
FAQ
Is this only for enterprises?
No. Startups benefit early because APIs define the product surface. The governance can be lightweight — but it must exist.
Do you implement API gateways too?
Yes. I can deliver architecture-only (blueprint + standards) or architecture plus hands-on implementation/oversight to ensure policies and boundaries are executed correctly.
Which tools do you work with?
Commonly: Kubernetes ingresses, APIM, NGINX, and cloud-native gateway patterns. Tool choice depends on governance needs, latency requirements, and team maturity.
How does service mesh fit in?
Service mesh secures east–west traffic. API gateways govern north–south exposure. A good design defines clear responsibilities and avoids overlapping policy layers.
Make your APIs scalable — with governance, not guesswork
If your API surface is growing and management is becoming a bottleneck, I can help you design an API platform that stays secure, observable, and evolvable.