Unlocking the Power of Private API Gateways with Jitterbit

In an increasingly connected world, securing and controlling your API infrastructure is more critical than ever. Enter the Private API Gateway — a robust solution for organizations that prioritize security, control, and performance. When combined with Jitterbit's API Manager, a private API gateway offers unparalleled benefits for managing and processing API calls securely and efficiently.

What is a Private API Gateway?

A Private API Gateway is an API management solution hosted within a private network. Unlike cloud-based gateways, it operates on your own infrastructure, giving you full control over API processing, security, and traffic management. This gateway handles all the essential tasks involved in API management, including:

• Traffic Management

• Authorization and Access Control

• Rate Limiting

• API Payload Processing

You can deploy a private API gateway on Linux servers or as a Linux-based Docker container, making it flexible and adaptable to different IT environments.

Why Choose a Private API Gateway?

Opting for a private API gateway brings several compelling advantages over traditional cloud-based gateways:

1. Enhanced Security with Internal Networks
   The private API gateway operates behind your organization's firewall, ensuring that sensitive API data remains within your internal network and is not exposed to the public internet.

2. Complete Control Over Infrastructure
   You control the hardware and software environment of the gateway, allowing you to meet specific compliance standards and tailor the setup to your company’s needs.

3. Improved Payload Security
   Since API response payloads never pass through Jitterbit's cloud systems, the risk of data interception is significantly minimized.

4. Custom Domain Configuration
   You can configure the API endpoint URL to use a subdomain of a domain name you control, enhancing brand identity and security. Alternatively, third-party tools like Cloudflare or DNS proxies can be used for custom domain routing.

System Architecture of a Private API Gateway

Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of how a Private API Gateway operates within Jitterbit’s ecosystem:

1. API Call Initiation
   An API consumer sends a request to an API hosted on the private API gateway.

2. Authentication and Access Control
   The private API gateway references cached security profiles and API metadata to authenticate the request. If access is denied, the gateway returns an appropriate HTTP status code to the API consumer.

3. Routing the Request
   Upon successful authentication, the API request is forwarded to the messaging service, which directs it to the appropriate agent group.

4. Operation Execution
   The private agent processes the request by executing the operation defined in the custom API configuration.

5. Generating the API Response
   The operation returns an API payload formatted according to the selected response type.

6. Finalizing the Response
   The private API gateway retrieves the response payload from the private agent, sets the final HTTP response and status, and sends it back to the API consumer.

7. Logging and Monitoring
   Runtime status and logs are sent to the transaction logs database for monitoring and troubleshooting. Note that consumer data is only stored in logs if debug mode is enabled.

Key Considerations for Private API Gateways

• Firewall Configuration
  If your private API gateway is behind a firewall, ensure that you allow list the necessary Jitterbit services to maintain seamless operation.

• Payload Retention
  Unless using Temporary Storage, API response payloads remain on the private agent for up to two days and on the gateway for no longer than 15 seconds.

• Secure Debugging
  While enabling debug mode helps with troubleshooting, be cautious as it stores consumer data in the transaction logs database.

Benefits at a Glance

• Data Sovereignty: Keep sensitive data within your own network.

• Customizable Environment: Tailor the API gateway to meet specific business and compliance needs.

• Enhanced Performance: Reduce latency by processing API requests locally.

• Greater Control: Manage traffic, access control, and rate limiting with precision.

Conclusion

A Private API Gateway offers a powerful solution for organizations seeking to secure and optimize their API infrastructure. By leveraging Jitterbit’s API Manager alongside a private gateway, businesses can ensure robust security, seamless control, and superior performance. Whether you’re handling sensitive financial data, managing healthcare records, or integrating enterprise systems, a private API gateway provides the flexibility and security you need to stay ahead in the digital landscape.

Empower your API management with Jitterbit's Private API Gateway — Secure, Control, and Optimize your API ecosystem.