1.
Success with APIs
A Checklist

2.
APIs have become essential to
success in the app economy
According to a recent survey of 1,442 IT and business
leaders by Freeform Dynamics, commissioned by CA
Technologies:
• 76% of companies are leveraging APIs for mobile
app development
• 78% for web-based app development
• 74% are opening access to APIs to outside
developers and/or using external APIs in their own
development.

3.
The most successful digital
businesses understand the power of
APIs
2x more likely to leverage APIs for internal development
2.8x more likely to use APIs to enable third party apps
“Things are changing fast. We are looking at exploiting
APIs for both the company’s internal use as well as for our
external customers.”
– large U.S. Telecom

4.
Why? The major drivers of API
programs are business, not technical
• Delivery of new/better customer experiences (85%)
• Lowering IT-related costs and risks (85%)
• Faster delivery of revenue-enhancing
apps/application (84%)
• Extending digital reach (84%)

5.
Most agree on the top challenges,
but progress is slow
• “Critical to API Success”
• “Our Company Has Completed”
• Putting the right infrastructure/tools in place
• 90%
• 36%
• Dealing with security and compliance challenges
• 89%
• 34%
• Formulating a strategy and setting objectives
• 89%
• 40%
• Acquiring the necessary skills within IT
• 88%
• 36%
• Educating senior budget holder and securing funds
• 87%
• 31%
• Recruiting a critical mass of developers into your API program
• 85%
• 28%

6.
A focus on security and
infrastructure is critical
“It very difficult to be able to expose data via APIs to any
device unless you can do so securely.” – large U.S.
Telecom
“We are now starting to investigate if we can expand the
system to manage identities for APIs and data etc. as well
as traditional ‘identities.’ ” – large U.S. bank
As much as possible, we operate using the centrally
defined systems, norms and standards for APIs.” – large
European bank

7.
These four areas with ten enabling
capabilities are critical to API success
• Tools/ processes to prioritize and track API investments
• Coding standards to ensure inherent security of API-enabled
systems
• Tools/ processes to coordinate/manage API
development/publication
• Portal technology to enable API discovery and access by
developers
• Access and identity management tools to ensure secure access
• Techniques to encrypt data where appropriate
• Run-time platform(s) to support API growth and scalability
• Run-time API gateway(s) to enhance performance and security
• Tools to enable rapid identification and fixing of security issues
• Monitoring tools to enable rapid response to performance issues
LIFECYCLE
SUPPORT
CORE
SECURITY
OPERATIONAL
MANAGEMENT
RUN-TIME
ENVIRONMENT

8.
Not all companies are at the same
level of API maturity across all four
areas
LIFECYCLE
SUPPORT
CORE
SECURITY
OPERATIONAL
MANAGEMENT
RUN-TIME
ENVIRONMENT
API Capability
Index
Advanced Basic Limited
CAPABILITY GROUPS
313 respondents 305 respondents 302 respondents

9.
Advanced API users are much more
likely to see significant benefits from
their investment
Delivery of new
& better customer
experiences
Faster delivery of
revenue-enhancing
apps/applications
Exploration of new
business models
Leveraging 3rd party
developer
innovation
Streamlining your
supply and demand
chains
Lowering of IT related
costs and risks
59% 43% 26%
Advanced Basic Limited
61% 49% 23%
Advanced Basic Limited
59% 39% 21%
Advanced Basic Limited
60% 43% 22%
Advanced Basic Limited
65% 41% 25%
Advanced Basic Limited
55% 38% 19%
Advanced Basic Limited
Operational efficiency Competitive advantage Digital disruption
Percent reporting significant benefit

10.
Superior business performance
Compared to their peers with Limited API maturity, those in the Advanced group are several times more likely to be seeing
significant benefit in key areas:
2.3x
Lowering of IT
costs and risks
2.7x
Streamlining supply or
demand chains
2.7x
Delivery of revenue
enhancing software
2.6x
Delivering better
customer experiences
2.8x
Exploration of new
business models
2.9x
Leveraging 3rd party
developer innovation
Operational efficiency Competitive advantage Digital disruption

11.
How do you compare to your peers?
API Checklist for Success
Advanced API users are 2-3x more likely to have implemented these steps.
Assessment, strategy and planning
 Define the value of APIs in business terms
 Formulate a strategy and set objectives
 Educate senior budget holders and secure funds
Preparation and enablement
 Acquire the necessary skills within IT
 Find the right suppliers to provide skills & advice
 Put the right infrastructure and tooling in place
Community outreach and engagement
 Define a developer community support program
 Recruit developers into your API program
Risk management measures
 Deal with security and compliance challenges

12.
Putting the checklist to work
Want to learn how to improve your use of APIs and get
better results?
Download the report “APIs and the Digital Enterprise”
• Download Now
• © 2016 CA Technologies
• Research from a global digital transformation study, Freeform Dynamics and CA
Technologies, 2015