In the midst of dynamic application development, the concept of API scalability is one of the essential elements for success. In order to improve scalability, web/API monitoring is required. So how can you scale up without compromising on security? Check out the explanation below. 

What is Scalability?

Scalability in the field of application development is a multi-faceted concept, which is at the core of the architecture and long-term viability of the application. Scalability refers to an application’s ability to handle increased workloads efficiently and effectively, without compromising on performance or user experience. This increase comes from a surge in the number of users, data growth, or an increase in transaction volume. 

Key Aspects of Scalability

In an application, scalability should consider factors such as:

  • User growth: how well the application performs as the user base grows, especially in handling concurrent users. 
  • Data volume: the ability of the app to manage increasing amounts of data, which includes user data, transaction records, or multimedia content. 
  • Feature expansion: as apps evolve, new features and functions are often required. Applications can be scaled to integrate enhancements smoothly. 
  • Cross-platform efficiency: scalability takes care of performance across different platforms and devices.

Types of Scalability

The dimensions of scalability are divided into 2, namely:

  • Horizontal Scalability

Horizontal scalability involves expanding capacity by connecting multiple hardware or software entities so that they can work together as a single unit. When applications scale horizontally, it may involve adding more servers to manage the load. 

Horizontal scalability tends to be easier to implement and more flexible for application development, as it allows scaling of resources according to demand. 

  • Vertical Scalability

On the other hand, vertical scaling means increasing the capacity of an existing system or server, such as updating a server with a larger hard drive or more memory. Often, this is limited by the fact that the system can only be upgraded to a certain extent. 

Why is Scalability Important?

Scalability is more than just a technical specification, it is a critical component that benefits from:

1. Improves User Experience

Scalability ensures that the app continues to work fast and responsively, even when used by many people at the same time. Therefore, scalability is important to maintain user satisfaction. The slightest delay can be very disappointing. 

2. Supports Business Growth

Scalable applications can easily adapt according to market demand. Whether there is a change in the number of users or you need to add a new feature, scalability can implement it without much difficulty. 

3. Long-term Sustainability

Scalability is able to prepare an application for long-term use. Scalability ensures that as technology advances and user habits change, the application can also evolve without the need for a complete redevelopment. Scalable applications have longer sustainability because they use resources more efficiently. 

How to Improve Application Scalability

API scalability and performance can be improved without compromising on security in the following ways:

1. Use Caching and Pagination

Caching is the technique of storing frequently accessed data in temporary storage, such as memory or disk, to reduce the number of requests to the original data source. Caching can improve API performance by reducing latency, bandwidth, and server load. Make sure to use secure protocols such as HTTPS and SSL to keep the caching process safe. 

Meanwhile, pagination is a technique that divides large data sets into smaller chunks, or pages, that can be requested and sent incrementally. Pagination can improve API scalability by reducing the amount of data transferred and processed at once, as well as improve user experience by providing faster feedback. 

2. Optimize Query and Response 

Queries and responses are core components of any API, as they determine how data is requested and transmitted between the client and server. Optimizing queries and responses can improve API performance and scalability by minimizing the amount of data exchanged and processed. 

To optimize query and response, it is necessary to balance flexibility and efficiency, and ensure data security and integrity. It is also important to use appropriate data formats and compress and decompress data using standard algorithms. 

3. Apply Rate Limiting and Throttling

Rate limiting and throttling are techniques that control the frequency and volume of requests that an API can handle. Rate limiting and throttling can improve API scalability by preventing overload, congestion, or misuse of API resources. 

However, speed throttling and throttling also affect the availability and usability of the API and may lead to user dissatisfaction. To implement them effectively, throttling and throttling should use reasonable and transparent policies, such as quotas, and clearly communicate them to users. 

4. Use Authentication and Authorization

Authentication and authorization are techniques that verify the identity and permissions of users accessing the API. Authentication and authorization can improve API security by preventing unauthorized or malicious access, and ensuring data confidentiality and integrity. However, authentication and authorization can also introduce complexity and burden to API design and implementation, and affect API performance and scalability. 

In order to use authentication and authorization effectively, it is necessary to use standardized and secure protocols and apply them consistently and correctly across API endpoints. Be sure to use encryption to protect sensitive data, such as passwords, tokens, etc. so that they can be stored securely. 

5. Test and Monitor the API

The last method involves API monitoring. Testing and monitoring are essential practices for any web and app development project. They are especially important for API performance and scalability. Testing and monitoring can help identify and address issues or bottlenecks that may affect API functionality, reliability, and security, 

However, testing and monitoring also require planning, tools, and resources, and may involve some tradeoffs between quality and speed. To effectively test and monitor APIs, proper methods and metrics are required. For example, unit testing, integration testing, load testing, as well as measuring response time error rate results or API availability. 

In addition, make sure the API monitoring tool you use provides data collection and analysis features as well as feedback from testing and monitoring. That way, it can be used to improve API performance and scalability. Improving API scalability cannot be separated from the use of trusted and reliable monitoring tools. Use trusted monitoring solutions such as Netmonk from Telkom Indonesia for satisfactory results. It has been used by various large companies in Indonesia, just check the Netmonk website to check more info.