From API-last to API-first: A Digital Transformation Story

When a mid-sized sports equipment retailer with both physical and online presence decided to modernize their operations by migrating to a cloud-based ERP system, they didn't expect to uncover a critical security vulnerability that was costing them thousands of dollars in unnecessary compute resources. This is their journey from being an API-last to an API-first company, and how TypeAuth helped them secure their digital transformation.

The Challenge: Growing Pains in Digital Transformation

The transformation began when the retail company's technical team realized they were losing money without even knowing it. Their migration to a new ERP system had exposed them to risks they hadn't considered before.

The journey began when they decided to consolidate their operations under a single cloud-based ERP system. Their legacy setup, which involved multiple disconnected systems, was becoming increasingly difficult to maintain and was holding back their growth plans.

The Unexpected Crisis

Within weeks of launching their new ERP integration, the company started experiencing unusual patterns in their system performance. Their API endpoints were being hammered with requests, causing their cloud costs to skyrocket and their ERP system to slow down dramatically during peak hours.

The technical team discovered that bad actors had identified their API endpoints and were directly accessing their product inventory and pricing systems. Competitors were scraping their entire catalog every few minutes, while others were running automated price comparison tools against their API.

The numbers were alarming:

• 60% of API calls were from unauthorized sources

• Cloud costs increased by 300% in the first month

• Average API response time degraded from 200ms to 2s

• Customer satisfaction dropped by 15%

The TypeAuth Solution

After evaluating several solutions, the team implemented TypeAuth to secure their API infrastructure. The implementation process followed three key phases:

1. Authentication Profile with Token Rate Limit

curl --request POST \
  --url https://api.typeauth.com/{account_id}/authentication/create \
  --header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  --data '{
  "name": "Authentication ERP 1",
  "ratelimit": { 
    "limit": 50, // limit each token to 50 requests per timeWindow
    "timeWindow": 60 // 1 minute
  },
  "keyType": "token",
  "byteLength": 32
}'

2. Application profile

curl --request POST \
  --url https://api.typeauth.com/{account_id}/applications/create \
  --header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  --data '{
  "name": "ERP API",
  "domain": "api",
  "originHostname": ".......",
  "auth_id": "1fdfaEgT_vdf$fdsafd",
  "detailResponse": false,
}'

The Results

Within just one month of implementing TypeAuth, the team saw dramatic improvements:

• Unauthorized API access dropped to nearly zero

• Cloud costs decreased by 70%

• API response times returned to normal levels

• Customer satisfaction improved by 20%

The implementation of TypeAuth didn't just solve their security problems; it transformed how the organization thinks about API infrastructure. They're now building new features with an API-first mindset, knowing they have the security infrastructure to support it.

Key Learnings

• Start with Security: Don't wait for a crisis to implement API security measures

• Monitor Everything: Implement comprehensive monitoring to catch unusual patterns early

  
  

• Choose Flexible Solutions: Select tools that can grow with your business needs

  
  

• Education is Key: Train your development team on API security best practices

Looking Forward

The retail company is now expanding their e-commerce operations with confidence. They're launching a mobile app and partner integration program, all built on their secure API infrastructure.

Getting Started

If your organization is considering a similar transformation, here are the key steps to get started with TypeAuth:

1. Audit your current API usage and security measures

2. Identify potential vulnerabilities and access patterns

3. Implement TypeAuth with a phased approach

4. Monitor and adjust based on real usage data

For more information about implementing TypeAuth in your organization, visit our documentation or contact our team for a consultation.

Remember: In today's digital landscape, being API-first isn't just about technology—it's about building a secure foundation for your business's future growth.