API Audit

Validate that APIs meet organizational, technical, and legal standards before publishing.

Outcomes

• APIs meet internal and external standards

Related metrolines

• API Design Line
• Publishing and Adoption Line

Why it matters

APIs are long-lived products and need to meet quality, consistency, and compliance expectations. Audits reduce risks, prevent defects from reaching production, and support external certifications.

Entry criteria

• The API architecture uses patterns that promote reusability and integration, and is validated with stakeholders.
• The API’s design and endpoints have a clear connection to their business value and features.
• The API and its endpoints have descriptions that explain their business value and features.
• API has a consistent design with our other API products.
• The API contract is tested and meets functional and non-functional requirements.

Exit criteria

• The API passes compliance, security, and audit checks.
• Audit reports are shared with stakeholders.
• The API is ready to be published to the appropriate gateways and environments to support reusability for multiple API consumers.
• API documentation is complete and ready for publishing.

How it works

1. Conduct audits to ensure APIs meet organizational, technical, and legal standards before publishing.
   API Audit Checklist A comprehensive checklist to verify API readiness before publishing, covering design, documentation, security, and policy compliance.
2. Use checklists, linters, and testing tools to verify consistency and conformance with standards.
   API Compliance Best Practices Ensure APIs meet legal, regulatory, and internal compliance through documentation, controls, and automated validations.
3. Collaborate with governance teams and domain experts to ensure APIs are ready for production.

Apply in your work

Create governance frameworks and tools for validating API compliance, performance, and security. Monitor that APIs meet the validation criteria.