Akana API Management vs Layer7 API Management comparison

Akana helps businesses accelerate digital transformation by securely extending their reach across multiple channels – mobile, cloud and Internet of Things. Akana enables enterprises to share data as APIs, connect and integrate applications, drive partner adoption, monetize their assets, and provide intelligent insights into their business and operations.

Layer7 API Management is an API management suite that provides industry-leading API products. The solution consists of an API Gateway, an API Developer Portal, and a Live API Creator. Layer7 API Management enables organizations to test and monitor in real time in both development and production environments. It can be implemented as a

SaaS, on-premises, or hybrid solution.

Some of the solution’s main capabilities include API strategy and design, API and microservice creation, testing and publishing, microservice orchestration, and mobile & IoT development.

Layer7 API Management Features

Layer7 API Management has many valuable key features:

• Securely integrate and govern APIs at scale
• Cloud, mobile, and social connectivity 
• Self-service API publishing 
• Searchable catalog of APIs
• Military-grade security certifications
• Integrated web, mobile, and XML firewalling
• Advanced SAML, OAuth, and XACML identity and access capabilities
• Backend SOA connectivity (across databases, applications, mainframes, and middleware)
• Protocol transformation from legacy to REST and JSON

Layer7 API Management Benefits

Some of the biggest advantages the solution offers include:

• Security: Layer7 API Management gives you protection against threats and OWASP vulnerabilities. In addition, it helps you control access with single sign-on and identity management, providing end-to-end security for applications, mobile, and IoT.

• Data access: Layer7 API Management provides data integration, application logic, and a robust API, giving you access to all data you may need.

• Mobile access: With Layer7 API Management, you can securely connect smart devices and mobile applications easily. 

• Scalability: Layer7 API Management can dynamically scale up or down, enabling your organization to achieve high performance via throttling, prioritization, caching, and routing. 

Reviews from Real Users

Below are some reviews and helpful feedback written by Layer7 API Management users.

Ewan S., API Technical Lead at Sanlam, says, “The Gateway is extremely flexible, which was one of the big plus sides. The capability to extend the Gateway functionality into reusable components is a big plus for us. A big win for CA was the expertise of the local country support plus having support staff on site in a matter of hours, if required."

An IT / Enterprise Architect, IT Consultant at a consultancy mentions that the most valuable aspect of the solution is “The ability to control the web services. Actually what it is being mostly used for is to control the access. Most of the access is being controlled through IP filtering, IP whitelist. In addition to that, we are moving slowly towards using more client certificates. It impresses me as a product because it never goes down. It always does what it is supposed to do.”

PeerSpot user Arpit A., Enterprise API Architect at Al-Futtaim Group, comments, "The solution fills our two most important concerns in seeking an API solution by providing a reliable gateway and security options." He goes on to add, “Layer7 is the most important step in our Application Modernization strategy. We envision to create an Open Architecture which allows us to adapt to ever-changing market needs. It is a key enabler in decoupling the core applications from the digital channels thereby giving us the flexibility to build the plug n play architectural landscape.”

An Assistant Consultant at a computer software company explains, “The solution allows developers to create more advanced security policies.”