Should You Host Public APIs on a Separate Server? Best Practices and Strategies

In the realm of modern SaaS development, separating core components often leads to more scalable and manageable architectures. One common scenario involves splitting the API layer from the front-end interface, especially when there’s an intention to enable third-party developers to build upon or extend your platform.

If you’re contemplating exposing your API to external developers, a crucial question arises: should you create a dedicated, separate endpoint—such as api.example.com—that exists independently of your internal API used for web and mobile applications? Or is it better to keep everything on a single API layer?

Key Considerations for Public API Deployment

• Isolation and Security: Hosting your public API on a separate instance can provide an added layer of security. It allows you to implement more granular access controls, monitor traffic more effectively, and mitigate potential threats targeting your core services.

• Scalability: Public APIs often experience unpredictable or elevated traffic. Deploying them on a dedicated environment ensures that your internal APIs and primary services remain unaffected by external load.

• Maintenance and Versioning: Separate endpoints facilitate independent version management. You can roll out updates or deprecations to your public API without risking disruptions to internal systems.

• Performance Optimization: Tailoring infrastructure specifically for public consumers—including caching strategies, rate limiting, or even specific data transformations—can enhance performance and reliability.

Implementation Strategies

• Dedicated Subdomain: Creating a subdomain like api.example.com for your public API provides clear separation and branding. It simplifies access management and can streamline DNS and SSL configurations.

• Different Hosting Environments: Depending on your architecture, hosting the public API on a different server, container, or cloud service might be advantageous, especially if you anticipate high usage volumes or need distinct security policies.

• API Gateway and Management: Employing an API gateway or management platform helps in routing, monitoring, and controlling access, regardless of whether the API shares a server with internal services or is hosted separately.

Final Thoughts

Deciding whether to serve your public API on a separate instance isn’t a one-size-fits-all decision. It hinges on your specific needs around security, scalability, and maintenance. However, for many SaaS providers aiming to foster a developer ecosystem or extend their platform, isolating public APIs on a dedicated endpoint or environment often proves beneficial in ensuring robustness and flexibility.

If you’re planning to offer API access to external