Automation is crucial for Managed Service Suppliers (MSPs) to scale their operations to the ever growing calls for of digital enterprise. Automation helps to enhance operational effectivity, mitigate operational danger, cut back prices, and offset the damaging results of complexity. That’s why Cisco emphasizes not solely the product characteristic but additionally its wealthy Software Programming Interfaces (APIs). APIs assist MSPs to simply automate and seamlessly combine merchandise into their current operations platforms. The new Umbrella APIs are primarily based on OpenAPI Specification (OAS), a normal that gives an enhanced expertise for MSPs.
The brand new Umbrella APIs present MSPs with the next advantages:
- Extra use instances and workflow automation
- Enhanced safety
- Unified API key authentication
- Simple API key administration
- Unified API KeyAdmin Dashboard
Extra use instances and workflow automation
MSPs can now generate a number of distinctive API keys for every use case or process. Previously, a corporation might have just one API key per kind, which compelled MSPs to share API keys. This limitation required MSPs so as to add a number of use instances. The brand new Umbrella APIs present extra flexibility, accelerating the method to automate and streamline workflows, cut back labor-intensive handbook duties, and eradicate pricey delays. Utilizing the brand new Umbrella KeyAdmin Interface, MSP directors can now create any variety of granular, multi-scoped Umbrella API keys. (See Determine 1 beneath.)
Enhanced safety
Umbrella APIs helps MSPs to rapidly implement their safety integration. The token-based authentication methodology for all sources with granular entry controls for every API key supplies enhanced safety. MSP administration can now customise entry controls for every API key primarily based on want or consumer function. An API key can entry solely the API sources discovered within the API key scopes. Every scope and useful resource can now have both Learn-Solely or Learn/Write entry privileges. As well as, an administrator can configure a lifetime or expiration  time for every new Umbrella API key. (The default is rarely expired.)
Unified API key authentication
Earlier Umbrella API keys for the Administration and Community Gadget varieties had primary authentication, and the reporting kind had token-based authentication. All the brand new Umbrella API keys have the identical OAuth 2.0 shopper authentication and authorization methodology, serving to to cut back confusion. An Umbrella API key and key secret can be utilized to generate an Umbrella API entry token, which might then be included in a request to the Umbrella API.
Simple API key administration
The brand new KeyAdmin API characteristic helps MSPs to provision and handle Umbrella API keys. MSPs can use this characteristic to automate API key creation and administration with out relying on GUIs. MSP administration can generate an Umbrella API entry token after which use that token to create and handle Umbrella API keys.
Summaries and lists of all API keys
The API KeyAdmin dashboard within the Umbrella Managed Companies Console supplies a abstract and checklist of all of the API keys. Auditing for API keys turns into simpler to carry out with this new dashboard. Directors can view all of the assigned APIs, their statuses, and particulars, serving to them make selections rapidly–for instance by having the ability to monitor and take motion in instances when sure APIs haven’t been used for a number of weeks.
Within the pattern abstract proven in Determine 2 beneath, the pink triangle identifies the variety of expired API keys, and the yellow triangle identifies the variety of API keys expiring inside 30 days.
Now it’s really easy for Managed Service Suppliers to implement and enhance their operational effectivity. Contemplate together with Umbrella as a part of your managed safety technique for purchasers.
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Further sources
Study in regards to the Umbrella MSSP program
Study extra about Cisco Cloud Safety API
Be a part of Cisco DevNet as we speak
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