Introduction

Is your API management strategy designed and developed for the future, or are you still relying on legacy systems, slowing your business down? APIs ensure continuous communication and digital transformation by connecting applications, services, and data seamlessly. However, traditional API management platforms like Apigee Edge fail to keep up with growing technologies, scalability, security, and performance demands. 

If your business still relies on Apigee Edge, then it’s time for an Apigee Edge to Apigee X migration. Apigee X is the updated version of the Google Cloud API management platform. It is designed to enhance automation, security, and analytics to help businesses improve API efficiency. 

Businesses are afraid to migrate to Apigee X due to the fear of losing data, system downtime, and reconfiguration challenges. We help you accelerate the migration process of NeosAlpha Apigee Migration Accelerator. 

This blog will help you understand the difference between Apigee X vs Apigee Edge and why you must opt for migration to future-proof your API management strategy.

Understanding Apigee X and Apigee Edge

What is Apigee Edge?

Apigee Edge is a comprehensive Google Cloud API management platform. It acts like an intermediary layer between your backend services and applications that consume the API. It is designed to develop, secure, monitor, and scale your APIs. Instead of directly exposing your backend systems, you can create API proxies in Apigee Edge. 

Key Features of Apigee Edge:

• API Proxy Management
  Apigee Edge simplifies the challenges of backend services and makes APIs easily consumable. Businesses can create API proxies that abstract their backend services. Without disturbing API consumers, it allows you to evolve your backend system with features like traffic management, request/response transformations, and routing, which are central to this capability.
  

• Security Policies & Monitoring
  Protect your APIs with Apigee’s pre-built and customizable security policies. These policies include authentication, authorisation, threat protection, and traffic management. Businesses can proactively identify and resolve API issues by analyzing API traffic, performance, error rates, and developer consumption insights.
  

• On-premises, Cloud, and Hybrid Deployment
  Apigee Edge can be deployed in all environments, on-premises, cloud, and hybrid. It allows you to align your API management infrastructure with your IT strategy and regulatory requirements. 

What is Apigee X?

Apigee X is Google Cloud’s next-generation API management platform. It is specially designed to address the demands and needs of the modern digital landscape. Features like cloud-native architecture make it more evolved and reliable than its predecessor, Apigee Edge. Apigee X is a more agile and intelligent way to effectively manage APIs and connect with applications, partners, and customers. 

Advanced Features of Apigee X:

• Cloud-Native Architecture (Kubernetes-Powered): Apigee X runs on Kubernetes, providing seamless scalability and resilience. It effortlessly handles high traffic and dynamic workloads without manual intervention.

• Enhanced Security with Google Cloud Armor: It helps you protect APIs against DDoS attacks and vulnerabilities using Cloud Armor’s advanced rule sets and threat intelligence. Centrally manage API security policies across your Google Cloud environment.

• Google Cloud Integration: You can easily integrate it with services like Cloud Run, App Engine, and Cloud Functions. Leverage Google Cloud’s IAM for secure, centralized API access and control.

• Advanced Analytics with BigQuery & AI: Gain deep insights into API performance using BigQuery and Google’s AI/ML tools. Create custom reports, run large-scale analytics, and enable predictive, automated responses.

Key Difference Between Apigee Edge vs Apigee X

Apigee X is the advanced and more reliable Google Cloud API management platform. Its cloud-native architecture and flexibility allow businesses to scale without worrying about API control and data security.

Here are the key differences between Apigee X vs Apigee Edge-

Feature	Apigee Edge	Apigee X
Architecture	Older, more complex architecture	Modern, simplified, cloud-native architecture
Deployment	On-premises, cloud, or hybrid	Cloud (GCP) and Hybrid
Scalability	Scalability can be achieved, but since this is legacy architecture, it’s not as easy as Kubernetes.	Built to run on Kubernetes, Apigee X can dynamically respond to varying traffic patterns, offering a resilient and responsive API experience
Security	Provides all foundational security, but robust security features	Apigee X has enhanced security, offering integration with Google Cloud Armor, which defends APIs against DDoS and other external threats.
Analytics	Provides analytics and monitoring capabilities	Integrated with Google’s BigQuery, Apigee X allows advanced data analytics, enabling actionable insights from vast API traffic data.
Integration	Integrates with various systems	Seamless integration with Google Cloud services, and also comes with Application integration IPaaS for application integration capabilities
Pricing	Different pricing models based on deployment and usage	Simplified pricing based on usage
Integration Capability	Apigee Edge is a pure-play APIM platform.	Apigee X is also a pure-play APIM platform. However, it comes with deep integration with Google IPaaS and application Integration for system-to-system integrations.
Product Roadmap	It is no longer sold as a product for new customers. Apart from Migration to Apigee-X, no product roadmap is available for Apigee-Edge.	Apigee X is a strategic platform within the API domain and a pivotal tool in data and AI integration.

Why Migrate from Apigee Edge to Apigee X?

Apigee Edge has served as a robust API management platform for years, and now Apigee X is the new and modern face with the capabilities for the evolving technological landscape. Staying on Apigee Edge will limit your ability to scale and innovate based on market demands. 

Key Limitations of Apigee Edge

• Limited Support: Google’s primary focus is migrating customers to Apigee X, and there is limited support for Apigee Edge. There will be hardly any new features or significant enhancements, and the Apigee support portal has also changed. Even community support is shrinking, making finding an expert or relevant use case difficult.

• Outdated Architecture: Apigee Edge relies more on traditional monolithic architecture, which makes scaling complex and resource-intensive. You need to scale the entire platform even if the load is increasing on specific parts, which increases operational costs.
  Developing and deploying new features on Apigee Edge is time-consuming and risky. Businesses need to work on multiple components to adapt to new technologies and integrate them with modern cloud applications on tightly coupled architectures.

• Roadmap Constraints: As Google Cloud focuses on Apigee X, there are hardly any new features and upgrades available for Apigee Edge. While Google keeps providing security patches and stability updates for some time, businesses relying on Apigee Edge might miss:
  Apigee Edge will not likely keep up with technological changes like cloud services and AI/ML capabilities.
  Also, businesses using Apigee Edge face limitations in handling growing API traffic and demand.

• Challenges in Integrating Modern Cloud Services: Apigee Edge does offer some level of cloud integration, but it is not architected to accommodate all modern cloud services and applications. Challenges of integrating modern cloud services using Apigee Edge:
  Required complex configuration and custom development to integrate Apigee Edge with modern technologies and services like serverless functions, data analytics platforms, and AI/ML engines.
  Poor performance when interacting with cloud-native applications and solutions. Additionally, due to integration limitations, businesses might miss out on leveraging the full potential of modern cloud innovations to enhance their API.

Apigee X is the Future of API Management

Apigee X is the evolution of Google Cloud API management services. It is designed on cloud native architecture, offering high scalability and resilience, while deep integration with Google’s ecosystem to unleash advanced security, data analytics, and the benefits of modern digital transformation. 

With Apigee X migration, businesses can future-proof their API strategy with minimum downtime and disruption. 

Strategic Importance of Adopting Apigee X

Google has made significant investments in Apigee X to make it the future API management platform and an essential Data and AI integration tool. Today, the digital evolution is based on Artificial Intelligence, and businesses must harness its power. APIs leverage data and AI to drive value and enable monetisation. 

Businesses can generate revenue from their data and insights by adopting Apigee X’s robust and built-in monetisation capabilities. Google’s thought leadership and forward-thinking vision to provide the most updated API management platform are visible in the Apigee X capabilities. 

Key Benefits of Apigee X

Apigee X is the most updated version of Google Cloud API management, with capabilities to scale your business and use advanced features like AI, ML, etc. 

• Future-Proof Your API Infrastructure for Unpredictable Growth

  Apigee X simplifies how your business scales and manages API traffic growth with unpredictable spikes. The cloud-native and Kubernetes architecture ensures quick scalability while maintaining performance and avoiding disruption to ongoing operations. Now, businesses can scale without worrying about investing in infrastructure and maintaining API management.

• Strengthen Your Security Posture Against Evolving Threats

  Enhance your API security and protection with Google Cloud Armor against sophisticated threats. Apigee X offers more robust and global security solutions to address all your concerns about API vulnerabilities and the need to meet security compliance.

• Unlock the Power of Your API Data
  

  Leverage the vast amount of data flowing through your APIs to gain in-depth business insights, provide personalized customer experiences, and predict future trends. Google Cloud’s AI, ML, and data analytics services with Apigee X make data insights more accessible.

• Accelerate Your Innovation Cycles and Improve Development Efficiency

  New API upgrades were quite a challenge in Apigee Edge. With Apigee X migration, organizations can quickly release new API-driven products and services. Also, Apigee X enhanced API lifecycle management and automation capabilities with advanced tools and features. This reduces time to market and fosters an agile approach to API development.

Key Considerations Before Migrating from Apigee Edge to Apigee X

Migrating from Apigee Edge to Apigee X is a strategic shift that requires careful evaluation and planning. Before initiating the transition, organizations should address several key factors to ensure a successful and disruption-free migration.

• Evaluate the Existing API Ecosystem
  

  Begin with a comprehensive assessment of your current API infrastructure. Analyze API usage patterns, traffic volumes, and dependencies to determine how the migration might impact operations. This insight helps in scoping the project and identifying high-priority assets.
  

• Compare Feature Sets

  Apigee X introduces architectural and functional changes compared to Apigee Edge. Conduct a feature comparison to identify gaps or enhancements affecting your existing workflows. This ensures you preserve all critical functionality in the new environment.
  

• Allocate Resources and Upskill Teams

  Effective migration requires adequate planning and resource allocation. Assign experienced personnel to the project and ensure they receive training on Apigee X’s architecture, deployment models, and capabilities. This reduces friction during the transition.
  

• Develop Backup and Recovery Strategies

  Risk mitigation is essential. Create reliable backup procedures for configurations, policies, and data. Establish contingency plans to allow rollback or swift resolution of any migration-related issues, thus safeguarding service continuity.

Structured Approach to Apigee Edge to Apigee X Migration

A phased, methodical approach can help manage the complexity of the migration and align outcomes with business goals.

Phase 1: Strategic Planning

Set the stage for a seamless migration by clearly defining objectives, improving performance, achieving scalability, or leveraging modern features. Create a detailed roadmap outlining timelines, milestones, and team responsibilities to guide execution.

Phase 2: Pre-Migration Readiness

Prepare your systems and teams before initiating the transition:

• Backup Existing Assets: Secure all API configurations, custom policies, and routing rules.
• Validate Target Environment: Ensure the Apigee X environment is configured correctly and meets all operational requirements.

Phase 3: Migration Execution

Execute the migration in a controlled and incremental manner:

• Transfer API Assets: Migrate API proxies, policies, and configurations, ensuring compatibility with Apigee X.
• Perform End-to-End Testing: Validate the functionality, performance, and security of APIs in the new environment through rigorous testing.

Phase 4: Post-Migration Stabilization

Focus on optimizing the new setup and enabling smooth adoption:

• Implement Monitoring and Tuning: Use Apigee X’s monitoring tools to observe API performance and fine-tune configurations for efficiency.
• Support and Training: Provide hands-on training for development and operations teams, along with documentation and helpdesk support to resolve issues promptly.

Why Choose NeosAlpha for Apigee X Migration?

Apigee X migration can be a complex process. It depends on evaluating readiness, configuring the configuration, and ensuring minimum downtime and disruption. With years of Apigee design and development expertise, we have built NeosAlpha Migration Accelerator to simplify and automate the migration process, providing a fast, reliable, and structured path to Apigee X.

• Expertise in Legacy Systems Integration: One of the most common challenges during migration is ensuring compatibility with the existing backend system. To address this, we conduct thorough assessments of your existing backend systems. This helps us identify potential compatibility issues and implement robust integration strategies.
• Automated Configuration Migration: Apigee Edge accumulates many configurations over time, and manually transferring them to Apigee X is time-consuming and prone to errors. We automate the transfer of your Apigee Edge configuration, minimize the risk of errors, and accelerate the migration process. Our tool intelligently transforms your API proxies, policies, and configurations.
• Zero Downtime Migration Strategies: Downtime during migration can be a nightmare for businesses relying on APIs for their critical operations and revenue systems. Our migration approach will ensure minimal downtime by focusing on phased rollouts and comprehensive testing in parallel environments. While transitioning to Apigee X, we maintain the stability of your Apigee Edge setup. 

Key Features of NeosAlpha’s Apigee Migration Accelerator

Our Apigee Migration Accelerator features ensure that Apigee X migration is done without disrupting ongoing operations with minimal downtime. 

1. Automated Migration Process

Automating the key migration process, Apigee Migration Accelerator reduces the dependency on manual efforts while minimizing the risk of errors. This approach ensures an effortless transition of policies, configuration, and resources directly to Apigee X.

2. RAG Report for Migration Assessment

The RAG report assesses an organization’s readiness to migrate from Apigee Edge. This report helps to understand the time, resources, and support required during migration. Businesses can proactively identify potential issues and resolve them to avoid downtime. RAG report includes:

• Red – Areas that required modifications before migration
• Amber – Components that can be fixed with minor adjustments
• Green – Workflows that are ready for migration without any changes

3. Customizable Migration Pathway

Our Apigee Migration Accelerator is built to address an organization’s unique needs and requirements. It can easily handle specific policies and custom configurations and meet the enterprise’s needs during migration.

4. Expert Support and Guidance

We offer comprehensive support during the migration. From the initial RAG assessment to post-migration testing, we guide you through every stage and ensure that each migration is aligned with best practices and compliance requirements and optimized.  

Conclusion

Shifting from Apigee Edge to Apigee X is an upgrade of your existing API management platform and a strategic move towards scalability, security, and innovation. Businesses are adopting cloud-native technologies and infrastructure, and staying on legacy APIs can limit your growth among competitors. 

Apigee X ensures you are future-ready with the latest API management platform, advanced analytics, AI-driven insights, and deep integration with Google Cloud services.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why should my business migrate from Apigee Edge to Apigee X?

Apigee Edge is a robust API management solution that fails to meet the growing demand and scale with growing businesses. Apigee X is built on Google Cloud with a cloud-native architecture designed to scale with advanced analytics for better API insights. Apigee Edge requires manual scaling and infrastructure management, whereas Apigee X can be scaled automatically natively with Google Cloud. Apigee X migration will save costs, enhance security, and ensure long-term reliability.

2. How long does migrating from Apigee Edge to Apigee X take?

There is no fixed timeline, as migration to Apigee X depends on multiple factors, such as the compatibility of your existing API ecosystem, the number of APIs, custom configurations, and the need for automation. Small-scale migration might take a few weeks, and for larger enterprises, it might take several months. However, our Apigee Migration Accelerator and understanding the difference between Apigee Edge vs Apigee X significantly reduces migration time by streamlining API reconfiguration and testing.

3. What are the costs associated with migrating to Apigee X?

The cost of migrating from Apigee Edge to X depends on the scale of operations, the number of APIs, data transfer volumes, and the requirement for tailored integration. We provide a cost-effective migration with minimum downtime, automation, and post-migration fixes. By designing and developing customised solutions, we ensure you only pay for the required services. Talk to our experts to get a cost-effective solution.

4. How does Apigee X help businesses monetize APIs?

To monetize your APIs, Apigee X offers tailored API pricing models, subscription plans, and usage-based billing. To manage API consumption, you can define API access tiers, apply rate limits, and track API usage in real time. Moreover, organizations can use detailed API analytics to identify high-value APIs, optimize pricing strategies, and create new revenue streams.

5. How to reduce downtime during the migration process?

Businesses should adopt a phased approach by running Apigee Edge and Apigee X parallel to ensure minimal downtime during migration. To prevent disruptions, proactive measures should be taken to identify issues, resolve them, and implement traffic management techniques. Our Migration Accelerator automates API reconfiguration and testing to speed up migration.