Streamlining API Management for TMHighland: A Scalable AWS Solution
Client
TMHighland, a leading property and casualty underwriting agency based in the USA, offers a wide range of specialty risk management solutions, including private flood, fine art, specialty property, real estate investment, and lender-placed insurance.
Enabling technologies
- AWS Elastic Beanstalk
- AWS API Gateway
- Amazon RDS (PostgreSQL)
- AWS ElastiCache (Redis)
Business Challenges
TMHighland faced the challenge of efficiently routing incoming API requests to the appropriate backend services based on the type of API call (Rate, Eligibility/Tax, or Eligibility). Scalability was crucial, given varying levels of demand for each API. Seamless integration with external services such as Bing, USGS, and Athenium, as well as internal services like the rate engine and Python application, was essential. Robust security measures were crucial to safeguard sensitive data handled by the APIs and prevent unauthorized access.
Solutions Delivered
Bourntec leveraged AWS API Gateway as the central entry point for all incoming API requests. API Gateway provided the necessary routing capabilities to direct requests to the appropriate backend services based on the type of API call. Utilizing API Gateway’s integration capabilities, Bourntec configured endpoints to connect with external services such as Bing, USGS, and Athenium, as well as internal services including the rate engine and Python application running on Elastic Beanstalk. API Gateway was configured to route incoming requests based on the API type, directing Rate API calls to the rate engine, Eligibility/Tax API calls to relevant external services and internal processes, and Eligibility API calls to the Python application. Bourntec deployed their Python application and rate engine on AWS Elastic Beanstalk, integrating with Amazon RDS for data storage. This architecture provided scalability and reliability for the application backend. To optimize performance, Bourntec utilized a Redis cluster on AWS ElastiCache for caching frequently accessed data, reducing latency and load on the backend services.
Results
AWS API Gateway effectively routed incoming API requests to the appropriate backend services based on the type of API call, ensuring seamless functionality and optimal resource utilization. The use of AWS services such as API Gateway, Elastic Beanstalk, and RDS allowed TMHighland’s architecture to scale dynamically in response to varying levels of demand, ensuring consistent performance under load. API Gateway facilitated smooth integration with external services and internal processes, enabling TMHighland to provide comprehensive flood risk assessment and insurance services. API Gateway’s built-in security features, combined with AWS IAM policies and VPC configurations, ensured that TMHighland’s APIs and data remained secure against unauthorized access and potential threats.