Application Integration | Security

[Bassant_Tharwat]

Hi,

I have a question regarding the application Integration. What are the available ways to invoke or execute the created integrations for example, we can create an Apigee proxy and use it to invoke the integration, or use "projects.locations.integrations.execute" API to do so. do we have any other options? And what are the best practices to secure the create integrations, what are the recommended authentication and authorization methods to be used to secure the Integration.

[coleen]

Hi @Bassant_Tharwat, 

When it comes to executing integrations, there are quite a few methods you can use beyond just the Apigee proxy or the projects.locations.integrations.execute API. Here are some other options that might work for you:

• Cloud Functions: You can set up a function that triggers your integration in response to events, like HTTP requests or messages from a Pub/Sub topic.
• Cloud Scheduler: Use Cloud Scheduler to kick off integrations at scheduled times. 
• Event-Driven Architecture: Leverage Google Cloud Pub/Sub or Cloud Events to trigger integrations based on specific happenings in your system or other connected systems.
• Google Cloud Workflows: Create workflows to orchestrate your integrations and link multiple services together, making it easier to handle complex execution flows.

Here are some best practices about securing those integrations:

• Authentication Methods:
  • OAuth 2.0: Use OAuth 2.0 to secure your APIs and integrations, especially when handling user data or third-party connections.
  • API Keys: For internal applications, API keys can be handy, but make sure they’re managed securely.

• Authorization Methods: Assign IAM roles to users and service accounts to control who can access your integrations.
• Network Security: Take advantage of VPC Service Controls to create a security perimeter around your GCP resources, helping to reduce the risk of data exfiltration.
• Encryption: Always encrypt your data, both in transit and at rest. You can use Google-managed encryption keys or even customer-managed keys for sensitive data.

I hope the above information is helpful.