Unlocking the Power of Azure APIM Named Values using Terraform: A Step-by-Step Guide

Azure API Management (APIM) is a robust platform for managing APIs, and one of its powerful features is named values. Named values allow you to store and manage sensitive information, such as API keys, database connections, and other configuration settings, in a secure and centralized manner. In this article, we’ll explore how to create and manage Azure APIM named values using Terraform, a popular infrastructure-as-code tool.

What are Azure APIM Named Values?

Azure APIM named values are key-value pairs that can be used to store and retrieve sensitive information. They are stored in the APIM instance and can be used across multiple APIs, products, and subscriptions. Named values are encrypted and stored securely in Azure, making them an ideal solution for managing sensitive information.

Benefits of Using Azure APIM Named Values

Using Azure APIM named values provides several benefits, including:

• Centralized management: Named values can be managed and updated centrally, reducing the complexity of managing multiple configuration settings.
• Security: Named values are encrypted and stored securely in Azure, reducing the risk of sensitive information being compromised.
• Flexibility: Named values can be used across multiple APIs, products, and subscriptions, making it easy to reuse configuration settings.

Creating Azure APIM Named Values using Terraform

To create Azure APIM named values using Terraform, you’ll need to follow these steps:

1. Install Terraform: If you haven’t already, install Terraform on your machine. You can download the latest version from the Terraform website.
2. Configure Azure Provider: Configure the Azure provider in Terraform to connect to your Azure subscription. You can do this by creating a `provider` block in your Terraform configuration file:

provider "azurerm" {
  version = "2.34.0"
  subscription_id = "your_subscription_id"
  client_id      = "your_client_id"
  client_secret = "your_client_secret"
  tenant_id      = "your_tenant_id"
}

Create an Azure APIM Instance

Before creating named values, you’ll need to create an Azure APIM instance. You can do this by creating a `resource` block in your Terraform configuration file:

resource "azurerm_api_management" "example" {
  name                = "example-apim"
  resource_group_name = "example-resource-group"
  location            = "West US"
  sku_name           = "Developer"
}

Create Azure APIM Named Values

Once you have an Azure APIM instance, you can create named values using the `azurerm_api_management_named_value` resource:

resource "azurerm_api_management_named_value" "example" {
  name                = "example-named-value"
  api_management_name = azurerm_api_management.example.name
  resource_group_name  = azurerm_api_management.example.resource_group_name
  value               = "example-value"
}

In this example, we’re creating a named value called `example-named-value` with a value of `example-value`. You can update the `value` attribute to set the value of the named value.

Managing Azure APIM Named Values using Terraform

Once you’ve created named values using Terraform, you can manage them using Terraform’s state management features.

Updating Azure APIM Named Values

To update a named value, you can simply update the `value` attribute in your Terraform configuration file:

resource "azurerm_api_management_named_value" "example" {
  name                = "example-named-value"
  api_management_name = azurerm_api_management.example.name
  resource_group_name  = azurerm_api_management.example.resource_group_name
  value               = "updated-example-value"
}

Run `terraform apply` to update the named value.

Deleting Azure APIM Named Values

To delete a named value, you can use the `terraform destroy` command:

terraform destroy azurerm_api_management_named_value.example

This will delete the named value and remove it from your Terraform state.

Best Practices for Using Azure APIM Named Values with Terraform

When using Azure APIM named values with Terraform, follow these best practices:

Best Practice	Description
Use secure values	Use secure values, such as encrypted strings or Azure Key Vault references, to store sensitive information.
Limit access	Limit access to named values by using Azure RBAC and APIM permissions to restrict access to authorized users and services.
Use meaningful names	Use meaningful names for your named values to make it easy to understand their purpose and usage.
Document usage	Document the usage of named values in your APIM instance to ensure that they are used correctly and consistently.

Conclusion

In this article, we’ve explored how to create and manage Azure APIM named values using Terraform. By following the steps and best practices outlined in this article, you can leverage the power of named values to simplify your API management and improve security. Remember to always use secure values, limit access, and document usage to get the most out of Azure APIM named values.

With Terraform, you can manage your Azure APIM named values in a consistent and repeatable way, reducing the complexity of managing sensitive information. By using Terraform to manage your Azure APIM instance and named values, you can focus on building and delivering high-quality APIs that meet your business needs.

Frequently Asked Question

In this section, we’ll dive into the world of Azure APIM named values using Terraform, answering the most pressing questions and providing you with a deeper understanding of this powerful combination.