What type of API provides secure access to backend systems?

The type of API that provides secure access to backend systems is the System API. System APIs are designed to act as an interface between the application layer and the backend services, databases, or legacy systems. They encapsulate the complexity of the underlying systems, ensuring that they can be accessed securely and consistently. By providing a controlled entry point, System APIs manage authentication, authorization, and data access, thus safeguarding the backend systems from direct exposure.

In essence, System APIs are built specifically to abstract the details of backend implementation, allowing for secure communication while adhering to the principles of API-led connectivity. This doesn't just enhance security, but also promotes reusability and scalability in the architecture by standardizing how applications interact with backend data sources.

Other types of APIs, such as Process APIs and Experience APIs, serve different purposes within the API-led architecture. While they play critical roles in data transformation and providing tailored experiences to end-users, they do not directly handle secure access to the backend systems like System APIs do.