Integration challenges do not end once an API is built. The real test lies in how that API behaves in diverse, multi-system environments where security, latency, and data consistency must be carefully managed. In a recent webinar, Adaptigent Sales Engineer Matt Lauer walked through how Adaptive Integration Fabric supports real-world API use cases—ranging from public cloud services to internal mainframe transactions—while maintaining control over traffic flows, orchestration, and access boundaries.
Watch the full segment here
This portion of the session breaks down the architectural model and tooling behind the platform’s ability to ingest existing APIs, interface with private and public cloud systems, and operate as a secure, centralized hub for runtime processing.
Extending API Usage Across Systems
The example begins with a foundational point: once an API is constructed in Fabric, its applications go far beyond simple front-end or mobile integration. Fabric APIs can serve as dynamic interfaces between internal systems and a wide variety of third-party platforms. As long as the external system exposes an API endpoint, it can be brought into a Fabric-designed orchestration flow.
This includes integration with:
- Partner ecosystems
- Commerce platforms
- Industry-specific systems with open API models
- Cloud-based services such as AWS or Salesforce
The runtime design of Fabric enables these systems to participate in data flows without requiring custom development or direct access to sensitive infrastructure. API calls originating from external platforms are first received by Fabric Server, which acts as the entry point into the runtime environment. From there, the request is routed to internal services, mainframes, or application logic as defined by the orchestration.
Leveraging OpenAPI Definitions Within Fabric
A key benefit demonstrated in the clip is Fabric’s ability to incorporate existing OpenAPI specifications. Many commercial and public APIs already publish machine-readable specifications describing available endpoints, methods, authentication models, and payload structures. Fabric’s orchestration engine can directly ingest these documents and generate corresponding connectors that become usable components within the broader integration flow.
This eliminates the need to rebuild integrations from scratch. Teams can import an OpenAPI document, map it to their data model, and immediately begin using the external API as part of a fully managed transaction flow. This also allows for consistent implementation of security policies, rate limiting, and logging across both imported APIs and internally built services.
Runtime Security Between Cloud and Internal Systems
One of the most important concepts highlighted in this section is the role Fabric plays as a boundary layer between cloud platforms and internal environments. The diagram shown in the webinar emphasizes this distinction, with Fabric Server positioned between the public cloud and private enterprise systems.
External requests first reach Fabric Server, which operates within a hardened runtime container. From there, the traffic is evaluated, transformed if needed, and passed into the protected internal systems only after meeting defined validation criteria. This architecture allows organizations to expose select functionality to the outside world without placing internal systems at risk.
Once inside the Fabric runtime, the request can invoke additional internal APIs, complete multi-step transactions, or access mainframe resources through secure connectors. The orchestration logic is fully visual and controlled by configuration, allowing teams to make updates quickly without code rewrites or deployment cycles.
Real-World Flexibility Without Sacrificing Control
Matt closes this segment by noting that these capabilities allow Fabric to serve as a centralized integration hub across any mix of internal and external systems. Whether a transaction is initiated from a mobile device, an external partner, or a scheduled batch job, Fabric can receive the request, validate it, and route it intelligently based on business logic and system availability.
The flexibility of the platform lies in its ability to handle hybrid environments with minimal effort. This includes calling back-end services like CICS and IMS, as well as interfacing with REST APIs hosted by cloud vendors. All of this is done while preserving a clean separation between public interfaces and private systems, with Fabric managing communication on both sides.
Learn more about Adaptive Integration Fabric