IT Industry Insights and Tips

latest post

Apr 07, 2026

20 min read

Designing a Robust API Layer with AWS API Gateway for Microservices

AWS systems often get complicated in a quiet way. Nothing looks broken at first. A few endpoints become a few more. One Lambda turns into several. Then containers, private services, and internal routes start piling up behind the scenes. That is usually the point where direct access to backend services stops being a clean idea. Authentication gets scattered. Traffic control becomes uneven. Observability suffers because requests are no longer entering through one clear layer. A dedicated API layer solves that problem before it spreads further. On AWS, API Gateway often becomes that layer. It gives teams one place to manage how traffic comes in, how access is enforced, and how backend services stay protected as the system grows. Why Growing AWS Backends Need a Proper API Layer Many AWS systems do not become difficult all at once. The complexity builds slowly as new endpoints, Lambda functions, and internal services are added over time. At the beginning, letting clients connect more directly to backend services can feel simple enough. The problem is that this simplicity does not last. Once the architecture starts to grow, teams need a clearer way to manage how requests enter the system. This is where AWS API Gateway for microservices becomes more than just a routing tool. It gives the system a single entry point instead of forcing every backend service to handle the same cross-cutting concerns on its own. Without that layer, authentication rules often end up scattered across different services, and traffic policies start to drift from one endpoint to another. Logging and monitoring also become harder to standardize because requests are no longer passing through one consistent control point. Over time, the backend becomes harder to govern, even if each service still works on its own. A proper API layer helps solve that by centralizing the parts of the system that should not be reimplemented again and again. Routing, access control, throttling, and request visibility can all be managed in one place rather than copied across Lambda functions, containers, or private services. That does not remove flexibility from the backend. It usually does the opposite, because individual services are free to focus on business logic instead of repeating infrastructure responsibilities. As the system grows, that separation becomes one of the main reasons the architecture stays maintainable. The Three Main API Types in Amazon API Gateway Choosing the API type early matters more than it may seem. In practice, this decision affects latency, cost, configuration complexity, and how much control the team has at the API layer. Amazon API Gateway offers three main options: REST API, HTTP API, and WebSocket API. They are not just different formats for exposing endpoints. Each one is built for a different kind of backend behavior and a different level of operational control. REST API REST API is still the most feature-rich option in API Gateway. It is the version teams usually choose when they need tighter control over how requests are validated, transformed, secured, and managed before they reach the backend. That is especially useful in systems where the API layer is expected to do more than simple routing. If request validation, mapping templates, usage plans, or API keys are important parts of the design, REST API remains the stronger fit. It makes more sense for enterprise APIs or public-facing systems where policy control at the gateway needs to be more detailed. That said, REST API should not be treated as the default just because it offers more features. In many cases, those extra capabilities come with more configuration overhead, higher latency, and higher cost. A backend does not automatically become better because the API layer is more complex. REST API is most useful when the system genuinely depends on advanced request transformation or stricter control mechanisms. Without that need, it can add weight that the architecture does not really benefit from. HTTP API HTTP API was introduced to simplify many of the use cases that did not need the full weight of REST API. Its configuration is leaner, its latency is lower, and its cost is usually more attractive for modern application backends. It supports JWT authorizers, Lambda authorizers, and direct integration with Lambda or HTTP backends, which already covers a large share of real production needs. For many web and mobile applications, that is enough. In practice, HTTP API is often the more sensible choice when the goal is to expose backend services cleanly without adding unnecessary complexity at the gateway. This is why so many AWS teams now start with HTTP API instead of REST API. Most application backends do not need heavy mapping templates or more advanced API management features from day one. They need a fast, affordable entry point that works well with serverless functions and standard HTTP services. HTTP API fits that role well because it keeps the API layer focused on the essentials. Unless the architecture clearly requires deeper control, it is usually the better starting point. WebSocket API WebSocket API serves a different purpose from the other two. It is designed for real-time, two-way communication rather than standard request-response traffic. That makes it a good fit for chat systems, live notifications, or applications where the server needs to push updates back to the client without waiting for a new request each time. In those cases, a normal HTTP-based flow is often not enough. WebSocket API gives the architecture a better model for handling persistent, event-driven interactions. In AWS environments, WebSocket API is often combined with services such as Lambda and EventBridge to publish or consume events across the system. That makes it useful in event-driven architectures where updates need to move quickly between users, services, or connected clients. Still, it should only be used when the product actually needs real-time behavior. If the backend only handles conventional API calls, WebSocket API adds a communication model that may be unnecessary. Its value becomes clear only when live interaction is a real part of the application experience. REST API HTTP API WebSocket API Main purpose Build RESTful APIs with richer control features Simple HTTP APIs optimized for lower latency and lower cost Two-way real-time communication Protocol HTTP / HTTPS HTTP / HTTPS WebSocket Configuration complexity High Low Medium Latency Higher Lower than REST API Depends on connection state Cost Highest Lower Based on connections and messages Mapping templates Full support No VTL support No Authorization IAM, Cognito, Lambda Authorizer JWT, Lambda Authorizer, IAM IAM, Lambda Authorizer Usage plans / API keys Yes No No Integration backend Lambda, HTTP endpoint, AWS services, VPC Link Lambda, HTTP endpoint, ALB/NLB, VPC Link Lambda, HTTP endpoint Typical use cases Complex public APIs, enterprise APIs Backends for web and mobile apps Real-time chat, notifications How API Gateway Connects Requests to the Right Backend One of the core jobs of API Gateway is sending each request to the right backend. That matters even more when one AWS system is no longer built on a single runtime model. Some requests may go to Lambda, others to container-based services, and others to private internal applications. API Gateway sits in front of them as one entry layer and keeps that routing consistent. This helps the external API stay stable even when the backend behind it becomes more complex. Lambda integration In serverless architectures, Lambda integration is usually the most common pattern. A client sends a request to API Gateway, the gateway forwards it to the right Lambda function, and the response is returned back to the client. The flow is simple, but it gives the system a cleaner separation of roles. API Gateway manages how requests enter the system, while Lambda handles the business logic behind each route. That makes the backend easier to scale and organize as more functions are added. ALB and service-based backends When the backend runs on containers or virtual machines, API Gateway is often placed in front of an Application Load Balancer. In that setup, the request passes through the gateway first, then moves to the ALB and the services behind it on ECS, EKS, or EC2. This is useful because teams still get one controlled API entry point even when the backend is not serverless. The gateway can handle request-level concerns before traffic reaches the application layer. That creates a cleaner boundary between API exposure and service deployment. Private backends with VPC Link Some backend services should not be exposed through direct public endpoints at all. In those cases, API Gateway can connect to them through VPC Link. This allows requests to reach services inside private subnets without making those services public on the internet. The pattern is especially useful for internal tools, protected business services, and systems that need stricter network boundaries. It gives teams a safer way to expose selected functionality while keeping the backend itself private. Why the API Layer Should Own Access Control and Traffic Rules As AWS systems grow, access control becomes harder to manage when each backend service handles it in its own way. One service may validate tokens differently, another may apply looser rules, and a third may not enforce the same traffic limits at all. That kind of inconsistency usually does not show up in the first version of a system, but it becomes a problem once more services are added. Putting those controls at the API layer creates a cleaner model. It gives the architecture one place to decide who can access what, how requests should be limited, and how incoming traffic should be observed. Authorizers and access control API Gateway is well suited for that role because it can enforce authentication and authorization before the request ever reaches the backend. This reduces duplicated logic across Lambda functions, container services, or internal applications. It also makes policy changes easier to manage because teams do not need to update every service separately whenever access rules change. In practice, the gateway often becomes the first line of enforcement for API traffic. That keeps backend services focused on application behavior instead of repeating the same security checks over and over again. The authorization model can also be chosen based on how the system actually works. Common options include: IAM authorization for internal AWS service-to-service communication JWT authorizers for web and mobile applications Lambda authorizers for custom logic such as tenant permissions or subscription checks IAM authorization is often used when AWS services need to sign requests through Signature Version 4. For web and mobile applications, JWT authorizers are usually the more natural choice, especially when the system already uses Amazon Cognito or another OIDC-compatible identity provider. Lambda authorizers are useful when access decisions depend on custom rules such as tenant permissions, subscription plans, or API key validation against a database. In production, caching becomes especially important for Lambda authorizers because it helps reduce repeated Lambda invocations and keeps authorization latency under better control. That makes custom authorization more practical without turning it into a performance bottleneck. Throttling and access limits Controlling traffic volume is just as important as controlling who gets access. Once an API is exposed to the internet, the backend needs protection from traffic spikes, abusive usage, and uneven request patterns across different clients. API Gateway helps enforce those limits before requests reach the application layer, which is exactly where that protection is most useful. Without it, backend services are forced to absorb the impact directly. Over time, that creates unnecessary pressure on systems that should be focused on handling application logic instead. This is also where API Gateway becomes useful from a product and operations perspective. Teams can apply account-level throttling to cap total request volume, stage-level throttling to control traffic by environment, and usage plans with API keys when different clients need different quotas. That last option matters most in public APIs, where not every consumer should be treated the same way. A team may want one limit for internal users, another for free-tier clients, and a higher quota for paid customers. The API layer makes that structure easier to enforce without pushing quota logic into the backend itself. Logging, metrics, and observability API Gateway is not only a routing layer. It is also one of the most useful observation points in the entire API path. Because requests pass through the gateway before reaching backend services, it gives teams a central place to monitor traffic behavior and detect problems early. This is especially valuable in distributed systems, where request flow is harder to track once traffic starts moving across multiple services. A strong API layer improves not only control, but also visibility. That makes it easier to understand how the system is performing under real usage. API Gateway integrates with CloudWatch to provide logs and operational metrics. Teams commonly monitor: Request count Latency Integration latency Error rate Throttled requests These metrics help surface backend errors, latency spikes, and traffic anomalies much faster. In microservices architectures, another important best practice is propagating a request ID from API Gateway down to backend services. When each request carries a consistent identifier, tracing it across multiple services becomes much easier, especially when combined with distributed tracing tools. For delivery teams like Haposoft, this kind of visibility matters in real projects because a system that is easy to observe is also much easier to debug, stabilize, and improve over time. What Good API Gateway Design Looks Like A good API Gateway setup is usually one that stays under control as the backend grows. The gateway should handle routing, access control, throttling, and only the level of request transformation that is actually needed. That boundary matters because API layers tend to become messy when too much logic is pushed into them too early. Mapping templates can still be useful, especially when older clients need to stay compatible or when request payloads need a small adjustment before reaching the backend. But once that transformation starts carrying real application logic, the better choice is usually to move it back into the backend service. In practice, this is less about theory and more about design discipline. A team that understands AWS backend delivery will know when HTTP API is enough, when REST API is worth the extra control, when a Lambda integration is the right fit, and when a private backend should stay behind VPC Link instead of being exposed more directly. The same applies to authorizers, throttling rules, and request tracing. These are the kinds of decisions that shape whether an API layer stays clean six months later or turns into something difficult to debug and maintain. That practical side of architecture work is where Haposoft adds value, because building the API is only one part of the job; making sure it still works cleanly as the system evolves is the harder part. Conclusion As AWS backends grow, API Gateway becomes the layer that keeps routing, access control, backend integration, and traffic visibility from spreading across the system. The point is not to make the gateway do more, but to keep it responsible for the right things. That is where real implementation experience matters. From choosing the right API type to structuring integrations and keeping the gateway maintainable, the quality of those decisions has a direct impact on how stable the backend will be later. Haposoft helps teams build AWS API architectures with that long-term view in mind.

Mar 16, 2026

20 min read

Why Australian Companies Build Offshore Development Teams in Vietnam

Australia’s technology sector continues to expand as businesses invest more in software, cloud infrastructure, AI, and cybersecurity. Gartner forecasts that IT spending in Australia will reach AU$147 billion in 2025, while public cloud spending alone is expected to hit A$26.6 billion. That tells us one thing very clearly: Australian businesses are not slowing down their digital investment. At the same time, building software teams locally in Australia has become increasingly difficult. The issue is no longer just about budget. It is also about speed, access to talent, and the ability to scale engineering capacity when projects need to move quickly. This is why more Australian companies are looking at offshore development teams as a practical way to keep delivery on track. Challenges Australian Companies Face When Hiring Developers Australia’s technology sector has grown rapidly over the past decade and has become one of the key pillars of the national economy. The industry contributes roughly $194.5 billion to GDP, equivalent to about 9.2% of Australia’s total GDP. At the same time, national IT spending continues to rise, with total technology expenditure expected to reach around A$147 billion annually. Businesses across industries are increasing investments in software, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity. This rapid expansion has significantly increased the demand for software developers and technical talent. The growth of Australia’s tech ecosystem also contributes to this rising demand. The country now has more than 27,000 active technology startups, supported by a strong venture capital environment and a growing digital economy. Major companies such as Atlassian, Canva, and Airwallex have helped position Australia as an important innovation hub in the Asia–Pacific region. Technology companies, startups, and traditional enterprises are all competing for the same pool of engineering talent. As digital transformation accelerates across sectors, the need for skilled developers continues to grow faster than the local labor supply. Severe tech talent shortage Although Australia’s technology workforce has already exceeded 1 million workers, demand for skilled engineers continues to grow. Industry projections indicate that the country may need around 1.3 million technology professionals by 2030 to support ongoing digital transformation and innovation. This gap affects many technical roles, including software engineers, data specialists, and cybersecurity professionals. As more companies build digital products and platforms, competition for experienced developers becomes increasingly intense. The result is a persistent talent shortage across the technology sector. High developer salaries Another major challenge for Australian companies is the high cost of hiring software engineers locally. Technology jobs are among the highest paid positions in the country, with salaries significantly above the national average. The table below illustrates typical salary ranges for software developers in Australia. Role Average Salary (AUD/year) Junior Software Developer 70,000 – 90,000 Mid-level Software Developer 95,000 – 110,000 Senior Software Engineer 120,000 – 150,000+ DevOps / Cloud Engineer 120,000 – 160,000 For startups and mid-sized companies, building a full in-house engineering team can quickly become a major operational expense. In addition to salary costs, companies must also consider recruitment fees, benefits, and onboarding time. The hiring process itself is often lengthy, as companies compete for a limited pool of experienced engineers. Product Teams Are Under Pressure to Ship Faster At the same time, many Australian companies are under pressure to accelerate product development. Startups need to launch minimum viable products quickly in order to secure funding and enter the market. Established businesses are also investing heavily in digital transformation, building internal platforms, customer applications, and data systems. These projects often create large development backlogs that internal teams cannot handle alone. As a result, companies increasingly look for ways to expand engineering capacity without slowing down delivery timelines. Why Vietnam Is a Top Offshore Destination for Australian Companies Cost Efficiency with Competitive Engineering Talent One of the main reasons Australian companies build offshore development teams in Vietnam is the significant cost advantage. Hiring software engineers locally in Australia is expensive, with salaries for mid- to senior-level developers often exceeding A$100,000 per year. When recruitment fees, office space, benefits, and operational overhead are included, the total cost of maintaining a development team becomes even higher. For many startups and mid-sized companies, building a large in-house engineering team can quickly become financially difficult. As a result, companies increasingly explore offshore options to manage development costs more effectively. Vietnam provides a strong cost-to-quality balance for software development. Development costs are typically 40–60% lower than hiring developers in Australia, even when project management and infrastructure are included. Despite the lower cost, Vietnamese engineers are highly capable in modern technologies such as React, NodeJS, Java, Python, cloud platforms, and mobile development. Many development teams also have experience working with international clients and agile workflows. This combination allows companies to reduce costs without sacrificing technical quality. Convenient Time-Zone Overlap with Australia Another important advantage of working with Vietnam is the convenient time-zone alignment between the two countries. Vietnam is typically 3–4 hours behind Australia, depending on the state and daylight-saving period. This relatively small difference allows teams in both locations to share several hours of working time during the same day. Daily stand-ups, sprint planning meetings, and technical discussions can take place without scheduling late-night calls. Real-time collaboration becomes much easier compared with outsourcing destinations in distant regions. The time overlap also improves the overall development workflow between distributed teams. Engineers in Vietnam can continue development work during their normal working hours while Australian teams are offline. When Australian teams start the next working day, they can immediately review completed tasks and provide feedback. This creates a continuous development rhythm that keeps projects moving forward. Faster feedback cycles help reduce delays and improve overall project delivery speed. Large and Growing Technology Talent Pool Vietnam has developed one of the fastest-growing technology workforces in Southeast Asia. The country currently has more than 650,000 IT professionals, increasing significantly from around 530,000 in 2021. This rapid growth reflects the expansion of the technology sector and the increasing number of graduates entering the industry each year. Universities and technical institutes continue to produce thousands of software engineering and computer science graduates annually. As a result, companies can access a large and continuously expanding pool of engineering talent. Vietnamese developers are also experienced in a wide range of modern technologies used by global software companies. Common technical stacks include React, NodeJS, Java, Python, .NET, cloud platforms, and mobile development frameworks. Many engineers also work in specialized areas such as data engineering, cybersecurity, and AI development. Over the past decade, outsourcing companies in Vietnam have worked with clients from the United States, Japan, Europe, and Australia. This international exposure helps developers adapt to global development standards and agile workflows. Another advantage is the strong technical education pipeline in the country. Vietnamese universities produce tens of thousands of IT graduates every year, helping sustain long-term workforce growth. Many younger developers also have improving English communication skills, which supports collaboration with international clients. This combination of technical training and global project experience makes Vietnam an increasingly attractive destination for software outsourcing. For Australian companies, it ensures that offshore teams can be built with reliable and scalable talent. Strong Communication and Cultural Compatibility Another factor that supports successful offshore collaboration between Australia and Vietnam is the relatively strong cultural and communication compatibility between teams. Many Vietnamese developers, especially younger engineers, have good English proficiency and are familiar with working in international environments. Over the past decade, Vietnam’s outsourcing industry has worked extensively with clients from countries such as the United States, Japan, and Australia. This exposure has helped development teams adapt to global workflows, including agile methodologies, sprint-based delivery, and structured project reporting. Professional working culture also plays an important role in long-term partnerships. Vietnamese engineering teams are generally comfortable working within defined processes, meeting delivery timelines, and maintaining regular communication with overseas clients. These factors reduce the risk of coordination problems that sometimes appear in distributed teams. As a result, Australian companies can integrate offshore developers more easily into their existing engineering teams and project management structures. Government Support for the IT Industry Vietnam’s rapid growth as a global software outsourcing destination is supported by long-term government policies aimed at developing the digital economy. The government has launched several national strategies to accelerate digital transformation and expand the technology sector. One of the most important initiatives is the National Digital Transformation Program to 2025 with a vision to 2030, which prioritizes the development of digital infrastructure, digital businesses, and digital talent. These policies aim to make Vietnam a regional hub for technology services and digital innovation. Strong government direction has helped attract foreign investment and accelerate the growth of the software industry. Government support is also visible in the development of technology parks and innovation zones. Cities such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang host major technology clusters that concentrate software companies, R&D centers, and startup ecosystems. Many international technology companies have established engineering centers in these cities to access Vietnam’s growing talent pool. These clusters help create a strong environment for knowledge sharing, recruitment, and collaboration. For offshore clients, the presence of established tech hubs increases confidence in the stability of the outsourcing ecosystem. Another important factor is the continued expansion of Vietnam’s digital economy. The country’s digital economy has grown rapidly in recent years and is expected to continue expanding throughout this decade. As more Vietnamese companies adopt cloud platforms, AI, and data technologies, the overall technical capability of the workforce continues to improve. This environment strengthens Vietnam’s position as a reliable long-term destination for software development outsourcing. Strong STEM Education Pipeline Vietnam’s technology workforce is supported by a strong and expanding STEM education system. Universities across the country produce a large number of graduates in computer science, software engineering, and information technology each year. Estimates indicate that Vietnam produces around 57,000 IT graduates annually, with plans to significantly increase this number in the coming years. This steady pipeline of new engineers helps maintain the growth of the country’s technology workforce. For outsourcing companies, it ensures a continuous supply of technical talent. In addition to university education, Vietnam has also developed a growing ecosystem of technology training programs and coding academies. Many students participate in practical software development programs while still studying at university. Partnerships between universities and technology companies allow students to gain real project experience early in their careers. As a result, many graduates enter the workforce already familiar with modern development tools and agile workflows. This practical training helps shorten the onboarding process for new engineers. Vietnamese students also perform strongly in international STEM competitions and academic rankings. The country has repeatedly achieved high placements in international mathematics, physics, and informatics olympiads, reflecting the strength of its technical education system. This strong STEM foundation contributes to the analytical and problem-solving skills of many engineers entering the software industry. Over time, these factors help strengthen the overall capability of Vietnam’s technology workforce. For international companies building offshore teams, this creates confidence in the long-term availability of skilled developers. Which Australian companies benefit most from offshore development teams Tech Startups Building MVPs and SaaS Products Technology startups are among the most common users of offshore development teams. Australia currently has more than 27,000 active technology startups, supported by a strong venture capital ecosystem and growing digital economy. Many early-stage startups need to build MVPs, SaaS platforms, or mobile applications quickly in order to test their products and attract investment. However, hiring local engineers can be difficult due to high salaries and limited talent supply. Offshore development teams allow startups to build products faster while keeping development costs under control. Digital Agencies That Need Delivery Capacity Digital agencies are another group that frequently rely on offshore development teams. Agencies often manage multiple client projects at the same time, including website development, mobile applications, and digital platforms. However, maintaining a large in-house engineering team can be expensive and difficult to scale when project demand fluctuates. Offshore development teams allow agencies to add engineers quickly when new projects arrive. This helps agencies expand delivery capacity without permanently increasing their internal headcount. SMEs Undergoing Digital Transformation Small and medium-sized enterprises in Australia are also increasingly investing in digital transformation. Many businesses are developing CRM systems, internal platforms, mobile applications, or data dashboards to improve operations and customer experience. However, these companies often lack large internal IT teams capable of delivering complex software projects. Outsourcing development allows them to access skilled engineers without building a full internal development department. This approach helps SMEs adopt digital technologies more efficiently while controlling project costs. Enterprises Extending Engineering Capability Large enterprises also benefit from offshore development teams when expanding engineering capacity. Many companies operate complex technology systems that require continuous development, modernization, and maintenance. Projects such as cloud migration, system modernization, and large-scale software development often require additional engineering resources. Instead of recruiting large numbers of developers locally, enterprises can extend their internal teams with offshore engineers. This model allows them to accelerate major technology initiatives while maintaining operational flexibility. How Haposoft Supports Australian Companies Haposoft is a Vietnam-based software development company that works with international clients to build and extend engineering teams. Based in Hanoi, Haposoft provides offshore engineers who work directly with the client’s product team. Instead of acting as a separate outsourcing vendor, the engineers integrate into the client’s development workflow and contribute to ongoing product development. Haposoft has delivered projects for international clients across web platforms, cloud infrastructure, and AI-based applications. Many of these systems run on AWS and support real production environments rather than short-term prototype projects. For Australian startups, SaaS companies, and digital agencies, this model makes it easier to continue building products while keeping the core team focused on product direction and business growth. Need a more scalable way to grow your development team? Contact Haposoft to explore an offshore team model for your Australia-based projects.

Subscribe to Haposoft's Monthly Newsletter

Let’s Talk about Your Next Project. How Can We Help?