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API for VDR – Existing Types of Integrations

API testing is an integral part of the software product development process. This article will talk about software architecture and consider what an API is in general and what API is for data room software.

What is API?

Previously, the phrase “API integration” was known only to a certain circle of people directly working with the application programming interface. Now, when data and communication technologies, such as CRM systems, electronic data rooms, virtual IP telephony, and many others, have touched almost all business spheres, this abbreviation is growingly heard by office workers and their managers, whose specialization is not directly connected to programming.

Thus, an API (application programming interface) describes how one computer program can interact with another. It allows you to quickly deploy advanced functionality without writing additional modules or individual scripts. The API answers the question “how can I access the system?” and includes:

  • the operation we can perform;
  • data that is received as an input;
  • output data (data or error message).

What do APIs and modern business have in common?

It would seem, what is the connection between commercial activities and the application programming interface. Of course, there is no direct connection, but the direct use of the API to integrate various applications, programs, Web sites, etc., in doing business provides several advantages, such as:

  • integration of the website of an online store or another commercial Internet resource with mobile applications, desktop programs, and online services;
  • integration of IP telephony with CRM, data rooms, and other valuable systems for collecting and using customer data, telephone statistics, call forwarding, call recording, etc.

Most modern operating systems have a built-in API. It allows developers to create software that will interact with a specific OS. Moreover, APIs for graphical interfaces make it possible to use programs with the same user interface and greatly simplify the development of new ones. APIs allow you to use features in other software, so you don’t need to reinvent them because you’re using code known to be verified and works appropriately. In the case of non-open source tools, they provide programmers with information on how to enable certain functionality without having to provide information on how the process is performed internally.

API for VDR: what are the peculiarities?

In many business projects, standard security such as SSL encryption of the transmission is not enough. Therefore, the virtual data room (VDR) solution offers a wide range of security measures, such as two-factor authentication for access, integrated virus protection for all stored documents, and built-in device management. The secure VDR combines easy handling with consistent security. But companies tick differently and have additional requirements in many areas. Many VDR vendors have a programming interface for this, with which the functions of the data room can be enhanced. So, how does it work?

In a current project, a company combines the digitization of documents with the secure archiving of documents in the data room. The API offered makes it possible to automate the scanning process of a document so that the digital copy ends up directly in the correct data room. Technically, the scanner sends the documents as PDF files to an email address that is assigned to a data room. The documents are automatically encrypted there and thus securely archived. The document name generated by the scanner is the file name in the VDR. If there is already a document with the same name, versioning is carried out automatically.

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