SA on Integration Architecture: Connecting Your System to the World
Every external connection is a failure point, security risk, and architectural decision. Four integration patterns, integration security rules, and the integration architecture documentation delivered on every SA engagement.
How SA Designs Connections Between Systems
Modern software systems connect to payment processors, email providers, AI APIs, mapping services, and communication platforms. Each connection is a potential failure point, a security risk, and an architectural decision. SA designs integration architecture deliberately: choosing the right pattern for each connection, securing every credential, and handling every failure mode before launch.
Choosing the Right Pattern
Synchronous API Call
System calls external API and waits for response before continuing. Used when the result is needed immediately for the user’s current action. Risk: external service slow or unavailable causes the user’s action to fail. Mitigation: timeout handling and graceful error states.
Asynchronous Webhook
The external system calls your system when an event occurs. The most reliable pattern for billing events (Stripe), communication events, and anything triggered by an external actor. SA implements webhooks for all billing events on every project, without exception.
Scheduled Polling
System calls an external API on a schedule to check for updates. Less efficient than webhooks but necessary when the external system does not support webhook events. SA implements as a scheduled backend workflow with an appropriate interval.
Event-Driven Queue
Events published to a queue; other systems subscribe and process asynchronously. The most scalable pattern for high-volume, multi-system integration. SA introduces this only when integration volume specifically justifies the architectural complexity.
How SA Secures Every External Connection
Rule 1
: All credentials server-side, marked Private in API Connector
Rule 2
: Every incoming webhook validates signature header before processing
Rule 3
: Every API call has a succeeded branch AND a failed branch
Rule 4
: Every integration event logged to IntegrationLog data type
// IntegrationLog data type
service
: text (Stripe, SendGrid, OpenAI…)
event_type
: text (checkout.completed, email.delivered…)
status
: option set (Success / Failed / Pending)
timestamp
: date
error_msg
: text (populated on failure)
What SA Delivers for Each Integration
| Section | Content |
|---|---|
| Integration Pattern | Which pattern and why it was chosen over alternatives |
| Authentication Method | How credentials are stored; rotation process |
| Event Catalogue | Every event handled and the system state transition each triggers |
| Failure Modes | What happens when external service is unavailable; graceful degradation |
| Testing Protocol | How each integration is tested; how webhook events are simulated |
| Cost Model | Per-call costs and how usage scales with system growth |
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