Unauthorized API Call Count Dashboard For Ministry Of Justice

In our constant pursuit of a robust and secure platform for the Ministry of Justice, ensuring complete visibility of the platform's status is paramount. We need to be able to quickly identify and address any issues, and proactively plan for future improvements. This article details the development of a dashboard to display the count of unauthorized API calls within the Ministry of Justice Observability Platform (OP). This initiative aims to provide a clear understanding of the platform's health, enabling timely and effective action.

User Story: Gaining Full Platform Visibility

As part of the Observability Platform (OP) initiative, we want to create a dedicated page that gives us a comprehensive view of the core platform's status. This will serve as a central hub for understanding what needs immediate attention and what requires future planning. Initially, we are focusing on a Red, Amber, Green (RAG) status indicator for the past 24 hours (or more), along with an indication of whether the situation has improved or worsened, and a precise count of specific events.

Our initial focus is on tracking the sum of unauthorized API calls. By monitoring this metric, we can quickly identify potential security threats, misconfigurations, or unexpected usage patterns. This proactive approach is crucial for maintaining the integrity and reliability of our systems. Think of it, guys, like a health check for our digital infrastructure! We need to know if things are running smoothly or if there are any red flags popping up.

The Importance of Visibility

Having improved visibility into the platform's status allows us to understand whether things are improving or degrading. This understanding allows us to take the appropriate actions, preventing minor issues from escalating into major incidents. For instance, a sudden spike in unauthorized API calls could indicate a potential security breach, while a consistently high number might suggest a need for better user authentication or authorization mechanisms. The value here is not just about seeing the numbers, it's about understanding the story they tell and reacting accordingly.

Defining the Scope: Time Frame and Metrics

The first step was to agree on the time frame for monitoring. We decided to start with the last 24 hours, but with the flexibility to extend this period as needed. This allows us to see both recent trends and longer-term patterns. The key metric, of course, is the count of unauthorized API calls. This provides a quantitative measure of potential security or access control issues. It's like having a speedometer for our system's security – we need to keep an eye on it to make sure we're not speeding (or, in this case, vulnerable).

Value and Purpose: Proactive Platform Management

The core purpose of this dashboard is to provide improved visibility into the platform status, enabling us to understand if things are improving or degrading. This will empower us to take appropriate actions, whether it's addressing security vulnerabilities, optimizing resource allocation, or improving user experience. By proactively monitoring unauthorized API calls, we can prevent potential issues from escalating and ensure the smooth operation of the platform.

Taking Action Based on Data

Imagine this scenario: the dashboard shows a sudden increase in unauthorized API calls. This immediately raises a red flag, prompting us to investigate the cause. It could be anything from a misconfigured application to a malicious attack. By having this data readily available, we can quickly identify the issue and take steps to mitigate it. This proactive approach is far more effective than waiting for a problem to manifest itself in a more disruptive way. It's like being a doctor who can spot the early signs of illness and prescribe treatment before it becomes serious.

Long-Term Benefits of Visibility

The value extends beyond immediate issue resolution. By tracking unauthorized API calls over time, we can identify trends and patterns. This can help us to proactively address potential vulnerabilities, optimize our security measures, and improve the overall resilience of the platform. For example, if we consistently see a high number of unauthorized calls from a particular IP address, we might consider blocking that address. It's about using the data to make informed decisions and continuously improve our systems.

Technical Implementation: Building the Dashboard

The next step was to create a dashboard that effectively displays the status of unauthorized API calls, including the relevant account information. This dashboard needed to be clear, concise, and easy to understand, allowing users to quickly grasp the current situation and identify any potential issues. We focused on presenting the data in a way that would highlight trends and anomalies, making it easier to spot problems before they escalate.

Key Elements of the Dashboard

The dashboard includes several key elements: a clear count of unauthorized API calls, a visual representation of trends over time, and the ability to drill down into specific incidents for more detail. The RAG status indicator provides a quick overview of the situation, while the detailed data allows for more in-depth analysis. The dashboard also includes information about the accounts associated with the unauthorized calls, which is crucial for identifying potential security breaches. Think of it as a control panel for our platform's security, with all the key metrics and controls readily accessible.

Choosing the Right Tools

We leveraged the existing observability platform infrastructure to build this dashboard, ensuring seamless integration with our existing monitoring and alerting systems. This allowed us to take advantage of the platform's powerful data processing and visualization capabilities. We also considered the user experience, designing the dashboard to be intuitive and easy to use. After all, the best data in the world is useless if it's not presented in a way that people can understand and use.

Team Feedback and Iteration: Continuous Improvement

Once the initial dashboard was created, it was presented to the team for feedback. This is a crucial step in the development process, as it allows us to identify areas for improvement and ensure that the dashboard meets the needs of its users. The feedback we received was invaluable in refining the dashboard and making it an even more effective tool for monitoring the platform.

The Importance of Collaboration

The feedback process is not just about fixing bugs or making cosmetic changes; it's about ensuring that the dashboard is truly useful for the people who will be using it. By involving the team in the development process, we can ensure that the dashboard is aligned with their needs and workflows. It's like building a house – you wouldn't just build it without talking to the people who are going to live in it, would you?

Iterative Development

Based on the feedback we received, we made several improvements to the dashboard. We added new visualizations, refined the data presentation, and improved the overall user experience. This iterative development process is essential for creating a tool that is truly effective and meets the needs of its users. It's like sculpting a statue – you start with a rough idea, and then you gradually refine it until you have a masterpiece.

Definition of Done: Delivering a Valuable Tool

To ensure the success of this initiative, we established a clear definition of done. This included agreeing on the time frame for monitoring (24 hours or more), creating the dashboard with the status of unauthorized API calls (including the account information), and presenting the dashboard to the team for feedback. By clearly defining these criteria, we could ensure that we delivered a valuable and effective tool.

Meeting the Requirements

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