Strategic guide to building resilient composable DXPs

Highlights

You’ll learn how to build resilient Composable DXPs. A composable digital experience platform is key in today's tech space due to their:

• Modularity: Allows you to deliver tailored experiences that customers expect
• Flexibility: You can adapt to change with relative ease
• Scalability: You can grow and also enhance your capacity to secure data

A resilient composable DXP supports seamless integration. It leverages the best tools for creating dynamic, user-focused digital experiences. Do you want to experience DXP resilience? Request a demo today to get started.

Keep reading to learn more!

Customer demands for tailored solutions and omnichannel experiences have prompted many businesses to go composable. It is simple. Composable DXPs are flexible and modular. They excel at optimizing customer journeys and customer experiences.

Composable DXPs also allow businesses to integrate the best solution for their needs using APIs.

However, their modular nature raises a few security concerns. You have heard of best-of-breed solutions. Basically, you can choose and integrate multiple services from different vendors. 

That sounds exciting, but deploying a unified security solution becomes a challenge. Business leaders must address these issues as the basis for building a resilient composable DXP.

But what does resilience mean in the context of DXPs, and how can businesses achieve it?

What is composable DXP resilience?

Resilience is the ability of a composable DXP to withstand disruption. A resilient DXP is secure, adapts to changes, is consistent, and is built to last. It does not just prevent attacks. It responds, adapts, and continues running in the face of threats.

A resilient composable DXP adapts to attacks and system failure. But how does it do it? 

Composable DXPs are built on the microservices approach, which consists of multiple small services that interact via APIs using a headless approach. As each unit is independent, an attack on one unit does not affect the others. Neither does it affect the entire system.

What makes a composable DXP resilient?

• API-first design: An API-first approach creates seamless DXP integrations and offers the benefits of API security. With API-first design, you can separate concerns and failure in one system unit does not affect the entire system.
• Automated scaling: The system knows when to scale up or down, depending on workload. It saves resources and enables you to respond to higher traffic and new security needs. This also promotes agile adaptation to market dynamics.
• Modular architecture: Multiple small and independent modules that perform different functions. You can isolate and fix faults without taking the whole system apart.
• Reliable security: Multiple layers of security to restrict access, verify users, filter traffic, encrypt data, and log system activities. A secure DXP can repel attacks, which is a mark of resilience.
• Industry compliance: Industry compliances are a result of extensive research. So, adhering to them improves security, which is a critical factor for building resilient composable DXPs.

How a resilient DXP enhances business continuity

• Data protection: Data protection gives customers security assurance. Security assurance breeds trust, which increases brand loyalty and contributes to business growth.
• Regulatory compliance: Adhering to compliance standards helps you navigate user data privacy and security. It saves you from litigation or financial penalties that may eat into business revenue or lead to a shutdown.
• Reduced downtime: A resilient DXP repels cyber attacks and recovers quickly from security breaches. That reduces the potential for downtime. So, it stays on, and customers enjoy seamless services.
• Fault isolation: If there is an issue in one part of the system, it does not affect the others or the entire system. That makes it easy to deal with vulnerable modules or security issues.
• Automated backups: With automated backups, a DXP can restore data when required. That is critical as the platform can recover quickly from an attack and prevent huge losses.

The pillars of security in a composable DXP

Security is an essential factor in building a resilient composable DXP. Here are the foundations of composable DXP security.

• API token security: API tokens authenticate requests between two entities. It grants access to only authorized users. Securing API tokens is crucial for better security and reduced attack surface.
• User management strategies: User management is an effective way to restrict sensitive data to authorized users. You assign roles and decide who can access data.
• Data security and compliance: By complying with global security and industry standards, you can enhance data privacy and security, prevent losses, avoid litigations, and secure the personal information of business customers.

Data security and compliance frameworks

Several compliance frameworks may apply to a composable DXP based on industry and region. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is one of many. There are others, such as the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

These frameworks are focused on the safety of personal data. However, they cover different regions and industries, so their requirements may vary slightly. Find the right balance and ensure you comply.

The impact of compliance on business

Organizations must factor in industry and regulatory compliances when developing digital strategies. These compliances are mandatory and impact how you collect, store, and use data. To get up to speed on the extent of compliance, here are some questions to consider.

• How do we get consent for data collection and usage?
• How do we use data for business or customer services?
• How do we protect user data against unauthorized access, use or disclosure?
• What measures are in place to enhance data privacy and protection?

These questions give them a granular perspective on how they are dealing with compliance issues. It also helps them assess their data security and compliance operations–which helps them stay aligned.

Architectural considerations for a secure DXP

API management

API management covers the entire process of how organizations manage API connections. It controls access, tracks API usage, and enforces security policies. It is also flexible and scalable. It allows you to reuse components, which saves time but maintains security.

Seamless data flow

DXP architecture must also consider data flow. That is the entire point of a modular system—easing the interaction of multiple components. A system that promotes seamless data flow also helps overcome data silos issues and integration complexities. 

Headless CMS and CMS security 

The architecture must also consider content delivery and headless content management systems offer a flexible solution to that. They are a back-end system that is concerned with data storage. Headless CMSes also promote security, as they are separated from the front end, where most attacks happen.

Best practices for building a resilient composable DXP

Prioritize API security

APIs facilitate integration and interaction within the DXP. So, you must prioritize API security. They can do so through API gateways, rate limiting, API versioning, and using HTTPS to secure connection, Etc.

Deploy user management strategies

Deploy identity and access management to manage user permissions and identities. User management strategies help you prevent unauthorized access, which contributes to creating a resilient DXP. 

Adhere to compliance requirements

Check for all relevant global, regional and industry compliances that apply to you and ensure that you adhere to them. This improves data privacy and integrity and helps secure a DXP.

Opt for scalable and flexible components

Building with scalable and flexible components ensures that the platform can support your growth. It also helps you adapt to market shifts, changes in technology, and new security threats.

Case studies

Akind

Akind prioritized security to enable them to plug into existing markets. Contentstack’s composable DXP offered security and resilience. Its headless CMS also allowed them to localize content in seven regions.

Hear from Leo Hård af Segerstad, the Digital marketing strategies, "We have had other CMS solutions, but none have the reliability that comes with Contentstack. We have one system to work in, where we know we can adjust content easily, and still keep the level of quality and functionality that we need."

Read more on how Akind scaled content delivery to multiple digital channels via a secure DXP.

MoneyHero Group

MoneyHero is a FinTech company, so they know too well the benefits of a secure and resilient DXP.

Contentstack’s composable DXP offered that. The headless CMS and apps boosted content delivery, and product rollout time increased by 85%.

Hear from Andrew de Ridder, the Head of Application Engineering. “The technical tooling and APIs that Contentstack provides allows our engineering teams the power and flexibility to surface content wherever it's needed, from multiple websites in different regions, to email, social media, or whatever use case comes next.”

Read more about how MoneyHero delivered content agility through a secure composable DXP.

FAQ section

What is a composable DXP?

A composable DXP is a flexible digital platform that allows businesses to select and integrate the best solutions for their needs. It uses APIs and a headless approach.

Why is API security critical in composable DXPs?

API security helps secure all communication between all the DXP components. It authorizes and validates users, ensures data is encrypted and helps secure data.

How can organizations ensure compliance in their DXP?

They can carry out system audits to know the extent of their compliance. It is also vital to stay up to date with data privacy laws. Finally, they must deploy advanced security protocols to maintain DXP security.

What role does user management play in DXP security?

User management controls who and how data is accessed. It manages roles and permissions, ensuring that you can prevent unauthorized access and reduce the risk of a data breach.

Learn more

These days, adopting new technology is not enough. Businesses must take a step further to offer security and compliance that births resilience. A composable DXP allows them to do it. But not all composable DXPs are born equal. 

Opt for a compliant DXP and enjoy the benefits of DXP resilience. Leave nothing to chance. Make your move today and position your business for success. Request a free demo today to get started.