Developer Portal FAQ

Get all the information you need to get started with CDW Application Programming Interfaces (APIs).

If you don’t see your question answered here, contact us to learn more.

General Questions 

What is the Azure API Management (APIM) Developer Portal?

This platform provides you access to APIs published by CDW Technology. You can explore our products and test integration into your own applications.

Do I need an account to use the Developer Portal? 

Yes. [Create an account] and get started once your account is approved.

How much does the Developer Portal cost? 

It’s free. However, some APIs may have usage limits or require a subscription key.

Using APIs 

How can I explore available APIs? 

[Visit the Products page] to browse or search for available APIs. You’ll see API documentation, end points, and usage details. The APIs are sorted into Product groups.

How do I subscribe to an API? 

Navigate to the APIs page and select “Subscribe”. Depending on the API's configuration, you may need to request approval, which is done automatically when you request a subscription key.

What authentication methods are supported for API access? 

All Developer Portal access is managed through subscription keys, even though the APIs may use different authentication methods on the backend. If the backend API requires additional authentication, APIM manages this automatically. Authentication changes may be required after testing and migration from Developer Portal to production.

How can I test an API before integrating it into my application? 

Use Developer Portal’s built-in tools, like the interactive console or Postman, to make test requests and see sample responses.

Troubleshooting 

What should I do if I encounter issues while using an API? 

First, check the API documentation for usage tips. If the issue persists, email us at apiuser@cdw.com. The CDW API team will triage and forward to the support team for the impacted API if applicable.

Why is my subscription key no longer valid?

We automatically rotate subscription keys every 30 days. If your subscription key expires, sign into the Developer Portal, go to your profile, and retrieve the value of your new subscription key.

Security and Privacy 

How can I keep my subscription keys secure? 

Keep your subscription keys confidential and store securely. Avoid sharing subscription keys publicly or accidentally pushing to source code repositories during testing.