IBM API Management (IBM APIM) is an API Management platform for use in the API Economy. IBM API Management enables users to create, assemble, manage, secure and socialize web application programming interfaces (APIs). It runs as a Virtual appliance on a Virtual machine and uses the IBM WebSphere DataPower SOA Appliances as gateways. Plans can be created which specify rate limits, whether sign ups need to be approved, and a collection of APIs to offer to developers. Plans can be published to a specific environment.