How to import existing grpc service deployed in AKS to API Management service

Question

Hi team,

I'm following this tutorial:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/api-management/grpc-api?tabs=portal

and I already created API Management service resource and wanted to import grpc service which is already deployed in AKS. But I don't see any option available to import it when following this tutorial. Could you help me with that?

The actual goal is to use Azure’s API Management layer to handle all auth for this service.

BR,

Maria

Answer 1

@Maria Dąbrowiecka ,

Thanks for reaching out. To import a gRPC service into Azure API Management (APIM), please follow these key steps:

1. Upload the Protobuf Definition

Ensure you have the .proto file for your gRPC service. This file describes your gRPC API contract and is required for import.

2. Specify the gRPC Backend URL

When importing, you’ll be prompted to enter the HTTPS endpoint of your gRPC service. This must:

Be accessible by the APIM instance.

Support HTTP/2 over TLS, which is required for gRPC.

3. Choose the Right Gateway

You can use the managed gateway for gRPC APIs, as long as it can access your gRPC service (e.g., via public IP or VNet integration). Use a self-hosted gateway only if:

Your gRPC backend is private (e.g., in AKS with internal load balancer).

You cannot expose it publicly or integrate APIM into the same VNet.

4. If You Don’t See the Import Option

Make sure you're using a Developer, Basic, Standard, or Premium tier of APIM.

Ensure you selected the “gRPC” option when adding a new API.

• Ensure you're in the Azure Portal under your APIM instance → APIs → + Add API → gRPC.