Design & Secure LLM APIs for Scalability

This course is part of Build Next-Gen LLM Apps with LangChain & LangGraph Specialization

Instructors: Starweaver

Included with

Learn more

3 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Intermediate level

Recommended experience

4 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

3 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Intermediate level

Recommended experience

4 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

Design scalable LLM API architectures using microservices patterns, load balancing, and caching for high-throughput applications.
Implement enterprise security including authentication, authorization, rate limiting, and prompt injection protection.
Deploy monitoring systems and optimize performance achieving 99.9% uptime and sub-100ms response times.

Skills you'll gain

Tools you'll learn

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

Learn more about Coursera for Business

logos of Petrobras, TATA, Danone, Capgemini, P&G and L'Oreal

Build your subject-matter expertise

This course is part of the Build Next-Gen LLM Apps with LangChain & LangGraph Specialization

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.

Learn new concepts from industry experts
Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
Earn a shareable career certificate

There are 3 modules in this course

Master the art of building enterprise-grade LLM APIs that scale to millions of users while maintaining bulletproof security. This hands-on course transforms you from API developer to platform architect, teaching you to design microservices architectures that handle 10M+ daily requests with sub-100ms response times. You'll implement advanced security frameworks protecting against prompt injection and data exfiltration, master OAuth2/JWT authentication, and build comprehensive monitoring systems that ensure 99.9% uptime. Through real-world scenarios from companies like Stripe and Netflix, you'll learn cost optimization strategies, auto-scaling configurations, and disaster recovery protocols.

This course is designed for developers, security engineers, and platform teams who want to design, secure, and operate large-scale enterprise LLM APIs. Learners should be familiar with Python programming, API usage, ML concepts,cloud basics, Git/GitHub usage, and general software knowledge. By course end, you'll architect production-ready LLM APIs that meet enterprise security standards (HIPAA, SOC 2) and scale seamlessly from startup to unicorn. Perfect for senior developers, platform engineers, and technical leads building the next generation of AI-powered applications.

This module distills scalable LLM API architecture into practical patterns for high‑throughput systems. Learners will move from monoliths to microservices, implement API gateways, define clean service boundaries, and apply caching to cut latency and cost. The module covers intelligent load balancing, auto‑scaling, and database optimization to handle traffic spikes while meeting sub‑100ms and 99.9% uptime targets. By the end, learners will design production‑ready architectures with clear scaling levers, SLOs, and rollback strategies for reliability.

What's included

4 videos2 readings1 peer review

4 videos Total 34 minutes

The LLM API Revolution: From Prototype to Production Scale 4 minutes
Microservices Architecture for LLM APIs: Design Patterns and Best Practices 7 minutes
Caching Strategies and Database Optimization for High-Performance APIs 9 minutes
Load Balancing and Auto-scaling: From 0 to Millions of Requests 15 minutes

2 readings Total 10 minutes

Welcome to the Course: Course Overview 5 minutes
Designing Data-Intensive Applications: API Architecture for Scale 5 minutes

1 peer review Total 20 minutes

Hands-On-Learning: Refactor a Monolithic API into Domain-Driven Microservices 20 minutes

This module unifies enterprise security for LLM APIs into a practical, defense‑in‑depth framework. Learners will implement OAuth2, JWT, and robust API key management; detect and prevent prompt injection and data exfiltration; and deploy real‑time security monitoring and incident response. The module also operationalizes GDPR, HIPAA, and SOC 2 controls to protect sensitive data, ensure API integrity, and maintain audit‑ready trails.

What's included

3 videos1 reading1 peer review

3 videos Total 27 minutes

Authentication and Authorization: OAuth2 JWT and API Key Management 7 minutes
Advanced Threat Protection: Prompt Injection Detection and Prevention 8 minutes
Security Monitoring and Incident Response: Real-time Threat Detection 11 minutes

1 reading Total 5 minutes

Case Study: Stripe Radar Technical Guide - Machine Learning for Fraud Protection 5 minutes

1 peer review Total 20 minutes

Hands-On-Learning: Secure Authentication, Prompt Defense, and Monitoring for Healthcare APIs 20 minutes

This module turns production operations for LLM APIs into a practical playbook. Learners will instrument observability with custom metrics, real‑time dashboards, and proactive alerting; optimize performance via multi‑layer caching, database tuning, and code profiling; and manage costs through auto‑scaling, rightsizing, and capacity planning. The module culminates in operational runbooks, disaster recovery, and automated remediation to sustain 99.9% uptime and sub‑100ms targets at scale.

What's included

4 videos1 reading1 assignment2 peer reviews

4 videos Total 36 minutes

Monitoring and Observability: Metrics Dashboards and Alerting Systems 9 minutes
Performance Optimization: Caching Database Tuning and Code Optimization 9 minutes
Cost Optimization and Resource Management: Achieving 99.9% Uptime at Scale 13 minutes
From API Developer to Platform Engineer: Your Journey in Enterprise LLM APIs 5 minutes

1 reading Total 5 minutes

Case Study: How Netflix Optimized Their LLM-Powered Recommendation APIs for 200M+ Users 5 minutes

1 assignment Total 20 minutes

LLM API Engineering Mastery: Scalable Secure and Optimized Systems 20 minutes

2 peer reviews Total 80 minutes

Hands-On-Learning: Build a Production Monitoring, Optimization, and Cost Control Workflow 20 minutes
Project: Design & Secure LLM APIs for Scalability 60 minutes

Earn a career certificate

Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV. Share it on social media and in your performance review.

Instructors

Starweaver

Coursera

554 Courses 1,033,274 learners

Offered by

Coursera

Explore more from Cloud Computing

Coursera
Architect Resilient LLM Microservices for Scale
Course
Coursera
Automate & Secure LLM Deployments
Course
Coursera
Designing Production LLM Architectures
Course
Coursera
Analyze & Deploy Scalable LLM Architectures
Course

Why people choose Coursera for their career

Felipe M.

Learner since 2018

"To be able to take courses at my own pace and rhythm has been an amazing experience. I can learn whenever it fits my schedule and mood."

Jennifer J.

Learner since 2020

"I directly applied the concepts and skills I learned from my courses to an exciting new project at work."

Larry W.

Learner since 2021

"When I need courses on topics that my university doesn't offer, Coursera is one of the best places to go."

Chaitanya A.

"Learning isn't just about being better at your job: it's so much more than that. Coursera allows me to learn without limits."

Open new doors with Coursera Plus

Unlimited access to 10,000+ world-class courses, hands-on projects, and job-ready certificate programs - all included in your subscription

Learn more

Advance your career with an online degree

Earn a degree from world-class universities - 100% online

Explore degrees

Join over 3,400 global companies that choose Coursera for Business

Upskill your employees to excel in the digital economy

Learn more

Frequently asked questions

To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.

When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.

Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.