Which Anypoint platform component should be used to deploy and monitor a Mule application system API?

The correct choice for deploying and monitoring a Mule application system API is Runtime Manager.

Runtime Manager is a critical component of the Anypoint Platform designed specifically for managing and monitoring applications, including both cloud-based and on-premises deployments. It provides essential features for deploying applications, monitoring their health, and ensuring their overall performance. When a system API is deployed as a Mule application, Runtime Manager offers visibility into various metrics such as response times, active instances, logs, and alerts. This allows teams to perform necessary operational tasks, manage deployments, and quickly address issues, ensuring the API remains stable and functions as expected.

In contrast, API Manager focuses on managing the API lifecycle, applying policies, and controlling access to APIs, rather than directly handling the deployment and operational aspects of the applications themselves. Design Center serves the purpose of designing APIs and integrations but doesn’t engage with deployment or monitoring. Exchange is used for sharing assets like APIs and connectors but does not involve the actual deployment of applications. Thus, Runtime Manager is the component that aligns perfectly with the needs for deploying and monitoring API applications within the MuleSoft ecosystem.