# Best practices

Here are some best practice and tips & tricks you can use to get the best of Altoviz API.

## Updating the right way

You might think that to update a entity, you just have to call the corresponding update API and that's all.  
Be careful ! This will override all entity values with the new ones including the fact that none provided values will get default values.

So, the good practice is to :

1. get the entity values from the server
1. update the entity with new values
1. post the updated entity to the server

## Stop polling and use webhooks

Polling servers is something you should avoid at much as possible. It's good for nobody. It consumes precious resources unnecessarily.  
Instead of sending requests in a loop, just setup a webhook. You'll get notified when needed. The planet and our servers will you 🌳.  
[Read more](/docs/api/guides/webhooks)

## Check webhooks calling IPs

You should verify that the servers calling your URL is part of the IP pool of Altoviz API.  
[Read more](/docs/api/guides/security)

## Check the Altoviz certificate

You might want to very that the server you're sending data to is one of Altoviz servers. Use the Altoviz public key for that.  
[Read more](/docs/api/guides/security)