Automated verification of information going into a system. Limits user input/actions to reduce errors.
Ex. If an admin tries to delete a folder, but accidentally selects a much larger, critical file, this feature will block that action.
Guard rails
An interface that allows you/a device/a script to programmatically control the service without having to manually log in and click things on a screen.
API
The 3 largest concerns when creating automation scripts
Single point of failure
Technical debt (patching and maintenance may be expensive later)
Ongoing supportability (you might change software, OSs, or the script might become unsupported)