What is LLM Gateway?

An LLM gateway is a proxy layer that sits between an organization’s users or applications and large language model providers, centralizing access, authentication, routing, and controls. It is the network chokepoint where enterprise AI traffic can be seen and governed.

Gateways emerged because direct, per-team API integrations create sprawl: dozens of keys, no shared controls, no unified view of usage or spend.

A gateway alone provides plumbing. Governance requires what runs on top of it: policy enforcement per team and model, sensitive-data handling, cost attribution, and an immutable record of interactions.

Tokto operates as a governed checkpoint on AI traffic: gateway-style centralization plus the supervision, FinOps control, and system-of-record layer that make the traffic accountable.