APIs play a pivotal role in modern software architecture by enabling communication across applications and services, especially in environments adopting microservices. Modern API platforms, such as Kong Konnect, address the shortcomings of legacy systems by offering a distributed architecture with centralized control, infrastructure-agnostic deployment, automated configuration, and developer self-service. These features facilitate governance, security, and scalability, allowing organizations to manage APIs efficiently throughout their lifecycle. Legacy solutions often suffer from tight coupling, centralization issues, and manual processes, which impede adaptability and visibility. Conversely, platforms like Kong Konnect provide a federated operating model, enhancing decentralized management while maintaining oversight, and integrate with service meshes to ensure consistent traffic management. With capabilities such as a centralized API catalog, automation tools, and comprehensive analytics, Kong Konnect offers a robust framework for building and managing APIs at scale, promoting a seamless and secure API ecosystem.