Kong Gateway provides a streamlined process for setting up and managing API gateway services, which can be accomplished in under 15 minutes. The setup involves adding a service to manage upstream APIs, creating routes for directing requests to these services, and utilizing plugins to enhance functionality, such as securing services with the key-auth plugin. The process begins with ensuring Kong is installed and operational, confirmed by a status code 200 from the admin API on port 8001. Users first establish a service through a POST request to the Admin API, then create a route for the service, allowing requests to be proxied through Kong on port 8000. To secure services, users can configure the key-auth plugin and add a consumer, for instance, named Jason, to manage access credentials. This setup allows for efficient request handling with reduced latency through caching and controlled access via key authentication. For further information, users are encouraged to explore Kong's documentation and engage with the community through various platforms.