In today’s hyper-connected microservices ecosystems, APIs are not just technical interfaces, they are business-critical conduits for data, services, and customer experiences. Understanding the context of each API interaction is essential for true risk management. In this joint session, we will show how contextual API security, a holistic approach that understands the “why” and business impact behind each transaction, is redefining cyber defense strategies. Using the connected vehicle ecosystem as a high-stakes example, we’ll demonstrate how context shifts API protection from reactive to proactive, enabling organizations to prioritize and mitigate the risks that matter most. The session will share cross-industry insights, from real-world attack scenarios like VIN Spray to AI-powered, context-aware defenses. We’ll explore how deep visibility into API flows drives scalable protection, operational efficiency, and alignment with business objectives. Next-generation API security will harness LLMs to process massive transaction volumes across countless endpoints, spotting patterns beyond the OWASP Top 10, including unknown API risks, while minimizing false positives and focusing defenses on the highest-impact threats.