Developed a security-focused enhancement for the linode/apl-core repository by implementing apiToken handling within the external-dns-raw template. This feature introduced secure token-based authentication for External DNS, streamlining the configuration process and reducing the risk of misconfiguration during DNS setup. The work leveraged Go for backend logic, with a focus on API integration and template rendering to ensure seamless interaction with Kubernetes environments. By aligning with broader security and reliability objectives, the enhancement not only improved immediate DNS management but also established a foundation for future token-based authentication improvements within the system, reflecting a thoughtful and targeted engineering approach.