Best Practices for Integration Testing in Modern Applications?

I’m currently exploring integration testing and how teams effectively validate interactions between different modules in modern applications. As systems increasingly rely on APIs, microservices, and external services, integration testing seems essential to ensure components communicate correctly.

I’m curious about the best practices developers follow when implementing integration tests. How do you handle dependencies between services, manage test data, and ensure tests remain stable as the system evolves? Also, what tools or strategies do you recommend for automating [integration testing](https://keploy.io/blog/community/integration-testing-a-comprehensive-guide) in CI pipelines?

Any insights or real world experiences would be very helpful.