Akamai recently presented its Akamai Connected Cloud platform. This global distributed edge and cloud platform should bring applications closer to end users. It provides the necessary functionality and connectivity to do so.
With the introduction of this new platform, which could be seen as its own form of a public cloud, the provider of CDN and cloud services wants to offer end users an even better application experience, but also more security. Developers, in particular, can benefit from this, it is hoped. Akamai is using the Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) platform of Linode, acquired last year, among others, for its Connected Cloud offering.
For the Connected Cloud platform, Akamai is putting more computing power, storage, database environments and other services closer to locations with large populations, industry presence and IT centers.
This will make it easier for end users, such as developers, and enterprises to build, deploy and secure workloads. The main focus here is on workloads that require minimal latency and global reach. These include providers in media, gaming, SaaS services and government organizations.
New core and distributed sites
Among other things, Akamai is adding new core and distributed sites to the existing backbone of its own edge network. This network currently includes as many as 41,000 sites in 134 countries. In the U.S. and Europe, Akamai is adding three new wholesale (core) cloud computing sites to its existing network. Later this year, that number should grow to 10 new sites.
In more than 50 cities worldwide, the company will roll out dedicated distributed sites. These sites should bring basic cloud services to locations currently bypassed by traditional cloud providers.
Compete on pricing and compliance
In addition, Akamai plans to compete strongly on pricing and especially on cloud egress pricing. The new pricing structure should use the size of the Akamai network to bring down current cloud egress costs. This is by introducing a “CDN structure” for data transfer from the cloud. This should lead to much lower egress prices than those currently offered by traditional hyperscalers and other cloud providers.
Also, through the new edge and cloud infrastructure, the new ISO, SOC 2 and HIPA compliance standards are readily available. This greatly improves the security of cloud services and especially cloud-based data. It also makes it easier for customers to move workloads between the Akamai environment and other public cloud environments.
Partner program
Furthermore, Akamai is also introducing a partner program for Akamai Connected Cloud. The Akamai Qualified Computing Partner Program should offer customers various third-party solutions, applications and services on the Akamai Connected Cloud platform.
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