Akamai Unveils Akamai Connected Cloud and New Cloud Computing Services

Rhea-AI Summary

Akamai Technologies (NASDAQ: AKAM) announced the launch of Akamai Connected Cloud, a comprehensive edge and cloud platform aimed at enhancing cloud computing, security, and content delivery. This initiative includes the introduction of three new enterprise-scale core cloud sites within the U.S. and Europe, expected to launch by the end of Q2 2023. Additionally, Akamai plans to roll out over 50 distributed sites to improve cloud access in underserved areas. A new pricing model aims to reduce cloud egress costs.

The company is also emphasizing compliance with new security standards, enhancing customer trust and service interoperability.

Positive

• Launch of Akamai Connected Cloud enhances cloud computing capabilities, security, and content delivery.
• Introduction of three new core cloud computing sites in the U.S. and Europe expected by end of Q2 2023.
• Plans to expand with over 50 distributed cloud sites to improve service accessibility.
• Aggressive cloud egress pricing designed to lower costs compared to hyperscalers.
• New security compliance (ISO, SOC 2, HIPAA) enhances trust and service interoperability.

Negative

• None.

Offering a fundamentally different approach to cloud that integrates core and distributed computing sites with a massively scaled edge network

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Feb. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Akamai Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: AKAM), the cloud company that powers and protects life online, today launched Akamai Connected Cloud, a massively distributed edge and cloud platform for cloud computing, security, and content delivery that keeps applications and experiences closer and threats farther away.

Akamai also announced new strategic cloud computing services for developers to build, run, and secure highly performant workloads closer to wherever businesses and users connect online:

• Three new enterprise-scale core cloud computing sites across the U.S. and Europe. Like Akamai's existing 11 cloud computing sites, the new sites will plug into the Akamai backbone — connecting them to the most distributed edge network on the planet. The new sites, which are expected to be live by the end of Q2 2023, will contain all of the cloud computing services acquired from Linode, the developer-friendly cloud infrastructure provider Akamai acquired in 2022. These also become the template for 10 additional core sites that Akamai plans to roll out across the globe throughout the year. 
• More distributed sites. In addition to launching the new core sites, Akamai has identified more than 50 cities in which it plans to begin rolling out distributed sites this year, to bring basic cloud computing capabilities into difficult-to-reach locations currently underserved by traditional cloud providers.
• Aggressive new cloud egress pricing. The new pricing structure is able to use the power of Akamai's network to drive down the cost of cloud egress by bringing CDN-like economics to cloud data transfer. The new egress pricing model is designed to result in significantly discounted egress rates relative to the hyperscalers and alternative cloud providers.
• New ISO, SOC 2, and HIPAA standards compliance, available immediately. The new standards compliance reflects Akamai's focus on the security of its cloud computing services and customer data within, and allows customers to move workloads among Akamai and other public clouds.
• Akamai Qualified Computing Partner Program. This new technology partner program is designed to provide Akamai customers with solution-based services that are interoperable with Akamai Connected Cloud. The services will be provided by Akamai technology partners that complete a thorough qualification process, ensuring they are readily available to deploy and scale across the globally distributed platform.

"The cloud's next phase requires a shift in how developers and enterprises think about getting applications and data closer to their customers. It redefines how the industry looks at things like performance, scale, cost, and security, as workloads are no longer built for one place but are delivered across a wide spectrum of compute and geography," said Dave McCarthy, Research VP, IDC. "Akamai's innovative rethinking of how this gets done — and how it is architecting Akamai Connected Cloud — puts it in a unique position to usher in an exciting new era for technology and to help enterprises build, deploy, and secure distributed applications."

"We're taking a fundamentally different approach to cloud computing — building on 25 years of experience scaling and securing the internet for the biggest companies in the world," said Tom Leighton, Akamai's Co-Founder and CEO. "Akamai is building the cloud the next decade needs."

In building out Akamai Connected Cloud, Akamai is adding core and distributed sites on top of the same underlying backbone that powers its edge network today — spanning more than 4,100 locations across 134 countries. More specifically, Akamai is placing compute, storage, database, and other services closer to large population, industry, and IT centers. The result is designed to be a continuum of compute, from core to edge, enabling companies to more efficiently build, deploy, and secure performant workloads that require single-digit millisecond latency and global reach. Industries such as media, gaming, SaaS, retail, and government are examples where these requirements are in high demand today. 

"Akamai's leadership position at the edge enables us to scale everything we touch: We scale content, putting digital experiences closer to users than anyone. We scale cybersecurity, keeping threats farther away from business and people. Our customers know us and trust us for this scale. Now we plan to scale cloud computing, to provide customers with better performance at a lower cost," said Leighton.

"Akamai Connected Cloud and the new distributed locations to be launched globally align perfectly with what we love most about Akamai: providing the ultimate distributed edge and cloud platform," said Alexander Leschinsky, CEO of G&L, a German systems integrator working with the country's leading broadcasters and streaming services. "G&L is using Akamai to extend our custom multicloud media stack with ease, reliability, and cost efficiency, helping us to provide unbeatable value to our clients."

Akamai Connected Cloud is under the leadership of Adam Karon, Chief Operating Officer and General Manager of Akamai's Cloud Technology Group. In this role, he has led teams focused on enabling today's leading media, gaming, and software companies to deliver the best possible experiences — at scale — to their customers on any device, anywhere, and helping carriers operate high-performing and cost-efficient networks.

"Cloud is a stepping stone to solving larger business challenges," said Karon. "Business leaders are looking to continue the momentum of digital transformation and stretch the boundaries of what's possible for their organizations in an increasingly digital world. Our distributed scale is designed to deliver highly performant cloud computing everywhere our customers' business connects online, empowering them with the speed, flexibility, performance, and connectivity they need to grow without compromise, innovate without friction, and delight customers without fail."

For more information, visit the Akamai cloud computing solutions page. 

About Akamai Technologies
Akamai powers and protects life online. Leading companies worldwide choose Akamai to build, deliver, and secure their digital experiences — helping billions of people live, work, and play every day. Akamai Connected Cloud, a massively distributed edge and cloud platform, puts apps and experiences closer to users and keeps threats farther away. Learn more about Akamai's cloud computing, security, and content delivery solutions at akamai.com and akamai.com/blog, or follow Akamai Technologies on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Akamai Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
This release contains statements that are not statements of historical fact and constitute forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, statements about expectations, plans and prospects of Akamai. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors including, but not limited to, the failure of our investments in innovation to generate solutions that are accepted in the market; effects of competition, including pricing pressure and changing business models; impact of macroeconomic trends, including economic uncertainty; conditions and uncertainties in the geopolitical environment; continuing supply chain and logistics costs, constraints, changes or disruptions; defects or disruptions in our products or IT systems, including cyberattacks, data breaches or malware; failure to realize the expected benefits of any of our acquisitions or reorganizations; changes to economic, political and regulatory conditions in the United States and internationally; delay in developing or failure to develop new service offerings or functionalities, and if developed, lack of market acceptance of such service offerings and functionalities or failure of such solutions to operate as expected, and other factors that are discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and other documents periodically filed with the SEC. In addition, the statements in this press release and on our quarterly earnings conference call represent Akamai's expectations and beliefs as of the date of this press release. Akamai anticipates that subsequent events and developments may cause these expectations and beliefs to change. However, while Akamai may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, it specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Akamai's expectations or beliefs as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.

Contacts:
Chris Nicholson
Akamai Media Relations
+1.508.517.3703
cnichols@akamai.com

Tom Barth
Akamai Investor Relations
+1.617.274.7130
tbarth@akamai.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/akamai-unveils-akamai-connected-cloud-and-new-cloud-computing-services-301745961.html

SOURCE Akamai Technologies, Inc.

FAQ

What is Akamai's new cloud initiative launched in February 2023?

Akamai launched Akamai Connected Cloud, a distributed edge and cloud platform designed to improve cloud computing, security, and content delivery.

How many new cloud sites is Akamai introducing in 2023?

Akamai is introducing three new enterprise-scale core cloud computing sites in the U.S. and Europe, expected to go live by the end of Q2 2023.

What benefits does Akamai's new pricing model offer?

Akamai's new cloud egress pricing model aims to significantly reduce cloud egress costs compared to other major cloud providers.

What security standards does Akamai comply with for its cloud services?

Akamai has achieved compliance with ISO, SOC 2, and HIPAA standards, reflecting its commitment to customer data security.

How does Akamai's Connected Cloud benefit businesses?

Akamai Connected Cloud enables businesses to build, deploy, and secure applications closer to users, enhancing performance and reducing latency.