Akamai

Akamai Technologies is a global web technology company specializing in content delivery network (CDN) solutions, cloud services, and cybersecurity for organization networks.

With over 8,300 employees, servers in 135 countries, and a clientele that includes 56% of the Fortune 500, Akamai has an international network devoted to delivering high-quality web content to users and securing organizations in their web and cloud operations. In 2021, the firm’s market capitalization rose above $18 billion, and 85% of Internet users are within a network hop of an Akamai server.

Akamai Products and Solutions

Akamai offers a range of solutions for organizations requiring content delivery, edge computing capabilities, and security to protect those operations.

Also read: Top NaaS Providers 2021 (Enterprise Networking Planet)

Akamai Competitors

• Amazon Web Services (AWS) 
• Barracuda 
• Citrix 
• Cloudflare 
• F5
• Fastly
• Fortinet
• Google
• Imperva
• Microsoft

Web Application Firewalls (WAF)

Akamai’s most popular standalone solutions are their web application firewalls (WAF) and DDoS protection tools. With the expansion of hybrid infrastructures with large segments of networks living in the cloud, Akamai’s Kona Site Defender can deflect significant DDoS attacks while maintaining performance.

Read more about Akamai and the best WAF solutions on the market in eSecurity Planet’s Top Web Application Firewalls (WAF) Solutions of 2021.

Zero Trust Solutions

As organizations look to defend network segments from inside threats, Akamai’s also offering solutions to help networks meet zero trust objectives. Leveraging its CDN technology to distribute resources globally, the company has tools for identity and application access, SSO and MFA, and threat detection and protection.

See why Akamai made IT Business Edge’s Top Zero Trust Security Solutions & Software 2021.

Recognition and Reviews

In the last four years, Akamai’s received market Leader status on the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Web Application Firewalls (2017-2020). For the Forrester Wave, Akamai is a Leader in Web Application Firewalls (2020), Bot Management (2020), Zero Trust eXtended Ecosystem Platform Providers (2020), and DDoS Mitigation Solutions (2021).

On Gartner Peer Insights, Akamai holds an average of 4.8 / 5 stars in 209 reviews for its Global CDN. Features highlighted include effective vendor communication, reliability of deliverables, and service capabilities, including customization. Similarly, Akamai holds 4.7 / 5 stars in 189 reviews for its WAF solutions. Features highlighted include the ease of deployment, protection against known threats, and scalability without sacrificing performance.

Read why Akamai is one of the Best Cloud Networking Services & Solutions of 2021 (Enterprise Networking Planet).

Akamai: Company background

Akamai’s roots start with the 1997 MIT-sponsored competition where students could pitch an entrepreneurial business plan. MIT researchers Dr. Tom Leighton and Danny Lewin and student Preetish Nijahawan entered, and a year later, Akamai incorporated to offer its Internet content delivery solution. By 1999, the Cambridge, Massachusetts startup was turning a profit and able to provide commercial services.

Growth, Acquisitions, and Financials

After its launch in 1998, Akamai gained market traction fast and went public in October 1999 on the Nasdaq Stock Market. Between 2019 and 2020, gross revenue grew 10.54% from $2.89 billion to $3.2 billion. Similarly, Akamai’s profit grew 8.40% from $1.91 billion to $2.07 billion.

Of Akamai’s thirty acquisitions, organizations of note added over the years include Speedera Networks in 2005, Prolexic Technologies in 2014, and Nominum in 2017.

Recent Coverage

• Top Enterprise Network Security Tools for 2021 (eSecurityPlanet)
• Cloud Networking Services: Citrix AD vs. Akamai (Enterprise Networking Planet)
• Enterprise Security at Home: Remote Access Options (eWeek)
• Best Zero Trust Security Solutions for 2021 (eSecurityPlanet)

Sam Ingalls

Sam Ingalls is an award-winning writer and researcher covering enterprise technology, cybersecurity, data centers, and IT trends, for eSecurity Planet, TechRepublic, ServerWatch, Webopedia, and Channel Insider.