Akamai launches new connected cloud and computing services

Akamai Technologies, the cloud company, has launched Akamai Connected Cloud, a distributed edge and cloud platform for computing, security, and content delivery that keeps applications and experiences closer and threats farther away.

The new strategic cloud computing services and architecture will be available in Asia Pacific-Japan (APJ) for developers to build, run, and secure highly-performant workloads closer to wherever businesses and users connect online. 

Akamai has also announced four new enterprise-scale core cloud computing sites across APJ in 2023, in Chennai, Osaka, Jakarta, and Auckland. 

Like Akamai's existing 11 core sites, including core sites in Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo and Mumbai,  the new regional sites will plug into the Akamai backbone, connecting them to the most distributed edge network on the planet. 

The new sites will contain cloud computing services acquired from Linode and will become the template for additional core sites that Akamai plans to roll out across the globe.

In addition to the planned new core sites, Akamai has identified more than 50 cities globally. 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.
 
Moreover, Akamai has announced an aggressive new cloud egress pricing. The new pricing structure can use the power of Akamai's network to drive 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 hyperscalers and alternative cloud providers.

In addition, new ISO, SOC 2 and HIPAA standards compliance are 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 has unveiled a Qualified Computing Partner Program as well. 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.

"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," says Dr Tom Leighton, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Akamai. 

"Akamai is building the cloud the next decade needs."

"The launch of Akamai Connected Cloud comes at a time where the Asia Pacific and Japan region continues to experience rapid advancements in digital transformation. As organisations look to address the diverse infrastructure and network capabilities across markets, while decreasing costs and increasing agility through multi-cloud and open-source architectures, there are tremendous growth opportunities with the cloud," says Parimal Pandya, Senior Vice President, Sales, and Managing Director, APAC. 

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, spanning more than 4,100 locations across 134 countries. 

Specifically, Akamai is placing computing, storage, database, and other services closer to large populations, industries, and IT centres. The result is designed to be a continuum of computing, 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 vendors, retail, and government are examples of these requirements 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," adds Leighton.

According to IDC, APAC's public cloud services market is forecasted to reach US$165.2 billion in 2026, and one in three companies has been predicted to generate more than 30% of their revenues from digital products and services in 2023. 

"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," says Dave McCarthy, Research Vice President, IDC. 

"Akamai's innovative rethinking of how this gets done, and how it is architecturing the 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."

Akamai is already enabling regional customers to manage decentralised application architectures and deliver consistent experiences across their regional operations.

"One of our key goals was to consolidate our infrastructure for better management, flexibility and to save costs. We were looking for a single cloud provider that aligned with all our requirements and Akamai Connected Cloud was our preferred choice because of their simple, affordable, and accessible infrastructure and superior support that put our team at ease," says Rajkumar Ganapathy, Chief Technology Officer, Zolvit. 

Akamai Connected Cloud is under the leadership of Adam Karon, Chief Operating Officer and General Manager of Akamai's Cloud Technology Group. 

"Cloud is a stepping stone to solving larger business challenges," notes Karon. 

"Business leaders are looking to continue the momentum of digital transformation and stretch the boundaries of what's possible for their organisations 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."