Akamai

What is Akamai?

Akamai is the world’s largest and oldest content delivery network and cloud security company, powering significant portions of global internet traffic. Founded in 1998 by MIT mathematicians addressing internet congestion problems, Akamai pioneered content delivery networking and continues leading the industry with the most extensive distributed computing platform. The company’s infrastructure handles trillions of internet interactions daily, delivering content for many of the world’s largest websites, streaming services, and enterprises.

What distinguishes Akamai is the sheer scale and reliability of its global platform. With over 365,000 servers deployed across more than 135 countries and 1,400 networks, Akamai’s edge network reaches virtually everywhere users access the internet. This unmatched global footprint enables content delivery with minimal latency regardless of user location. Enterprise customers trust Akamai for mission-critical delivery where outages are unacceptable, from live sports broadcasts to financial services applications.

Akamai has expanded far beyond traditional CDN services to become a comprehensive edge computing and security platform. Following acquisitions including Linode (cloud computing), Guardicore (microsegmentation), and others, Akamai now offers cloud computing, security solutions, and enterprise applications alongside content delivery. This evolution positions Akamai as an edge platform competing across multiple technology categories while maintaining leadership in content delivery where the company built its reputation.

Key Features

• Global CDN: The world’s largest distributed computing platform with servers in more countries and networks than any competitor.
• Media Delivery: Specialized solutions for video streaming including live events, OTT platforms, and broadcast-quality delivery at scale.
• Web Application Firewall: Enterprise-grade application security protecting against OWASP threats, bots, and targeted attacks.
• DDoS Protection: Industry-leading DDoS mitigation leveraging platform scale to absorb the largest volumetric attacks.
• Edge Computing: EdgeWorkers serverless platform running JavaScript at edge locations for custom application logic.
• API Acceleration: Optimized delivery for API traffic with security, caching, and performance enhancements.
• Image Manager: Automatic image optimization including format conversion, compression, and responsive sizing at the edge.
• Cloud Computing: Full cloud infrastructure through Linode integration providing compute, storage, and managed services.
• Zero Trust Security: Enterprise security solutions including secure access, microsegmentation, and identity services.
• DNS Services: Authoritative DNS and traffic management with global anycast infrastructure.

Recent Updates and Improvements

Akamai continues transforming from CDN provider to comprehensive edge and cloud platform through organic development and strategic acquisitions.

• Linode Integration: Cloud computing services fully integrated into Akamai portfolio, offering combined edge and cloud solutions.
• Generative AI: New capabilities supporting AI/ML workloads including model serving, inference optimization, and content generation at edge.
• Enhanced Bot Manager: Improved bot detection using machine learning to distinguish legitimate automation from malicious bots.
• API Security: Advanced API protection with automatic discovery, threat detection, and behavioral analysis.
• Guardicore Integration: Microsegmentation security fully incorporated for zero-trust enterprise network protection.
• EdgeKV: Distributed key-value storage for EdgeWorkers enabling stateful edge computing applications.
• Improved Analytics: Enhanced reporting and visualization for traffic, security, and performance metrics.
• Green Initiatives: Sustainability programs including renewable energy commitments and carbon footprint reporting.

System Requirements

Akamai Control Center (Web)

• Modern web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)
• JavaScript enabled
• Stable internet connection
• Akamai customer account

Akamai CLI (Windows)

• Windows 10/11 (64-bit)
• Minimal disk space
• API credentials configured

Akamai CLI (macOS)

• macOS 10.15 or later
• Intel or Apple Silicon
• Homebrew available for installation

Akamai CLI (Linux)

• Any modern Linux distribution
• Package manager or binary installation

How to Get Started with Akamai

Account Setup

1. Contact Akamai sales or visit akamai.com
2. Work with account team for provisioning
3. Access Akamai Control Center
4. Configure properties and delivery settings
5. Update DNS to point to Akamai edge

# Install Akamai CLI on macOS
brew install akamai

# Or download from GitHub
# https://github.com/akamai/cli/releases

# Configure credentials
akamai config

# Install CLI modules
akamai install property
akamai install purge

# List available commands
akamai help

# Purge content
akamai purge invalidate --url https://example.com/path

Windows Installation

# Using Chocolatey
choco install akamai-cli

# Or download from GitHub releases
# https://github.com/akamai/cli/releases

# Configure API credentials in .edgerc file
# [default]
# client_secret = xxx
# host = xxx
# access_token = xxx
# client_token = xxx

# Verify installation
akamai version

# Install property module
akamai install property

Linux Installation

# Download and install
wget https://github.com/akamai/cli/releases/download/vX.X.X/akamai-vX.X.X-linux-amd64
chmod +x akamai-vX.X.X-linux-amd64
sudo mv akamai-vX.X.X-linux-amd64 /usr/local/bin/akamai

# Alternative using Homebrew on Linux
brew install akamai

# Configure credentials
mkdir -p ~/.edgerc
akamai config

# Verify setup
akamai version
akamai list

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Unmatched Scale: The largest edge network globally provides reliability and performance no competitor matches.
• Enterprise Reliability: Decades of mission-critical delivery experience ensures dependability for demanding use cases.
• Security Leadership: Comprehensive security portfolio from DDoS protection to zero trust built on platform scale.
• Media Expertise: Specialized streaming solutions handle the largest live events and OTT platforms worldwide.
• Global Reach: Presence in more countries and networks than alternatives ensures low latency everywhere.
• Cloud Integration: Linode acquisition provides cloud computing complementing edge delivery capabilities.
• Enterprise Support: Dedicated account teams, 24/7 support, and professional services for complex implementations.

Cons

• Enterprise Pricing: Premium pricing positions Akamai beyond reach of small businesses and startups.
• Complexity: Extensive configuration options and legacy interfaces create steep learning curves.
• Sales Process: No self-service signup; enterprise sales engagement required to get started.
• Configuration Delays: Changes can take longer to propagate compared to newer competitors with instant updates.
• Interface Age: Control Center interface, while functional, feels dated compared to modern competitors.

Akamai vs Alternatives

Who Should Use Akamai?

Akamai is ideal for:

• Large Enterprises: Organizations requiring the most reliable, globally distributed content delivery for mission-critical applications.
• Media Companies: Broadcasters and streaming services needing proven large-scale video delivery capabilities.
• Financial Services: Banks and trading platforms requiring ultra-low latency and highest security standards.
• E-commerce Giants: Large retailers needing reliable delivery during peak traffic events like holiday sales.
• Government Agencies: Public sector organizations requiring compliance certifications and enterprise support.
• Global Corporations: Multinational companies needing consistent performance across all geographic regions.

Akamai may not be ideal for:

• Small Businesses: Enterprise pricing and sales process exclude smaller organizations from consideration.
• Startups: Companies needing quick, self-service setup will find Akamai’s process too lengthy.
• Budget-Conscious: Organizations prioritizing cost over premium features have more affordable alternatives.
• Modern Developer Teams: Those preferring API-first, instant-configuration tools may find Akamai’s approach dated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Akamai cost?

Akamai doesn’t publish standard pricing; costs depend on traffic volume, services used, and contract terms negotiated with their sales team. Enterprise contracts typically involve annual commitments with volume-based pricing. Costs are generally higher than self-service competitors but include enterprise support and SLAs. Organizations should expect significant investment reflecting Akamai’s enterprise positioning and premium service levels.

How does Akamai compare to Cloudflare?

Akamai offers the largest network and longest enterprise track record, while Cloudflare provides self-service access and modern developer experience. Akamai excels for large enterprises requiring maximum reliability and comprehensive support. Cloudflare suits organizations wanting all-in-one solutions with simpler setup. Akamai’s security portfolio is more comprehensive; Cloudflare’s is more accessible. Choose based on organization size, budget, and support requirements.

What is the Linode acquisition about?

Akamai acquired Linode in 2022 to add cloud computing capabilities to its edge platform. Linode provides virtual machines, managed databases, Kubernetes, and storage services. This positions Akamai to offer combined edge and cloud solutions, competing with hyperscalers. Linode continues operating with its developer-friendly approach while integrating with Akamai’s edge network for enhanced performance.

How reliable is Akamai’s platform?

Akamai’s platform is among the most reliable in the industry, handling significant percentages of global internet traffic daily. The distributed architecture with 365,000+ servers means localized failures don’t impact global service. Enterprise SLAs guarantee high availability with financial remedies for outages. Major live events, financial trading platforms, and critical government services trust Akamai for delivery where failures are unacceptable.

Does Akamai offer edge computing?

Yes, EdgeWorkers provides serverless JavaScript execution at Akamai edge locations. Developers can deploy custom logic for personalization, authentication, A/B testing, and request manipulation. EdgeKV adds distributed key-value storage for stateful applications. While newer than competitors’ offerings, EdgeWorkers leverages Akamai’s massive network footprint. The platform suits enterprises already using Akamai wanting edge computing without additional vendors.

Final Verdict

Akamai remains the industry leader in content delivery networking, offering scale, reliability, and global reach that no competitor matches. For enterprises where delivery failures mean significant business impact, Akamai’s proven track record and comprehensive infrastructure provide assurance that newer alternatives cannot yet offer. The platform handles some of the internet’s most demanding workloads, from major live sporting events to critical financial services.

The company’s evolution from CDN pioneer to comprehensive edge platform reflects market demands for integrated solutions. The Linode acquisition adds cloud computing, while security acquisitions built a portfolio spanning DDoS protection to zero trust. This expansion positions Akamai competitively against both traditional CDN competitors and hyperscale cloud providers venturing into edge computing.

For large enterprises requiring the most reliable global delivery with enterprise support and security, Akamai remains the premium choice. Organizations should understand this comes with premium pricing and enterprise sales processes. Smaller organizations, those needing self-service access, or teams preferring modern developer experiences should evaluate alternatives. For mission-critical enterprise delivery, Akamai’s leadership position is well-earned and likely to continue.