Akamai unveils app platform for simplified cloud scaling

Akamai Technologies has introduced the Akamai App Platform, a cloud-agnostic service aimed at simplifying the deployment, management, and scaling of distributed applications.

The Akamai App Platform makes use of Kubernetes technology, incorporating features from Akamai's acquisition of Otomi from Red Kubes. It provides ready-to-run templates that aim to streamline the management of Kubernetes fleets, significantly reducing deployment times from months to less than an hour while allowing rapid scaling of production workloads.

With the rising adoption of cloud services in the Asia-Pacific and Japan (APJ) region, driven by a move towards cloud-native architectures, there is a growing demand for scalable and resilient cloud solutions. Gartner predicts that the market for public cloud services in the APJ region will surpass USD $100 billion in 2024, highlighting the need for robust new options like the Akamai App Platform to support this growth.

"Over the past decade, developers have been forced to choose between two evils: Either accept complexity, vendor lock-in, and spiraling cloud costs if they build with hyperscaler solutions, or grapple with skills gaps, longer time to value, and perceived increased risk if they build on open source solutions," said Ari Weil, Vice President of Product Marketing at Akamai. "We're giving them a better way by harnessing the power and potential of the open source ecosystem to strike a balance between the ease of use of the one-size-fits-all hyperscale world and the flexibility and control afforded by open source."

The platform is equipped with features meant for business development, such as customisable templates for running cloud native applications on Kubernetes clusters, frameworks that integrate open source projects, and a self-service environment for developing and maintaining applications. Additionally, it includes a catalogue of templates based on best practices from the cloud native ecosystem.

Akamai's platform targets development and operations teams at various stages of scaling, providing solutions for businesses anticipating growth, in need of scaling, or actively scaling and expanding existing services. Solution integrators, value-added resellers, and independent software vendors can use the platform to manage applications without focusing on infrastructure, paving the way for easier adoption of partner solutions.

The platform aims to alleviate challenges associated with Kubernetes by simplifying operational complexity. By offering pre-packaged solutions and open source tools, businesses can focus on application management instead of infrastructure. The platform also standardises and integrates deployment tools, supporting a consistent operational environment across teams.

"As cloud native principles increasingly power the edge native apps of tomorrow, the ability for developers to easily build and deploy on an open app platform that supports container orchestration has the potential to be yet another disruption to the cloud status quo," said Dave McCarthy, Research Vice President at IDC. "This will become increasingly important as edge native apps become the front line of AI inference."

Unlike many cloud providers, Akamai supports open source solutions to promote workload portability. This approach protects against vendor lock-in and offers increased flexibility and cost efficiency. Furthermore, the Akamai App Platform integrates advanced security and observability features, including real-time threat detection and robust monitoring tools.

The platform is further enhanced when used in conjunction with Akamai Connected Cloud services, facilitating the development of low-latency, scalable applications with integrated consideration for cost performance and security.