Akamai Technologies : to Join Internet2 to Simplify Higher Education’s Access to Cloud Security Services

Educause , Indianapolis | October 28, 2015

Akamai Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: AKAM), the global leader in content delivery network (CDN) services, today announced its intent to join the Internet2 NET+ initiative. Akamai’s Cloud Security Solutions, a comprehensive suite of security solutions including DDoS mitigation, threat analysis, and dedicated site defense, has entered the NET+ Evaluation stage. NET+ streamlines the process and helps make it more affordable for colleges and universities to purchase cloud-based technology solutions. Akamai is at EDUCAUSE this week discussing how it can help higher education institutions protect their online assets from DDoS and other web application threats.

“Universities and other higher education institutions have been surprised to become targets for attacks, but - in today’s environment - the threat is as real for them as it is for any other organization on the web,” said Tom Ruff, Akamai’s VP of public sector. “A NET+ offering would make the same technology that large enterprises use to protect their websites and applications everyday available to higher education institutions in a way that’s easy to afford and implement.”

DDoS attacks are on the rise and are regularly launched on higher education institutions to expose student records and hold information hostage. DDoS attacks have become a costly challenge for colleges and universities, threatening both finances and reputations. Akamai provides a technology solution designed to absorb these attacks at scale, regardless of the service providers used.

Focused on providing secure, agile and reliable user mobility in the cloud to higher education’s diverse users, Internet2 NET+ is a research and education (R&E) community-driven initiative. Through a rigorous peer-driven evaluation process, R&E institutions and cloud service providers work together to develop offerings that maximize deployment efficiencies and minimize the business and legal challenges, financial costs, and technology risks of migrating from on-campus to cloud-based solutions.

“Cybersecurity is an issue that is top of mind for colleges and universities, as they seek to protect data and information related to students, researchers, and faculty,” said Shel Waggener, Internet2, senior vice president. “The NET+ initiative leverages the R&E community to vet services and share insights on solutions and applications that have been beneficial for others, and we are pleased that the Internet2 community can now access Akamai’s industry perspectives, experience, and technology.”

Akamai is exhibiting at EDUCAUSE this week (booth numbers 744 and 746) and will also be present in Cisco’s booth (number 1302). Akamai is also hosting a CIO Roundtable on October 28 from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. in the Cameral Room at the Westin Indianapolis, which is connected to the Indianapolis Convention Center.

As the global leader in Content Delivery Network (CDN) services, Akamai makes the Internet fast, reliable and secure for its customers. The company's advanced web performance, mobile performance, cloud security and media delivery solutions are revolutionizing how businesses optimize consumer, enterprise and entertainment experiences for any device, anywhere. To learn how Akamai solutions and its team of Internet experts are helping businesses move faster forward, please visit www.akamai.com or blogs.akamai.com, and follow @Akamai on Twitter.

Internet2® is a member-owned advanced technology community founded by the nation’s leading higher education institutions in 1996. Internet2 provides a collaborative environment for U.S. research and education organizations to solve common technology challenges, and to develop innovative solutions in support of their educational, research and community service missions.

Internet2 also operates the nation’s largest and fastest, coast-to-coast research and education network, with Internet2 Network Operations Center powered by Indiana University. Internet2 serves more than 90,000 community anchor institutions, 290 U.S. universities, 70 government agencies, 42 regional and state education networks, 84 leading corporations working with our community and more than 65 national research and education networking partners representing more than 100 countries.

Internet2 offices are located in Ann Arbor, MI; Denver, CO; Emeryville, CA; Washington, DC; and West Hartford, CT. For more information, visit www.internet2.edu or follow @Internet2 on Twitter.