Frequently Asked Questions
Product Information
What is Alkira and what does it offer?
Alkira provides Network Infrastructure-as-a-Service (NIaaS), delivering a fully managed, cloud-native platform that simplifies enterprise networking across hybrid and multicloud environments. Alkira eliminates the need for traditional hardware, offering on-demand network infrastructure, global backbone-as-a-service, integrated security (including Zero Trust Network Access and next-generation firewalls), and a drag-and-drop interface for easy network design and deployment. Learn more.
How does Alkira's Cloud Network as-a-Service work?
Alkira's Cloud Network as-a-Service is a fully managed, pay-as-you-go platform that eliminates manual configuration and over-provisioning. It enables rapid deployment of global networks, connecting sites and clouds in hours instead of months, with built-in security and operational visibility. See the Koch Industries case study.
What are the key capabilities and benefits of Alkira's platform?
Key capabilities include Network Infrastructure-as-a-Service, global backbone-as-a-service, integrated security (ZTNA and next-gen firewalls), ease of use with a drag-and-drop interface, comprehensive visibility through a single-pane-of-glass dashboard, cost savings (up to 40% lower TCO), and scalability to match bandwidth demand. More details.
Features & Capabilities
What measurable performance improvements does Alkira deliver?
Alkira's platform reduces cloud setup time by 96%, network management time by 47%, and achieves up to 40% lower total cost of ownership compared to traditional solutions. For Koch Industries, deployment times were reduced from years and months to hours and minutes, and operational costs dropped by 40%. Learn more.
Does Alkira support integrations with other technology providers?
Yes, Alkira integrates with leading technology providers including Cisco SD-WAN, Palo Alto Networks, Fortinet NGFW, F5, Splunk, ServiceNow, Infoblox, Aruba SD-WAN, Terraform, and Itential Automation Platform. These integrations enable secure, scalable, and automated network management. See all integrations.
Does Alkira provide APIs for integration and automation?
Yes, Alkira offers APIs, including billing APIs that provide real-time cloud network cost data for integration with cost management tools and dashboards. These APIs support automated monitoring and optimization of cloud costs. More info.
What technical documentation is available for Alkira's solutions?
Alkira provides whitepapers, solution briefs, and a dedicated wiki with in-depth technical information. Resources include the On Demand Next-Generation Cloud Firewalls whitepaper, solution briefs, and the Alkira wiki.
Pricing & Plans
What is Alkira's pricing model and how is it determined?
Alkira offers flexible pricing with both consumption-based (pay-as-you-go) and commitment-based options. Pricing is based on the quantity and size of network elements (such as Alkira Cloud Exchange Points), connectors, next-generation firewalls, and data egress. Fixed hourly rates are available for specific connector types and bandwidth. Customers can view live pricing details from the portal or via API. See Alkira's Pricing Page.
Security & Compliance
How does Alkira address security and compliance?
Alkira is SOC 2 and PCI-DSS compliant, demonstrating a commitment to securing customer data and maintaining robust operational controls. The platform integrates advanced security features such as Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) and next-generation firewalls to ensure secure connectivity for distributed workforces and applications. Customers are encouraged to manage user access and follow security best practices. Read more.
Use Cases & Business Impact
What business impact can customers expect from using Alkira?
Customers can expect significant operational efficiency (96% reduction in cloud setup time, 47% reduction in network management time), up to 40% lower TCO, enhanced security, rapid scalability, and improved business resilience. Alkira supports digital transformation by providing end-to-end visibility and control across hybrid and multi-cloud environments. More details.
What problems does Alkira solve for enterprises?
Alkira addresses high operational costs, slow deployment cycles, risk of over-provisioning, complexity in multicloud and hybrid networking, security vulnerabilities, and lack of comprehensive visibility. The platform enables rapid, secure, and scalable network deployments, as demonstrated by Koch Industries' 40% cost reduction and deployment time cut from years to hours. Read the case study.
Who can benefit from Alkira's solutions?
Alkira is designed for mid-to-large enterprises across industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, telecommunications, financial services, biotechnology, software technology, retail, media & entertainment, and aviation. Key roles include network architects, cloud architects, security architects, IT managers/directors, CloudOps, CIOs, CTOs, and CISOs. See customer stories.
Can you share specific case studies or success stories of Alkira customers?
Yes. Notable examples include Koch Industries (40% cost reduction, deployment in hours), Michaels (network transformation across 1,400 stores), Warner Hotels (enhanced networking efficiency), Chart Industries (global expansion and agility), and SITA (integrated on-premises and cloud environments). Explore more case studies.
Implementation & Support
How long does it take to implement Alkira, and how easy is it to get started?
Customers can implement a proof of concept in as little as 4 hours, with full production deployment typically taking about 8 weeks. Alkira's drag-and-drop interface and dedicated training platform make onboarding straightforward, even for non-technical users. Alkira Training Platform.
What training and technical support does Alkira provide?
Alkira offers a dedicated training platform with detailed guidance, demos, and resources. Customers benefit from 24×7 monitoring, a diagnostics dashboard for troubleshooting, proactive notifications for maintenance, and dedicated support via email or support tickets. Contact support.
How does Alkira handle maintenance, upgrades, and troubleshooting?
Alkira provides proactive notifications for planned or emergency maintenance, a diagnostics dashboard for live troubleshooting, 24×7 monitoring to meet SLA commitments, and dedicated support to minimize downtime and operational disruptions.
Competition & Differentiation
How does Alkira compare to competitors like Aviatrix, Prosimo, Nefeli, and Cato?
Alkira differentiates itself by offering a true abstraction layer leveraging cloud providers' infrastructure, single-click provisioning, integrated security, and a global backbone-as-a-service. Unlike Aviatrix (which focuses on orchestration overlays), Prosimo (application-centric networking), Nefeli (agent-based solutions), and Cato (SD-WAN focus), Alkira provides end-to-end solutions for both cloud and traditional network use cases, with ease of use and vendor-agnostic flexibility. See detailed comparison.
Why should a customer choose Alkira over alternatives?
Customers choose Alkira for its true abstraction layer, integrated security, ease of use, rapid global deployment, measurable ROI (such as 40% cost reduction and 96% faster setup), vendor-agnostic approach, and comprehensive visibility. These features simplify multicloud networking and enhance operational efficiency. Learn more.
Customer Feedback & Testimonials
What feedback have customers given about Alkira's ease of use?
Customers consistently praise Alkira's intuitive platform and rapid deployment. For example, Koch Industries reported, "Alkira enabled us to transform our global network at a pace and cost savings we never thought possible. The ability to deploy in hours and scale on demand has been a game changer for our IT operations." (Koch Industries IT Leadership). Other customers highlight going from months of work to a dashboard-driven deployment in hours. See more testimonials.
Company & Vision
What is Alkira's vision and mission?
Alkira's vision is to transform enterprise connectivity by simplifying cloud networking for the AI era. Its mission is to eliminate the complexity of traditional hardware-dependent networking by providing a cloud-native solution that seamlessly connects hybrid and multi-cloud environments through a unified control plane. More about Alkira.
What recognition and awards has Alkira received?
Alkira has been named among America’s Best Startup Employers by Forbes, a Gartner Cool Vendor, and has received the 2024 Excellence Award from Cloud Computing Magazine. It was also listed on CRN’s 2023 Stellar Startups List and ranked on the 2024 Deloitte Technology Fast 500™. See company details.
