Alkira provides Network Infrastructure-as-a-Service (NIaaS), delivering on-demand, cloud-native networking solutions that eliminate the need for traditional hardware. The platform enables seamless connectivity across hybrid and multi-cloud environments, with integrated security, global backbone-as-a-service, and comprehensive visibility tools. For more details, visit Alkira's Platform Page.
What is the purpose of the Alkira System Description page?
The Alkira System Description page offers a comprehensive overview of Alkira's solutions, including links to detailed resources on Single, Multicloud and Hybrid Cloud Networking, Integrated Security and Network Services, Business Partner Connectivity, Global Backbone-as-a-Service, and Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA). It also provides access to case studies, whitepapers, and customer success stories. Visit Alkira System Description for more information.
How does Alkira handle customer data and privacy?
Alkira uses per-customer, virtual database instances to logically separate customer data. When a customer stops using the service, Alkira destroys the corresponding virtual database instance. Personal data is converted to an irreversible hash and is never stored in clear-text in logs or databases. For privacy inquiries, contact support@alkira.com.
How can I terminate Alkira services and ensure my data is deleted?
To terminate Alkira services, contact support@alkira.com. Customers must delete all resources configured through the portal (such as IPSec, SDWAN, direct connect connectors, network services, and VPC/VNETs) before service termination. Alkira will then destroy the associated virtual database instance, ensuring data is fully deleted.
What are Alkira's customer responsibilities regarding security and access?
Customers are responsible for managing user access, enforcing policy controls, and safeguarding account credentials. This includes revoking access when necessary, following password best practices, and ensuring only authorized users access the Alkira platform. Customers should also comply with their own regulatory and compliance requirements.
Security & Compliance
How does Alkira ensure the security of its platform and customer data?
Alkira's platform is hosted on leading cloud providers (AWS, Azure, GCP), leveraging their certified infrastructure (ISO 27001, FedRAMP, DoD CSM, PCI DSS). Alkira implements data-at-rest encryption, logical data separation, and integrated security features such as Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) and next-generation firewalls. The company is SOC 2 and PCI-DSS compliant. For more, visit Alkira's Compliance Page.
What compliance certifications does Alkira have?
Alkira is SOC 2 compliant and adheres to PCI-DSS standards, ensuring robust operational controls and the protection of cardholder data. These certifications demonstrate Alkira's commitment to security, availability, and confidentiality.
How does Alkira handle incidents and breaches?
Customers must notify Alkira immediately of any suspected or confirmed security incidents or breaches. Alkira triages all reported vulnerabilities and prioritizes fixes based on risk. Users are encouraged to practice responsible disclosure by reporting vulnerabilities to security@alkira.com. High-severity, previously unknown vulnerabilities may be recognized with a token of appreciation.
What is Alkira's responsible disclosure policy?
Alkira encourages security researchers to report vulnerabilities responsibly. The security team acknowledges receipt, notifies when the issue is remediated, and may provide a token of appreciation for high-severity, previously unknown vulnerabilities. Details should be sent to security@alkira.com.
How does Alkira handle data retention and deletion?
Alkira retains personal information as long as you use the services or have an account. Upon request to close your account, Alkira deletes your personal information unless retention is required by law or for legitimate business purposes.
Features & Capabilities
What are the key features and benefits of Alkira's platform?
Alkira offers Network Infrastructure-as-a-Service, Global Backbone-as-a-Service, integrated security (ZTNA, next-generation firewalls), a drag-and-drop interface, single-pane-of-glass visibility, and vendor-agnostic architecture. Benefits include up to 40% lower TCO, 96% reduction in cloud setup time, and 47% reduction in network management time. For more, visit Alkira's Platform Page.
Does Alkira support integrations with other technology providers?
Yes, Alkira integrates with 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 networking. See Alkira's Technology Partners Page for details.
Does Alkira provide APIs for integration and automation?
Yes, Alkira offers APIs, including billing APIs for real-time cloud network cost data. These APIs support integration with cost management tools and dashboards, enabling automated monitoring and optimization. Learn more at this page.
What technical documentation is available for Alkira's solutions?
How does Alkira ensure high performance and scalability?
Alkira's platform automatically adjusts network infrastructure to match bandwidth demand, enabling rapid scalability and high-performance networking. The global backbone-as-a-service reduces deployment times from months to minutes and supports digital transformation initiatives. See this page for more.
Pricing & Plans
What is Alkira's pricing model?
Alkira offers flexible pricing, including consumption-based (pay-as-you-go) and commitment-based (fixed) options. Pricing is determined by the quantity and size of network elements, connectors, firewalls, and data egress. Customers can view live pricing details from the portal or via APIs. For more, visit Alkira's Pricing Page.
Support & Implementation
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. Learn more at Alkira Training Platform.
What support and training does Alkira provide?
Alkira offers a dedicated training platform, 24×7 monitoring, proactive notifications, a diagnostics dashboard for troubleshooting, and dedicated support via support@alkira.com or support tickets. These resources ensure smooth onboarding and ongoing operations.
How does Alkira handle maintenance, upgrades, and troubleshooting?
Alkira provides proactive notifications for planned or emergency maintenance, 24×7 monitoring, and a diagnostics dashboard for live troubleshooting. Customers can report issues via email or support tickets, ensuring minimal downtime and operational disruption.
Competition & Comparison
How does Alkira compare to Aviatrix?
Aviatrix focuses on orchestration overlays and requires deep cloud expertise. Alkira provides a true abstraction layer leveraging cloud providers' infrastructure, offers single-click provisioning, and delivers end-to-end solutions for both cloud and traditional network use cases.
How does Alkira compare to Prosimo?
Prosimo is application-centric and limited in addressing traditional network use cases. Alkira provides full-stack networking and security, addressing both cloud and traditional use cases with scalable networks.
How does Alkira compare to Nefeli?
Nefeli uses agent-based solutions and requires manual configurations. Alkira eliminates manual configurations with automated routing, provides enterprise-grade connectivity, and delivers a unified NIaaS platform.
How does Alkira compare to Cato?
Cato focuses on SD-WAN and is limited in multi-cloud and hybrid environments. Alkira offers a global backbone-as-a-service for multi-cloud and hybrid environments, with integrated security features like ZTNA and seamless connectivity for distributed workforces.
Why should customers choose Alkira over alternatives?
Alkira offers a true abstraction layer, integrated security, ease of use, rapid deployment, vendor-agnostic architecture, and measurable ROI (e.g., 96% reduction in cloud setup time, 47% reduction in network management time, up to 40% lower TCO). For more, visit this page.
Use Cases & Benefits
What problems does Alkira solve?
Alkira addresses operational complexity, multicloud and hybrid networking challenges, security vulnerabilities, and lack of scalability and visibility. The platform simplifies networking, integrates advanced security, and provides comprehensive visibility and control. See this page for details.
Who can benefit from Alkira's solutions?
Alkira is designed for mid-to-large enterprises across industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, retail, financial services, biotechnology, software technology, media & entertainment, and aviation. Target roles include Network Architect, Cloud Architect, Security Architect, IT Manager/Director, CloudOps, VP, CTO, CIO, and CISO.
What business impact can customers expect from Alkira?
Customers can expect operational efficiency (96% reduction in cloud setup time, 47% reduction in network management time), up to 40% lower TCO, enhanced security, rapid scalability, business resilience, and support for digital transformation. See this page for more.
What are some real-world use cases and case studies for Alkira?
Examples include:
Michaels: Transformed its network across 1,400 stores in record time. Read the case study.
Koch Industries: Simplified multicloud networking and improved agility. Watch the video.
Warner Hotels: Enhanced networking efficiency and B2B connectivity. Watch the video.
Chart Industries: Improved agility, saved costs, and expanded globally. Watch the video.
SITA: Integrated on-premises and cloud environments for aviation. Watch the video.
What industries are represented in Alkira's case studies?
Industries include manufacturing, retail, healthcare, telecommunications, financial services, biotechnology/life sciences, software technology, media & entertainment, and aviation.
Customer Proof & Testimonials
What feedback have customers given about Alkira's ease of use?
Customers consistently praise Alkira for its simplicity and rapid deployment. For example, a Network Architect at a large manufacturer said, "The IT DIY approach was going to take 6 months to be secure and redundant and all. Alkira did it for us in 3 days, and at very low cost." Matt Hoag, CTO at Koch Industries, noted, "We had gone from a mass of complexity and months of work to a dashboard that allowed us simply to draw our network and deploy it in a few hours."
Who are some of Alkira's customers?
Alkira serves Fortune 100 enterprises, leading system integrators, and global managed service providers. Notable customers include Michaels, Koch Industries, Warner Hotels, and SITA. See more at our customers page.
Technical Requirements
What are the technical requirements for accessing Alkira's platform?
Alkira is a multi-tenant, cloud-based service accessible via web browsers such as Chrome and Firefox. Access requires a login ID and password or integration with a Single-Sign-On (SSO) provider. Customers are responsible for managing user access and following security best practices.
How does Alkira handle password management and account security?
Users must establish strong, complex passwords and never share credentials. Loss of control over passwords could result in loss of personal data, and account owners are responsible for all activities performed under their credentials. Access should be revoked when users leave the organization or change roles.
Company Information & 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 networking by providing a cloud-native solution that seamlessly connects hybrid and multi-cloud environments through a unified control plane. Learn more at Alkira's Company Page.
What is Alkira's company background and industry recognition?
Alkira was founded by the creators of Viptela (acquired by Cisco in 2017) and has been recognized as a Gartner Cool Vendor, a Forbes Best Startup Employer, and a recipient of the 2024 Excellence Award from Cloud Computing Magazine. For more, visit Alkira's Company Page.
A subset of Alkira’s Personnel has access to customer data as necessary to support the platform. Individual access is granted based on the role and job responsibilities of the individual. Access to systems containing customer data is reviewed on a regular basis and is monitored on an ongoing basis.
Secure Data Handling and Destruction
Our solution is hosted on cloud providers like (AWS, Azure and GCP) infrastructure. Cloud providers are responsible for the security of the underlying cloud infrastructure and Alkira takes the responsibility of securing workloads we deploy inside the cloud infrastructure. Cloud providers monitor and audit computing environments continuously, with certifications from accreditation bodies across geographies and verticals, including ISO 27001, FedRAMP, DoD CSM, and PCI DSS. Any device storing any data is subjected to data-at-rest encryption. Thus, a decommissioned device cannot be misused.
Alkira makes use of per-customer, virtual database instances to logically separate one customer’s data from other customers’ data. When a customer stops using the service, Alkira destroys the corresponding virtual database instance. Any customer data that is identified and cataloged by Alkira as personal data is converted to an irreversible hash and stored in the virtual database instance for that customer. Personal data is not captured in clear-text in logs or databases.
Customer Responsibilities
The Alkira platform provides broad functionality of network and service orchestration through role-based access control. It is provided as a multi-tenant, cloud-based service, accessible on the internet via web browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, etc. As a user of the Alkira platform, customers should be proactive in recognizing the value and sensitivity of the information provided by the service as well as the need to safeguard such data appropriately. Customers should also make sure that they have access to the policy enforcement capabilities. This document details Alkira’s customer responsibilities as they relate to use of the Alkira platform. It is the responsibility of Alkira customers to familiarize themselves with the information and procedures set forth below and comply with them.
Safeguarding of Assets and Information
To safeguard information assets and policy enforcement capabilities available in the Alkira platform, the customers’ IT governance processes should include end-user training regarding appropriate use and awareness of the need for securing access to their Alkira platform account credentials. As with most cloud services, access to the Alkira platform requires a login ID and password or integration with a Single-Sign-On (SSO) provider. When an organization subscribes to the Alkira platform service, it is the customer’s responsibility to manage which end users should be given access. Customers should also define when access should be taken away from the end users. For example, access should be revoked upon end user’s separation from employment or as part of departmental changes that result in change of duties or responsibilities. Only valid account credentials should be used by authorized users to access the Alkira platform service.
Alkira’s platform service should be considered sensitive and confidential by Alkira platform users. Users should follow information security best practices in ensuring access to their account credentials is appropriately limited, as well as ensuring that the information and functionality provided by the Alkira platform service is protected and restricted from unauthorized use. Alkira platform users are responsible for maintaining the security and confidentiality of their user credentials (e.g., Login ID and Password), and are responsible for all activities and uses performed under their account credentials whether authorized by them or not. By establishing user credentials and accessing the Alkira platform, end users of the Alkira platform service agree to comply with these requirements to safeguard assets and account information.
Service Termination
Alkira service can be terminated by reaching out to support@alkira.com. Customers are required to delete all the resources configured through the portal before service can be terminated. These resources include but are not limited to IPSec, SDWAN, and direct connect connectors extending to branches, data centers, or SD-WAN environments, network services that they have deployed, and VPC/VNETs connecting public cloud environments.
Password Management
Alkira platform service is accessible to public IP addresses on global Internet, as a result, great care must be exercised by Alkira platform users in protecting their subscription against unauthorized access and use of their credentials. By establishing user credentials and accessing the Alkira platform service, end users agree to proactively protect the security and confidentiality of their user credentials and never share service account credentials, disclose any passwords or user identifications to any unauthorized persons, or permit any unauthorized person to use or access their Alkira platform accounts. Any loss of control of passwords or user identifications could result in the loss of “Personally Identifiable Data (PII)” and the culpable account owner(s) may be liable for the actions taken under their service account credentials whether they authorized the activity or not. Additionally, when establishing Alkira platform account credentials, end users are required to establish strong passwords following password strength and complexity best practices; passwords should not be easily guessable.
Reporting Operational Issues
All Alkira services are monitored 24×7 to meet our SLA commitments. All planned maintenance will be done as per the scheduled plan which will be communicated to the customer when they sign up for the service. If there is a need to do an emergency maintenance for a vulnerability or bug fix, we will notify customers prior to the work being performed. To get updates in real-time, customers can subscribe to email notifications. On the occasion that Alkira customers observe performance issues, problems or service outages, they can contact support@alkira.com or open a support ticket to report such issues.
Incidents and Breaches
By establishing Alkira platform account credentials or accessing its service, customers agree to notify Alkira immediately of any security incident, including any suspected or confirmed breach of security. Also, users of the service agree to logout or exit the service immediately at the end of each session to provide further protection against unauthorized use and intrusion. Alkira customers should also notify Alkira immediately if they observe any activity or communications in other forums that may indicate that other Alkira customers have had their accounts compromised. Lastly, Alkira encourages users to practice responsible disclosure by notifying Alkira of any identified security vulnerabilities. Alkira is dedicated to providing secure services to clients, and will triage all security vulnerabilities that are reported. Furthermore, Alkira will prioritize and fix security vulnerabilities in accordance with the risk that they pose.
Compliance Issues
Regulatory requirements and industry mandates are continuously increasing in scope & depth and can vary from industry to industry. Alkira users agree to abide by the regulatory requirements, industry mandates, and other compliance requirements imposed on their organizations and understand that use of cloud-based services does not exclude the organizations from responsibilities for restricting access to application information and functionality.
Responsible Disclosure Policy
Alkira is dedicated to keeping its cloud platform safe from all types of security issues thereby providing a safe and secure environment to our customers. Data security is a matter of utmost importance and a top priority for us. If you are a dedicated security researcher or vulnerability hunter and have discovered a security flaw in the Alkira platform including the cloud application and infrastructure, we appreciate your support in disclosing the issue to us in a responsible manner. Our responsible disclosure process is managed by the security team at Alkira. We are always ready to recognize the efforts of security researchers by rewarding them with a token of appreciation, provided the reported security issue is of high severity and not known to us. While reporting the security vulnerability to Alkira Security team, please refrain from disclosing the vulnerability details to the public outside of this process without explicit permission. Please provide the complete details. We determine the impact of vulnerability by looking into the ease of exploitation and business risks associated with the vulnerability.
Response
As a security researcher, if you identify or discover a security vulnerability in compliance with the responsible disclosure guidelines, Alkira security commits to:
Acknowledge the receipt of reported security vulnerability in a timely fashion
Notify you when the vulnerability is remediated
Extend our gratitude by providing a token of appreciation in supporting us to make our customers safe and secure
Please send the details of the discovered vulnerability or any security issue to: security@alkira.com
Data Retention
We may retain your personal information as long as you continue to use the Services, have an account with us, or for as long as is necessary to fulfil the purposes outlined in the policy. You can ask to close your account by contacting us at the details above, and we will delete your personal information upon request. We may, however, retain personal information for an additional period as is permitted or required under applicable laws, for legal, tax, or regulatory reasons, or for legitimate and lawful business purposes.
For Site visitors from Nevada
We do not transfer Personal Data for monetary consideration. If you would like to tell us not to sell your information in the future please email us at support@alkira.com with your name, postal address, telephone number and email address with “Nevada do not sell” in the subject line.
Changes to our Privacy Policy
The Policy in effect at the time you use the Site governs how we may use your information. Our business may change from time to time. As a result, at times it may be necessary for Alkira to make changes to this Privacy Policy. Alkira reserves the right to update or modify this Privacy Policy at any time and from time to time without. If we make material changes we will post the updated policy on this page with an updated Effective Date. Please check back here from time to time to review this policy, and especially before you provide Your Data to Alkira through the site or by registering to the service. Your continued use or access to the Site and the Services after any changes or revisions to this Privacy Policy shall indicate your agreement with the terms of such revised Privacy Policy.