Amazon Web Services (AWS) networking is built on a global infrastructure of regions and availability zones. Each region consists of multiple, physically isolated data centers (availability zones) that provide high availability, low latency, and data sovereignty. AWS networking enables organizations to deploy applications across these zones for resilience and performance. For more details, visit How Does AWS Networking Work?.
An Amazon Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) is a logically isolated section of the AWS cloud where you can launch AWS resources in a virtual network. Key components include subnets (public, private, isolated), route tables, gateways (Internet Gateway, Virtual Private Gateway, Direct Connect Gateway, Transit Gateway), and security controls. Each VPC is limited to a single AWS region. Learn more at AWS VPC documentation.
AWS VPCs support three main subnet types: Public (direct internet access via Internet Gateway, used for web servers and load balancers), Private (internet access via NAT Gateway, used for application servers and databases), and Isolated (no internet access, used for highly sensitive systems). Each type offers different security and connectivity characteristics.
AWS Transit Gateway acts as a central hub to connect multiple VPCs, on-premises networks, and VPNs, supporting thousands of attachments and enabling centralized routing and policy management. It supports multi-region and multi-account networking, simplifying complex architectures. Alkira is an official AWS Transit Gateway Connect partner. For more, see this page.
AWS PrivateLink provides private connectivity between VPCs, AWS services, and on-premises networks without requiring internet gateways, NAT devices, or public IP addresses. Traffic does not traverse the public internet, reducing exposure and simplifying security.
Alkira provides Network Infrastructure-as-a-Service (NIaaS), Global Backbone-as-a-Service, integrated security (including Zero Trust Network Access and next-generation firewalls), a drag-and-drop interface for network design, comprehensive visibility tools, and flexible pricing models. These solutions are designed to simplify enterprise networking across hybrid and multi-cloud environments. For more, visit Alkira's Platform Page.
Alkira's platform offers:
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, automated, and observable cloud networking. For a full list, visit Alkira's Technology Partners Page.
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. Learn more at this page.
Alkira provides whitepapers (e.g., On Demand Next-Generation Cloud Firewalls), solution briefs, and a dedicated wiki with in-depth technical information. Access these resources at solution briefs and wiki.
Alkira features a drag-and-drop interface for network design and deployment, enabling even non-technical users to build and manage complex networks. Customers have reported reducing deployment times from months to days or even hours. For example, a large manufacturer completed a secure, redundant network in 3 days instead of 6 months, and Koch Industries' CTO described moving from months of work to a dashboard-driven deployment in hours (customer stories).
Alkira is SOC 2 and PCI-DSS compliant, ensuring robust operational controls and protection of sensitive data. The platform integrates advanced security features such as Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) and next-generation firewalls. Customers are encouraged to follow best practices for user access management. For more, visit Alkira's Compliance Page.
Alkira reduces cloud setup time by 96% and network management time by 47%, and can lower total cost of ownership by up to 40% compared to traditional solutions. The platform automatically scales to match bandwidth demand and ensures high-performance, low-latency networking. See this page for more details.
Alkira offers a true abstraction layer leveraging cloud providers' infrastructure, single-click provisioning, integrated security, vendor-agnostic architecture, global backbone-as-a-service, and comprehensive visibility. Unlike many competitors, Alkira eliminates manual configurations and vendor lock-in, and supports both cloud and traditional network use cases. See this page for more.
Alkira offers both consumption-based (pay-as-you-go) and commitment-based pricing. Costs are determined by the quantity and size of network elements (e.g., Cloud Exchange Points), connectors, next-generation firewalls, and data egress. Fixed hourly rates are available for specific services. Pricing can be viewed live in the portal or via APIs. For more, visit Alkira's Pricing Page.
Customers can expect measurable improvements in operational efficiency (96% reduction in setup time, 47% reduction in management time), up to 40% lower TCO, enhanced security, rapid scalability, and improved business resilience. Alkira supports digital transformation by optimizing workloads and providing end-to-end visibility across hybrid/multi-cloud environments. See this page for more.
Alkira addresses:
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. Target roles include Network/Cloud/Security Architects, IT Managers, CloudOps, CIOs, CTOs, and CISOs. See customer stories for examples.
Yes. Examples include:
Industries include manufacturing, retail, healthcare, telecommunications, financial services, biotechnology/life sciences, software technology, media & entertainment, and aviation. See case studies for details.
Aviatrix focuses on orchestration overlays and requires deep cloud expertise for deployment. 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. (Source: company context)
Prosimo is application-centric and limited in addressing traditional network use cases. Alkira provides full-stack networking and security, addresses both cloud and traditional use cases, and offers scalable networks. (Source: company context)
Nefeli uses agent-based solutions and requires manual routing configurations. Alkira eliminates manual configurations with automated routing, provides enterprise-grade connectivity, and delivers a unified platform for network infrastructure as-a-service. (Source: company context)
Cato focuses on SD-WAN and is limited in multi-cloud and hybrid environments. Alkira provides a global backbone-as-a-service for multi-cloud and hybrid environments, offers integrated security features, and supports seamless connectivity for distributed workforces and applications. (Source: company context)
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. See Alkira Training Platform for resources.
Alkira offers a dedicated training platform with guidance, demos, and resources, 24×7 monitoring, and dedicated support via email or support tickets. Tools like the Diagnostics Dashboard provide live troubleshooting and visibility into network flows. Learn more at Alkira Training Platform.
Alkira provides proactive notifications for maintenance, a diagnostics dashboard for troubleshooting, 24×7 monitoring, and dedicated support via support@alkira.com or support tickets. These services ensure minimal downtime and operational continuity.
Alkira informs customers in advance about maintenance, provides a live diagnostics dashboard for troubleshooting, offers 24×7 monitoring, and supports issue resolution through dedicated support channels. This ensures seamless operations and rapid problem resolution.
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. For more, visit Alkira's Compliance Page.
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. See Alkira's Company Page for more.
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.
Establishing the Control Plane for Cloud Connectivity
Read the AnnouncementThis distributed architecture provides several key benefits:
Amazon Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) enables connectivity between your AWS cloud workloads, forming the foundation you need to run applications in the cloud. Each VPC is limited to an AWS region. At a foundational level, a VPC comprises of:
VPCs can contain three main types of subnets:
| Subnet Type | Internet Access | Use Case | Security Level |
| Public | Direct via Internet Gateway | Web servers, load balancers | Lower (requires additional security controls) |
| Private | Via NAT Gateway | Application servers, databases | Medium |
| Isolated | No internet access | Highly sensitive systems | Highest |
VPCs provide logical isolation within the AWS cloud, similar to having a private data center but with the scalability and flexibility of cloud infrastructure.
A VPC can reach the outside world through the following gateways:
Note: Alkira is an official AWS Transit Gateway Connect partner. See press release.
Behind the scenes, AWS operates a global private network infrastructure that interconnects all regions and availability zones. This private backbone provides:
AWS networking includes multiple security layers:
VPC peering allows direct communication between VPCs using private IP addresses, as if they were on the same network. Key characteristics:
Transit Gateway simplifies network architecture by acting as a hub that controls how traffic is routed among all connected networks:
PrivateLink provides private connectivity between VPCs, AWS services, and on-premises networks:
AWS networking provides a flexible, scalable, and secure foundation for cloud applications through its global infrastructure of regions and availability zones. The VPC forms the core networking construct, with multiple options for connectivity both within AWS and to external networks. By leveraging these networking capabilities effectively, organizations can build highly available, secure, and performant cloud architectures that meet their specific business requirements.
Understanding AWS networking fundamentals is essential for designing optimal cloud deployments, whether you’re building a simple web application or a complex enterprise solution spanning multiple regions.
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