What is Alkira and how does it enhance cloud security?

Alkira is a cloud networking as-a-service platform designed to simplify and secure enterprise connectivity across hybrid and multi-cloud environments. By integrating with leading security solutions like Zscaler, Alkira enables organizations to achieve robust, scalable, and flexible cloud security. The platform offers features such as Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), next-generation firewalls, and a global backbone-as-a-service, ensuring secure and resilient connectivity for distributed workforces and applications. Learn more about Alkira's platform.

How does Alkira integrate with Zscaler?

Alkira integrates with Zscaler by establishing secure tunnels from Alkira Cloud Exchange Points (CXPs) to Zscaler Internet Access (ZIA) Public Service Edges. This integration allows customers to direct specific traffic flows to Zscaler for inspection, while other flows can be routed to different next-generation firewalls as needed. The integration streamlines deployment, overcomes tunnel limitations, and provides health checks for seamless failover to Zscaler Points of Presence (PoPs), enhancing network resilience and minimizing downtime. Read the integration guide.

What are the main benefits of integrating Alkira with Zscaler?

The main benefits include simplified deployment (no manual tunnel configuration required), enhanced network resilience with automated failover, selective traffic steering for granular security policies, comprehensive monitoring and visibility into Zscaler-bound traffic, and seamless segmentation to maintain isolation for workloads. These capabilities help organizations confidently embrace cloud computing while maintaining high security and compliance standards.

How does Alkira's selective traffic steering work with Zscaler?

Alkira enables users to define traffic policies based on 5-tuple match conditions, allowing selective routing of desired traffic flows to Zscaler for inspection. Other traffic can be directed to different next-generation firewalls within the Alkira CXP. This flexibility ensures that organizations can apply the right security controls to the right traffic, optimizing both performance and protection.

How can I validate that my traffic is being inspected by Zscaler through Alkira?

To validate Zscaler connectivity, customers can access https://ip.zscaler.com from the resource attempting internet access. The output will confirm that traffic is being routed through Zscaler, ensuring that security policies are enforced as intended.

What monitoring and visibility tools does Alkira provide for Zscaler integration?

Alkira offers monitoring capabilities that provide visibility into all traffic traversing Zscaler. Users can view detailed information about traffic types, bandwidth utilization, and policy enforcement, ensuring comprehensive oversight and the ability to optimize security and performance.

How does segmentation in Alkira ensure isolation and security for workloads?

Alkira's segmentation feature creates unique routing and policy spaces, allowing organizations to maintain strict isolation for different workloads and traffic flows. This ensures that Zscaler services can be restricted to specific segments and regions, enhancing security and compliance.

Who authored the blog on enhancing cloud security using Zscaler integration with Alkira?

The blog was authored by Ahmed Abeer, Senior Product Manager at Alkira, and Deepesh Kumar, Solutions Architect at Alkira. Both have extensive experience in multi-cloud networking and customer deployments. Learn more about Ahmed Abeer and Deepesh Kumar.

What are Alkira's key features for cloud networking and security?

Alkira offers Network Infrastructure-as-a-Service (NIaaS), global backbone-as-a-service, integrated security (including ZTNA and next-generation firewalls), a drag-and-drop interface for network design, single-pane-of-glass visibility, and flexible pricing models. These features simplify multicloud networking, enhance security, and provide operational efficiency. Explore Alkira's features.

Does Alkira support integrations with other technology providers?

Yes, Alkira supports integrations with a range of technology partners, including Cisco SD-WAN, Palo Alto Networks, Fortinet NGFW, F5, Splunk, ServiceNow, Infoblox, Aruba SD-WAN, Terraform, and Itential Automation Platform. These integrations enable seamless connectivity, enhanced security, and simplified management. See all technology partners.

Does Alkira provide APIs for integration and automation?

Yes, Alkira offers APIs, including billing APIs that provide real-time cloud network cost data. These APIs can be integrated with cost management tools and dashboards for automated monitoring and optimization. Learn more about Alkira APIs.

What technical documentation is available for Alkira's solutions?

Alkira provides whitepapers, solution briefs, and a dedicated wiki with in-depth technical information. Notable resources include the On Demand Next-Generation Cloud Firewalls whitepaper and solution briefs. Access the Alkira wiki for more details.

What security and compliance certifications does Alkira have?

Alkira is SOC 2 and PCI-DSS compliant, demonstrating a strong commitment to securing customer data and maintaining robust operational controls. The platform also integrates advanced security features such as Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) and next-generation firewalls. See Alkira's compliance details.

How does Alkira ensure secure connectivity for distributed workforces and applications?

Alkira integrates security features like ZTNA and next-generation firewalls directly into its platform, eliminating vulnerabilities associated with traditional VPNs and perimeter-based security models. This ensures secure, seamless access for remote teams and cloud applications.

What common pain points does Alkira address for enterprises?

Alkira addresses challenges such as securing distributed workforces, simplifying complex multicloud and hybrid cloud networking, providing comprehensive visibility and governance, and delivering high-performance, scalable networking. The platform 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. Learn how Alkira solves these pain points.

How does Alkira's approach to cloud networking differ from traditional solutions?

Alkira offers a true abstraction layer leveraging cloud providers' infrastructure, eliminating manual configurations and enabling single-click provisioning. Its global backbone-as-a-service reduces deployment times from months to minutes, and integrated security features provide robust protection for distributed environments.

Can you share examples of how Alkira has solved real customer challenges?

Yes. For example, Michaels transformed its network across 1,400 stores in record time using Alkira, ensuring secure and seamless connectivity during peak season (case study). Koch Industries simplified multicloud networking and improved agility (video). Warner Hotels enhanced networking efficiency and visibility (video). See more at Alkira's customers page.

Who can benefit from Alkira's solutions?

Alkira is designed for mid-to-large enterprises across industries such as manufacturing, retail, healthcare, telecommunications, financial services, biotechnology, software technology, media & entertainment, and aviation. Roles that benefit include network architects, cloud architects, security architects, IT managers, CIOs, CTOs, and CISOs.

What are some industry-specific use cases for Alkira?

Alkira has enabled secure distributed workforce connectivity for retailers like Michaels, simplified multicloud networking for financial services firms, provided visibility and governance for software companies, and delivered high-performance networking for healthcare providers. For more, see case studies.

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, next-generation firewalls, and data egress. Customers can view live pricing details from the portal or via APIs. See Alkira's pricing page.

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. Access Alkira's training platform.

What support and training does Alkira provide to customers?

Alkira offers a dedicated training platform, 24×7 monitoring, proactive notifications for maintenance, a diagnostics dashboard for troubleshooting, and dedicated support via email or support tickets. These resources ensure smooth adoption and ongoing operations. Contact Alkira support.

How does Alkira handle maintenance, upgrades, and troubleshooting?

Alkira provides proactive notifications for planned or emergency maintenance, a live diagnostics dashboard for troubleshooting, 24×7 monitoring to meet SLA commitments, and dedicated support to minimize downtime and operational disruptions.

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 unified platform for both cloud and traditional network use cases. For example, Aviatrix focuses on orchestration overlays and requires deep cloud expertise, while Alkira provides end-to-end solutions without such requirements. Prosimo is application-centric, whereas Alkira addresses full-stack networking. Nefeli uses agent-based solutions with manual configurations, while Alkira automates routing. Cato focuses on SD-WAN, while Alkira delivers global backbone-as-a-service for multi-cloud and hybrid environments. See detailed comparisons.

Why should a customer choose Alkira over alternatives?

Customers choose Alkira for its ease of use, integrated security, rapid deployment (reducing setup time by 96%), measurable ROI (up to 40% lower TCO), vendor-agnostic approach, and comprehensive visibility. Alkira enables organizations to simplify multicloud networking and achieve business agility. Learn more about Alkira's advantages.

What feedback have customers given about Alkira's ease of use?

Customers have praised Alkira for dramatically reducing deployment times and simplifying complex networking tasks. 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." See more testimonials.

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. Learn more about Alkira.

Who are Alkira's founders and what is the company's background?

Alkira was founded by the creators of Viptela, a company acquired by Cisco in 2017. The founders leveraged their expertise to build Alkira, focusing on simplifying multicloud networking with a cloud-native approach. Alkira has received industry recognition, including being named a Gartner Cool Vendor and winning the 2024 Excellence Award from Cloud Computing Magazine. Company details.

Blog

Enhancing Cloud Security using Zscaler Integration with Alkira

April 2, 2024

Summarize with AI

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, ensuring robust security for cloud-based applications and data is paramount. Alkira, a leader in cloud networking as a service, integrated with Zscaler, a renowned cloud security platform, to provide customers with enhanced security capabilities.Figure 1: Alkira Connectivity with Zscaler

Table of Contents

Integration steps:

1. Retrieve ZIA Service Edge IPs: Customer can get the IPs for the closest ZIA PoPs to the Alkira CXP using the API (https://pac.zscalertwo.net/getvpnendpoints)

2. Configuration and Establishing Connectivity: Alkira Cloud Exchange Points (CXPs) establish secure tunnels to Zscaler Public Service Edges, facilitating seamless connectivity between Alkira and Zscaler’s security infrastructure.Figure 2: Alkira Portal – Zscaler Integration Configuration

3. Traffic Steering: User traffic is directed to ZIA using Alkira traffic policies based on the required 5-tuple match conditions to, which gives users ability to selectively send desired traffic flows to Zscaler and redirect other traffic flows to other NGFWs if needed.

Figure 3: Diagram showing selective traffic steering exampleFigure 4: Alkira Policy example for Traffic Steering

Validation:

Customers can hit the URL https://ip.zscaler.com from the resource they are trying to access the internet from to validate that the traffic is hitting Zscaler, and they should see an output similar to the one below.

Figure 5: Validating Zscaler connectivity

Alkira Benefits:

The integration of ZIA with Alkira enhances user experience in several key ways:

Simplified Deployment and Enhanced Resilience

By integrating Alkira with Zscaler, customers can enjoy streamlined deployment processes and bolstered network resilience. With this integration Alkira overcomes the tunnel limitation, customers no longer need to configure and add tunnels based on throughput needs manually. They just input the required throughput and Alkira takes care of the rest.Additionally, the health checks ensure seamless failover to Zscaler’s Points of Presence (PoPs) in case of network disruptions or failures, enhancing overall network reliability and minimizing downtime.

Selective Traffic Steering

Based on required match conditions, the customer can choose to send selective traffic to Zscaler, which provides flexibility in terms of what traffic needs to be inspected via Zscaler and what traffic needs to be inspected using other 3rd party NGFWs in the Alkira CXP.

Monitoring and Visibility

Alkira provides monitoring capabilities and visibility into all traffic that is going to traverse Zscaler. Users have rich visibility into the type of traffic is going to the ZIA service and also check BW utilization for that traffic.

Segmentation

Alkira segment represents a unique routing and policy space, maintaining isolation for workloads and traffic flows becomes seamless for customers. Because of this flexibility, the ZIA service is restricted to that unique segment and region within Alkira.

Conclusion

By leveraging Zscaler’s integration with Alkira, organizations can confidently embrace the benefits of cloud computing while ensuring the highest security and compliance standards.

Unlock the power of integrated cloud security with Alkira CSX and Zscaler. Experience enhanced protection, simplified management, and unparalleled peace of mind in your cloud journey.

About the Authors : Ahmed Abeer & Deepesh Kumar

Other Categories:

Integrated Security and Network Services

About the author

Ahmed Abeer

Ahmed Abeer is a Sr. Product Manager at Alkira, where he is responsible for building a best-in-class Multi-Cloud Networking and Security Product. He has been in Product Management for more than ten years in different big and small organizations. He has worked with large enterprise and service provider customers to enable LTE/5G MPLS network infrastructure, automate Layer 3 Data Center, enable Next-Gen Multi-Cloud architecture, and define customers' Multi-Cloud strategies. Ahmed's technical expertise in Cloud Computing and Layer 2/Layer 3 network technologies. Ahmed is a public speaker at various conferences & forums and holds a Master's Degree in Computer Engineering.