Alkira, which provides a multi-cloud compatible network as-a-Service, enters Japan

US Alkira and Nissho Electronics Corporation announced on December 3 that they have entered into a strategic business alliance regarding the provision of Alkira's network cloud service in Japan. As Japan's first distribution partner of Alkira, Nissho Electronics will develop its solutions such as "Alkira CXS Network Cloud" in the domestic market.

Providing a multi-cloud compatible network on demand

"Simplifying the network was a huge challenge for many enterprise customers. Alkira provides a pinpoint network cloud," said Amir Khan, co-founder and CEO of Alkira. The simplicity that can be achieved is highly evaluated globally. We are very pleased to be able to partner with Nissho Electronics to enter the Japanese market, "he said, showing his willingness to expand his share in the Japanese market.

Alkira co-founder and CEO Amir Khan

Alkira is a company that provides on-demand multi-cloud networking services, founded in 2018 by CEO Khan and CEO Khan's younger brother and current CTO Atif Khan. The company calls these services "Network Cloud", and the biggest thing is that users can receive various network services from anywhere with one click without purchasing dedicated network equipment. It is a feature.

The core of the network cloud provided by Alkira is the network exchange point "Alkira Cloud Service Exchange (CSX)" deployed all over the world, which is used by users such as public clouds such as AWS and Microsoft Azure and on-premises data centers. It connects the environment inside and the CSX closest to it to provide end-to-end network services. CEO Kahn describes the solutions provided by Alkira in three broad categories:

Network exchange point "Alkira Cloud Service Exchange (CSX)" deployed all over the world

-End-to-end network connection Connect all cloud services (Amazon VPC, Azure VNets, Google Cloud Platform VPC, etc.) used by users with Alkira's CSX with a single click, and use CSX to connect various end-to-end network services (Cisco SD). -Can provide WAN, IPsec, AWS Direct Connect, etc. to remote sites such as users' remote offices and stores. "CNaaS (Cloud Network-as-a-Service)" that delivers hybrid and multi-cloud network services , Zero Trust Network Access "ZTNA", "CBaaS (Cloud Backbone-as-a-Service)" that enables connection between networks by utilizing CSX as a backbone, etc.

· Network and security service integration In partnership with Palo Alto Networks, users can optionally provision a "Palo Alto VM-Series Firewall" to apply firewall instances to remote sites with a single click through CSX. Payment can be selected from pay-as-you-go (Pay-as-you-go) or bring-in license (Pay-as-your-license).

-Deep visualization and strong governance A simple web interface "Alkira Cloud Services Exchange Portal" graphically visualizes the status of connected cloud services (including firewalls), autoscales firewall instances, appropriate alerts, log audits, and user management. Provides operational functions such as

With this entry into Japan, Alkira has started offering "Alkira C BaaS" for the Japanese market, which functions as a global high-speed / low-latency multi-cloud backbone, in addition to "Alkira CNaaS". Sales / support in Japan will be carried out by domestic partner Nissho Electronics.

"As-a-Service will become the norm for future networks."

Alkira CEO Amir Khan launched SD-WAN startup Viptela before Alkira was founded. Viptela was acquired by Cisco in August 2017 and is incorporated into the company's SD-WAN business because of its high technology that allows flexible control of edge routers at each site using software. A year later, in 2018, CEO Khan founded Alkira with his younger brother Atif Khan, CTO, and has been highly evaluated by investors due to his achievements in the Viptera era. Raised funds (total raised $ 76 million).

Nissho Electronics, the first strategic partner in Japan, has been in partnership with the Khan brothers since the Viplera era, and this partnership with Alkira is also "in line with the cloud shift trend that Nissho Electronics is focusing on. "Mono" (Nissho Electronics Director, Managing Executive Officer Toshiro Sakai). The company has already introduced Alkira's solution to customers in the Tokyo metropolitan area on a business negotiation basis, and is considering expanding it in Osaka in the near future.

Mr. Toshiro Sakai, Director and Managing Executive Officer of Nissho Electronics

CTO Khan said, "We have been building a good partnership with Nissho Electronics from an early stage and have been discussing entering the Japanese market. We are delighted to be able to name Nissho Electronics as a partner in the Japanese market this time." He said that he aims to expand his share in the Japanese market based on the long-standing relationship of trust.

Alkira Khan CTO

Alkira offers a small number of offerings yet, but the globally deployed CXP-based networking service has a variety of use cases for users who want to use complex cloud networks as simply and securely as possible. For example, SaaS applications and DMZs provided by third parties, or load balancers and DPIs as more detailed services can be provided end-to-end via CSX. CTO Khan said, "In the future, we would like to cooperate with third-party vendors to integrate Alkira's network cloud with various services and create an environment where users can receive network functions as as-a-Service wherever they are." It is expected that the service will be expanded in the future.

"As-a-Service will become the norm for future networks," said Khan. It seems that the approach of using necessary network services on demand is gradually being recognized in Japan.