Enterprise networking is at a critical turning point in the era of cloud computing, generative AI, and distributed workforces. Traditional WAN architectures—rooted in MPLS, SD-WAN, and colocation facilities—struggle to keep up. They’re complex, expensive, and often too slow to deploy to support the fast-paced needs of modern organizations.
Alkira Cloud Backbone as-a-Service is changing the game by introducing new WAN transport architecture that’s agile, secure, performant, scalable, and most importantly, built for today’s critical enterprise connectivity challenges.
The Challenges of Traditional WAN
Legacy WAN solutions were designed for a world where traffic flowed predictably between corporate offices and centralized data centers. However, these older models break down as enterprise applications transition to cloud and multi-cloud environments, and specific physical locations no longer bind users.
MPLS, for example, offers reliable connectivity but high costs, limited bandwidth, and painfully slow deployment times. SD-WAN brought more flexibility in public Internet transport but often requires hardware upgrades and complex cloud configurations. Meanwhile, powerful colocation-based networking demands heavy infrastructure investments and significant operational effort.
The core problem remains the same in all these cases: traditional WAN models weren’t built for the cloud and AI era.
A Modern WAN for a Modern World
Alkira rethinks the entire WAN model by offering an as-a-Service global backbone that runs natively across major cloud providers like AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud. Instead of installing hardware or relying on physical infrastructure, organizations can connect branches, data centers, users, SaaS apps, and cloud workloads through Alkira Cloud Exchange Points (CXPs)—software-defined, cloud-hosted points of presence that provide instant, scalable connectivity.
Network and security services are seamlessly integrated into the platform. Organizations can deploy enterprise-grade firewalls, segment their networks for security, balance application traffic, and manage IP policies—all from a centralized portal with complete visibility and control.
Beyond Connectivity: Simplicity and Cost Efficiency
What sets Alkira apart is its performance and flexibility, and it dramatically simplifies the entire end-to-end network architecture while offering network engineers all the advanced capabilities they need to stay in control. There’s no need for new branch hardware, no colocation buildouts, and no long waits for circuit provisioning. The system supports integration into existing network environments, making it easy to transition at your own pace.
IT teams also benefit from significant cost savings. By consolidating networking and security in a single platform and eliminating the need for multiple infrastructure solutions, organizations can cut the total cost of ownership by up to 60%. Integration with automation tools like REST APIs and Terraform ensures that even large, complex deployments can be managed programmatically.
Use Cases That Matter
From building a global network backbone to integrating regional SD-WAN deployments and streamlining post-merger networking, Alkira’s solution addresses real-world enterprise needs. Whether you’re modernizing gradually or doing a complete overhaul, the platform adapts to your strategy and scale.
Reinventing the Network for the Cloud and AI Era
The future of enterprise networking isn’t about patching legacy systems together—it’s about embracing a purpose-built model for cloud, genAI, and global operations. Alkira Cloud Backbone as-a-Service offers precisely that: a simplified, scalable, and secure network foundation for business connectivity looking to move faster, operate more competently, and innovate without limits.
About Alkira
Alkira is a leading provider of Network Infrastructure-as-a-Service solutions, empowering enterprises to build, manage, and scale their networks with ease through its comprehensive as-a-service platform.
