Akamai Technologies Inc. is a prominent global content delivery network (CDN) and cloud services provider. The company was founded in 1998 by Tom Leighton and Danny Lewin at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Its name, "Akamai," is derived from a Hawaiian word that means "clever" or "intelligent," reflecting the company's focus on optimizing and accelerating the delivery of online content.
Akamai's primary goal is to enhance the speed, security, and performance of online content and applications. The company operates a vast network of servers distributed across the globe, known as edge servers, which store copies of customers' content and distribute it to users based on their geographic location. This distributed approach improves the load times of websites, streaming media, and other online services.
Listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the ticker symbol "AKAM," Akamai Technologies is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The company serves a wide range of clients, including some of the world's most recognizable brands, media companies, e-commerce platforms, and financial institutions.
Akamai's services include content delivery, web and mobile performance optimization, cloud security solutions, and video streaming solutions. With the growing importance of internet-based services, Akamai plays a critical role in ensuring seamless and secure online experiences for users worldwide.
In recent years, Akamai has also been actively involved in the development of technologies related to cybersecurity and protection against Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks. These efforts have helped the company maintain its reputation as a leader in the content delivery and cloud services industry.