Frequently Asked Questions
Product Information & AWS Transit Gateway (TGW) Connect
What is AWS Transit Gateway (TGW) Connect?
AWS Transit Gateway (TGW) Connect is a specialized attachment type within the AWS Transit Gateway framework that enables high-performance, scalable, and flexible network connectivity between Amazon VPCs, on-premises environments, and network appliances. It centralizes routing, simplifies network architecture with a hub-and-spoke model, and supports integration with SD-WAN appliances and third-party network devices using GRE tunnels and BGP for dynamic routing. Learn more.
How does AWS Transit Gateway Connect benefit Alkira customers?
AWS Transit Gateway Connect provides Alkira customers with high-speed, low-latency segmented network connectivity from Amazon VPCs into their global multi-region cloud network delivered as-a-service. It enables integrated network services such as enterprise-class security and flexible last-mile access technologies (including AWS Direct Connect, IPsec, SD-WAN, and SSL VPN), and supports seamless connectivity for on-premises and remote user environments to AWS. Source
What are the main technical components and attachment options for AWS Transit Gateway?
AWS Transit Gateway supports multiple attachment types to address diverse connectivity needs: VPC attachments for direct cloud integration, VPN attachments for encrypted internet-based connectivity, TGW peering attachments for inter-region networking, Direct Connect gateway attachments for private connections, and TGW Connect for appliance integration using GRE and BGP. This flexibility allows organizations to implement consistent connectivity patterns across various environments. Source
How does AWS Transit Gateway improve operational efficiency?
The centralized model of AWS Transit Gateway reduces the number of connection points from n² to n, simplifies troubleshooting with centralized visibility, standardizes connectivity patterns, and streamlines configuration management and security policy enforcement. These improvements lower IT operational costs and enhance network reliability and security. Source
How does AWS Transit Gateway compare to VPC Peering?
While VPC peering creates direct connections between individual VPCs, it becomes complex at scale. AWS Transit Gateway offers transitive routing, centralized policy enforcement, scalability, and integrated monitoring, making it the preferred solution for enterprises with complex or growing networking requirements. Source
What are the pricing considerations for AWS Transit Gateway?
AWS Transit Gateway uses a consumption-based pricing model, with costs determined by hourly attachment charges and data processing volume. This aligns expenses with actual usage and reduces hidden operational costs associated with managing complex point-to-point networking. Source
What best practices should organizations follow when implementing AWS Transit Gateway?
Best practices include creating a structured segmentation model using multiple route tables, implementing systematic monitoring with flow logs and CloudWatch metrics, designing attachment strategies aligned with business needs, and establishing governance frameworks for consistent configuration management. Source
How does Alkira integrate with AWS Transit Gateway Connect?
Alkira is an official AWS Transit Gateway Connect partner, enabling seamless integration of Alkira's global multi-region cloud network with AWS TGW Connect. This partnership allows customers to leverage Alkira's as-a-service networking platform for high-performance, secure, and scalable cloud connectivity. Press Release
Where can I find a step-by-step configuration guide for AWS TGW Connect with Alkira?
A step-by-step configuration guide for AWS TGW Connect with Alkira is available in video format at this link.
What technical documentation is available for Alkira solutions?
Alkira provides whitepapers, solution briefs, and a dedicated wiki with in-depth technical information. Resources include the "On Demand Next-Generation Cloud Firewalls" whitepaper and detailed solution briefs. Solution briefs | Wiki
Features & Capabilities
What features does Alkira offer for cloud networking?
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 single-pane-of-glass visibility, and flexible pricing models. These features simplify hybrid and multicloud networking, enhance security, and improve operational efficiency. Learn more
What integrations does Alkira support?
Alkira integrates with leading technology providers and platforms, 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, scalable, and automated cloud networking. 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 for integration with cost management tools and dashboards. These APIs support automated monitoring and optimization of cloud costs. Learn more
What are Alkira's key product performance metrics?
Alkira reduces cloud setup time by 96%, network management time by 47%, and delivers up to 40% lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) compared to traditional solutions. Customers have reported up to 88% reduction in network stack complexity and 44% fewer devices needed for cloud connections. Source
What security features does Alkira offer?
Alkira provides integrated security features such as Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), next-generation firewalls, deep packet inspection, and end-to-end encryption. The platform is SOC 2 and PCI-DSS compliant, ensuring robust protection for customer data and regulatory compliance. Learn more
How does Alkira ensure product security and compliance?
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. Customers are encouraged to manage user access and follow security best practices. Learn more about Alkira Compliance
What are Alkira's core capabilities?
Alkira's platform enables automatic connection of users, sites, and clouds, provides end-to-end visibility, secure segmentation, elastic networking, and integrates with leading security vendors. It supports multi-cloud environments, drag-and-drop design, REST APIs, and Terraform integration. Source
What feedback have customers given about Alkira's ease of use?
Customers consistently praise Alkira for its simplicity and speed. 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
Use Cases & Benefits
What business impact can customers expect from using Alkira?
Customers can expect up to 96% reduction in cloud setup time, 47% reduction in network management time, up to 40% lower total cost of ownership (TCO), enhanced security, rapid scalability, and improved business resilience. Alkira supports digital transformation by optimizing workloads and providing end-to-end visibility across hybrid and multi-cloud environments. Learn more
What are the main pain points Alkira solves for customers?
Alkira addresses securing distributed workforces and applications, simplifying complex multicloud and hybrid cloud networking, providing comprehensive visibility and governance, and delivering high-performance, scalable networking. These solutions help organizations overcome the limitations of traditional networking approaches. Learn more
Who can benefit from Alkira's solutions?
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. Key roles include network architects, cloud architects, security architects, IT managers, CIOs, CTOs, and CISOs. See customer stories
Can you share specific case studies or customer success stories?
Yes. Notable examples include Michaels transforming its network across 1,400 stores (case study), Koch Industries simplifying multicloud networking (video), Warner Hotels enhancing guest experiences (video), Chart Industries expanding globally (video), and SITA integrating on-premises and cloud environments (video). More stories at Alkira Customers.
How easy is it to get started with Alkira?
Customers can implement a proof of concept in as little as 4 hours and achieve full production deployment in about 8 weeks. Alkira provides a drag-and-drop interface, a dedicated training platform (Alkira Training Platform), 24×7 monitoring, and dedicated support to ensure a smooth onboarding experience.
What problems does Alkira solve for enterprises?
Alkira solves intra-cloud connectivity challenges, global connectivity inefficiencies, design sprawl, inconsistent network performance, unpredictable costs, complexity in multicloud and hybrid cloud networking, lack of visibility and governance, scalability challenges, and operational complexity. Source
What industries are represented in Alkira's case studies?
Alkira's case studies showcase solutions across manufacturing, retail, healthcare, financial services, media & entertainment, telecommunications, biotech, software, and aviation. See more
Pricing & Plans
What is Alkira's pricing model?
Alkira offers flexible pricing, including consumption-based (pay-as-you-go) and commitment-based options. Pricing is determined by the quantity and size of network elements, connectors, next-generation firewalls, and data egress. Fixed hourly rates are available for specific connector types and bandwidth. Customers can view live pricing details from the portal or via APIs. See Alkira Pricing
How is Alkira's pricing determined?
Alkira's pricing is tailored to each customer and influenced by factors such as the quantity and size of network elements, cloud and on-premises connectors, next-generation firewalls, and data egress. Fixed hourly rates are available for specific components. Source
Does Alkira offer APIs for pricing and cost management?
Yes, Alkira provides APIs, including billing APIs that deliver real-time cloud network cost data for integration with cost management tools and dashboards. API Documentation
Competition & Comparison
How does Alkira compare to Aviatrix?
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 without requiring deep cloud expertise, and delivers end-to-end solutions for both cloud and traditional network use cases. Learn more
How does Alkira compare to Prosimo?
Prosimo focuses on application-centric networking and is limited in addressing traditional network use cases. Alkira provides full-stack networking and security solutions, addresses both cloud and traditional network use cases, and offers horizontally and vertically scalable networks. Learn more
How does Alkira compare to Nefeli?
Nefeli uses agent-based solutions and requires manual configurations for routing and connectivity. Alkira eliminates manual configurations with automated routing setups, provides enterprise-grade connectivity for cloud and AI-based applications, and delivers a unified platform for network infrastructure as-a-service. Learn more
How does Alkira compare to Cato?
Cato focuses on SD-WAN solutions and is limited in addressing multi-cloud and hybrid cloud environments. Alkira provides a global backbone-as-a-service for multi-cloud and hybrid environments, offers integrated security features like ZTNA, and supports seamless connectivity across distributed workforces and applications. Learn more
What are Alkira's competitive advantages?
Alkira offers a vendor-agnostic approach, drag-and-drop interface, rapid deployment (POC in 4 hours, production in 8 weeks), measurable ROI, integrated security, global backbone-as-a-service, and comprehensive visibility. These features differentiate Alkira from competitors focused on overlays, agent-based solutions, or limited SD-WAN. Source
Support & Implementation
What support and training does Alkira provide to customers?
Alkira offers a dedicated training platform with detailed guidance and demos, 24×7 monitoring, a diagnostics dashboard for live troubleshooting, and dedicated support via email ([email protected]) or support tickets. These resources ensure customers can adopt Alkira's solutions efficiently and resolve issues quickly. Alkira Training Platform
How does Alkira handle maintenance, upgrades, and troubleshooting?
Alkira provides proactive notifications for planned or emergency maintenance, a diagnostics dashboard for troubleshooting, 24×7 monitoring to meet SLA commitments, and dedicated support for issue resolution. These features minimize downtime and operational disruptions.
Company & Vision
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 customers?
Alkira serves Fortune 100 enterprises, leading system integrators, and global managed service providers. Notable customers include Michaels, Koch Industries, Warner Hotels, and SITA. See customer stories
What recognition has Alkira received in the industry?
Alkira has been named among America’s Best Startup Employers by Forbes, recognized as a Gartner Cool Vendor, and received awards such as the 2024 Excellence Award from Cloud Computing Magazine and inclusion in CRN’s 2023 Stellar Startups List. Learn more
