IT Connection Product Assessment reports provide in-depth analysis of more than 200 products and services. Each Product Assessment report includes expert analyst advice and recommendations on what to look for when making buying decisions. Click here to view sample reports.
Akamai Content Delivery Networks
Akamai remains the player to beat in the CDN market. The company’s global reach and app acceleration capabilities differentiate it from rivals in a crowded market, and Akamai is still price competitive on basics. (3/8/2010)
AT&T Content Delivery Networks
AT&T is building on its big CDN investment, and adding self-provisioning for users that want to add new domains, and modify their cache control. (3/8/2010)
Internap Content Delivery Networks
Internap has restructured its business to align its CDN business more with its existing network and hosting solutions and its overlay team will better augment its sales effort. (3/8/2010)
Level 3 Content Delivery Networks
Level 3 is mounting its own stimulus plan: pitching free streaming services, a free month of its caching platform and free activation, to drum up new business in a down market. (3/17/2009)
Mirror Image Content Delivery Networks
Mirror Image has positioned its Media Management Platform as easier to use than competing ThePlatform and Brightcove solutions and is less expensive to run. (3/8/2010)
Pricing is Important for price sensitive customers as well as customers searching for the best value. Includes pricing plans or models used by vendors, positioning as high value or low cost, and any benefits associated with the pricing model.
Service Level Agreements (SLAs)
Customers want to know that the product or service purchased includes guarantees and credits when/if the service fails. Includes SLAs offered by each vendor, percentages guaranteed (i.e. performance and availability), proactive or reactive SLAs and associated credits, and SLA monitoring (in-house or third party).
Reporting
Customers want to be able to see performance and other key factors via reports they can view, download and manipulate. Includes types and quantities of reports available to customers, ease of access via portal, conversion to other formats.
Support
Customers want access to assistance 24x7 if needed, and want to easily access some support via a customer portal. Includes types of support services available to customers (i.e. traffic and performance monitoring), service windows, support available through vendor portals, any awards received for support organizations.
End User Performance
Customers want to be sure they are purchasing a high performance solution. Includes techniques for achieving high performance including static caching, video delivery, progressive downloading, network advantages, etc.
Reach
Customers, particularly multi-national customers want to be sure the vendor they select has adequate global reach. Includes global availability of CDN services and peering relationships if applicable.
Value Added Services
Customers often want a one-stop shop for products and services, or are enticed by services that complement the product offering they have purchased. Includes services available to CDN customers to add to the customer experience. Services might also be differentiators for vendors (i.e. application delivery, collocation).
Product Landscape Chart
