Akamai Cloud Workflow Successfully Completes MPAA Security Assessment

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Apr 07, 2014, 06:30 ET

LAS VEGAS, April 7, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

Integrated studio-grade DRM protection enhances Akamai's online media workflow, maintains quality and scale.
Irdeto and BuyDRM first to join Akamai digital rights management partner program

2014 NAB Show (Booth SL4525) -- Akamai Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: AKAM), the leading provider of cloud services for delivering, optimizing and securing online content and business applications, today announced its cloud-based digital media workflow has passed the Motion Picture Association of America's (MPAA) security assessment. As one of the first to undergo an MPAA security assessment, Akamai's cloud workflow has the integrated digital rights management (DRM) element that is critical for premium content protection.

The new capability is designed to enable premium content owners to take advantage of the quality benefits and economic efficiencies of Akamai's cloud-based media workflow. Content providers need only upload a single source file to Akamai, which will facilitate the DRM processing in addition to transcoding and stream packaging for optimized, secure delivery to connected devices. The cloud-based workflow is intended to alleviate the physical resources and operational complexities often associated with in-house content preparation.

In conjunction with the introduction of its secure workflow, Akamai announced its DRM partner program, designed to integrate a range of DRM providers and technologies into the Akamai workflow and offer customers an array of options to best meet their DRM requirements. The first two participants, Irdeto and BuyDRM, will offer Akamai customers a choice of Microsoft PlayReady and Adobe Access DRM technologies.

"As consumer demand for high-quality multi-screen services increases, content owners and operators need to 'look under the hood' of their platforms and re-assess content delivery and management schemes," said Paul Ragland, VP North America, Irdeto. "It's all about flexibility on the backend so that operators can deliver better user experiences. By joining Akamai's DRM partner program, operators now have access to versatile studio-grade protection for high-value on-demand content. Our partnership with Akamai provides customers with the tools they need most to secure their content across all platforms and devices."

"Today's device-driven marketplace has quickly changed the way content distributors create and prepare their digital media offerings," said Christopher Levy, CEO, BuyDRM. "Working with Akamai, BuyDRM will securely streamline and automate that process so that users of the Akamai Network and BuyDRM's KeyOS Platform can lower their time to market while maintaining their content's security."

The integrated workflow process begins when content master mezzanine files are encrypted and uploaded from content owners' facilities to Akamai's NetStorage cloud-based storage using one of the available secure upload tools. Files remain encrypted until they enter Akamai's transcoding servers, which are housed in the MPAA-assessed facilities. They are then decrypted, transcoded to the owners' specifications, wrapped in DRM encryption, and keys are generated through the DRM partner's servers. These protected files are then made available for secure delivery and playback across the Akamai Intelligent Platform. At playback, the player retrieves the encryption keys from the DRM partner's servers and unlocks the content for local playback.

"Meeting the rigorous criteria set forth by the MPAA is a meaningful achievement in Akamai's ongoing commitment to drive innovation in online video and securely deliver the highest possible quality content at scale," said Michael Fay, vice president, media products and operations, Akamai. "Content protection is crucial, and qualifying our workflow through the MPAA assessment adds further credence to Akamai's goal of being the trusted provider for source and derivative content on the Internet. We plan to continue to evolve Akamai's online media solutions so that our customers recognize the Akamai partnership as essential for providing the highest quality online experiences. Achieving this recognition requires not only the highest-performing, most reliable cloud storage and global delivery services, but also scalable, secure and consistently high-quality content preparation."

For those interested in learning more about Akamai's workflow, a new white paper, "Securing Cloud-Based Workflows for Premium Content," is available for download on Akamai's 2014 NAB Show site at http://www.akamai.com/nab2014.

Akamai is showcasing its full range of digital media solutions, including cloud-based storage, processing, analytics and delivery services at the 2014 NAB Show, booth SL4525, in Las Vegas, April 7-10. Demonstrations will show how live and on-demand online video content, including 4K/UHD, can be delivered at the quality and scale necessary to meet increasing consumer demands and expectations.

About Akamai
Akamai^® is the leading provider of cloud services for delivering, optimizing and securing online content and business applications. At the core of the Company's solutions is the Akamai Intelligent Platform™ providing extensive reach, coupled with unmatched reliability, security, visibility and expertise. Akamai removes the complexities of connecting the increasingly mobile world, supporting 24/7 consumer demand, and enabling enterprises to securely leverage the cloud. To learn more about how Akamai is accelerating the pace of innovation in a hyperconnected world, please visit www.akamai.com or blogs.akamai.com, and follow @Akamai on Twitter.

Akamai Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
This release contains information about future expectations, plans and prospects of Akamai's management that constitute forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors including, but not limited to, failure of Akamai's cloud workflow solutions to operate as expected or to address intended market needs, a failure of Akamai's network infrastructure, termination of the DRM partner program or any individual company's participation in it, and other factors that are discussed in Akamai's Annual Report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and other documents periodically filed with the SEC.