Akamai-Apple Master Services Agreement

Akamai had developed a technology to efficiently deliver content over the Internet. To support their business and services, Akamai has deployed a worldwide network dedicated to web content distribution. As a result, Apple and Akamai had decided to work together to make publicly available streaming media content in the QuickTime format over QuickTime-TV (QT-TV). In addition, Akamai will ensure that optimal servers will be chosen to deliver the best performance to Apple customers and users of QT-TV and Apple content. Lastly, Akamai will ensure content integrity, scalability, physical security, controlled access, monitoring, security-related patches, CERT recommendations, and inspection to support QT-TV and Apple Content.

In section 1.3, Akamai is providing information security by ensuring the availability of QuickTime TV (QT-TV). Ensuring availability means having safeguards against data loss or connection interruptions, in the event of unplanned downtime. Thus, Akamai has stated it will provide network availability and operations to support Apple. This service includes, twenty-four hours per day, seven days per week, for 365 days, web Internet connectivity in support of QT-TV and Apple content. Furthermore, Akamai will support outages, service interruptions, uptime and other performance metrics. Lastly, Akamai will staff its Network Operation Center (NOC) with trained employees to perform its service to agreement, to support Apple twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, for 365 days. As a result, the information security implication is that Akamai will provide, maintain, and support the availability of QT-TV for Apple customers as agreed upon in their contract.

        In section 2.2, Akamai is providing information security by ensuring the integrity of customer content objects. Ensuring integrity involves maintaining the consistency, accuracy, and trustworthiness of data over the duration of its entire life cycle. This also means that ensuring that data has not been modified or altered during transit. Thus, Akamai provides a content integrity software called RENAME. This software contains a feature that can attribute each customer content object that’s being directed for distribution using a unique fingerprint on the Akamai Network. The fingerprint is a cryptographic hash of the object itself. The fingerprint helps to ensure that the Akamai Network does not provide out-of-date objects or incorrect objects. Therefore, Akamai Network will not provide objects that do not match their fingerprints. As a result, the content integrity of each customer content object is being maintained without modification or alterations.

        In section 1.4 and 1.5, Akamai is providing information security by ensuring the confidentiality of sensitive information of their client, Apple. Ensuring confidentiality entails preventing unauthorized users the ability to access sensitive information. Access must be restricted at all times and only viewable to those authorized to view it. Thus, Akamai has stated in the contract that they will keep in place at all times network security as specified by their Network Security Protocols. This includes monitoring and protecting against unauthorized access to Apple content.

Akamai will provide Apple with all user ID’s and passwords necessary for Apple to access the Akamai Network and utilize the Free Flow Services. Therefore, any personnel logging into the Akamai Network servers must use a cryptographic key that has been authorized. This also includes accessing any physical server in the network. In the event of a data breach, Akamai will notify Apple immediately as well as prevent these types of breaches from occurring again. As a result, the confidentiality of sensitive information is being maintained through controlled access to servers deployed in the Akamai Network.

        In section 1.6, Akamai is providing information security by ensuring the bandwidth availability to meet Apple’s minimum estimated network usage for their customers and users. Akamai will provide adequate communication bandwidth and prevent the occurrence of bottlenecks to support at the time of the soft launch of QT-TV a minimum of 10,000 concurrent users at an average rate of 50kb/seconds on a continuous basis. In addition, within ninety days after the soft launch date, Akamai will have the capacity to support a minimum of 60,000 concurrent users at an average rate of 50 Kb/seconds on a continuous basis. In addition to ensure the availability of bandwidth and services, Akamai will provide to Apple a listing of all locations of the Akamai Network servers, and this list will be updated monthly. Lastly, in the event of a loss of any major network connection of Akamai network, Akamai will notify Apple immediately.

The strategic Alliance and Master Services Agreement between Akamai Technologies Inc. and Apple Computer Inc. favors Akamai more than Apple. Initially, I thought that Apple was benefiting from the contract because I noticed a lot of “at no additional cost”, which appeared to be saving Apple a lot money. For example, Akamai will provide at no additional cost the consulting and engineering and resources necessary to assist Apple with the integration of the RENAME process. This also includes assistance with the development of software tools and applications to monitor the performance of QT-TV, and stream quality. Next, Akamai at no additional cost to Apple will install the Akamai Software on a machine designed by Apple and provide adequate training to qualified Apple personnel in the use of the software and Free Flow Services. Also, Akamai at no additional cost to Apple, will provide a nontransferable and nonexclusive license to use during the term of the agreement, the Akamai Embedded Software, GeoFlow(SM) software, and the RENAME(SM) software, any updates, new versions, upgrades, or other revisions. However, the more I read the contract, the more I felt that it favorited Akamai more than Apple

First, section 3.7 Freedom of Action, Akamai states that Apple will have no right to have access to any of Akamai’s proprietary business information except for what has been already stated in the contract. Furthermore, Akamai is free to support and provide services to any and all competitors of Apple, QuickTime and QT-TV, and they are able to support any third parties who are also streaming media in QuickTime format, in which they can keep any and all revenues and relationships resulting from it.

Second, section 2.3, Akamai has stated that Apple will be solely responsible for maintaining the availability of QT-TV, any other web sites that provide Apple content, and the connectivity of QT-TV to the Internet. In addition, the hosting of all Apple content on Apple’s computer servers, all IP address, domain names, and other elements that Apple deems necessary to operate and maintain the QT-TV and to provide Apple content.

Third, Akamai has stated that they shall own all right, title, and interest in and to the Akamai Software and Documentation. This includes all enhancements, improvements, bug fixes, updates and upgrades. Therefore, Apple will use Akamai Software and Documentation but will not own it.