Cybersecurity and cloud company Akamai Technologies has launched Akamai Partner Connect, a unified global program that will replace its previous partner structure with a single framework that supports resale, distribution, technical solution enablement, services and referrals. The program introduces enhanced incentives aligned with strategic offerings, region-specific tiering and streamlined access to tools and support.
The new framework is designed to consolidate multiple go-to-market tracks into one platform and streamline partner engagement models that may vary across geographies, the company said.
“Partners have told us they want simpler engagement, clearer incentives and more flexibility at the local level,” said Paul Joseph, EVP of global sales and services. “Akamai Partner Connect addresses the needs of different partner types based on what’s best for their business, aligns rewards with strategic solutions, and gives regional teams more control to support partners where and how they operate.”
Partner Connect creates a single streamlined program for resellers, distributors, service providers, technology service distributors (TSDs) and referral partners while decentralizing qualification criteria to better reflect market-specific conditions, the company said.
Localized tiering will reflect market maturity and reward partner performance at the regional level, while incentives will be aligned with strategic solution areas and reward partners for driving customer outcomes and growth, officials said. The program includes enablement and support, with integrated training, technical resources and adoption tools.
“The new program gives cloud-focused partners more ways to engage,” officials said. “Existing cloud services partners remain supported through their dedicated agreements, while resellers can continue to benefit from volume-based discounts. It also opens the door for independent software vendors (ISVs) to join the Akamai Partner ecosystem as the company evolves its cloud partner strategy.”
Akamai Partner Connect will roll out gradually beginning in the third quarter, with existing partners guided through an onboarding process to ensure continuity before the official migration in early 2026.
