Where MSPs Do Fit Into Akamai Connected Cloud

Berk says the Qualified Computing Partner Program augments Akamai’s other channel work. MSPs, including those who joined from Linode, still resell the company’s services under a different umbrella.

“We have not yet taken all of the components of the Linode partner program and integrated them into the historic Akamai partner program,” Berk says. However, he notes, Akamai does “want to see those drive together as one.”

There is no set time frame for bringing MSPs deeper into the Connected Cloud fold. Akamai continues to integrate Linode partners. There are “certain elements we want to make sure are enterprise-ready,” Berk says.

And that raises the question — will Akamai indeed honor its promise to retain Linode’s focus on small and medium-size businesses? (Akamai, as a global firm eyeing large organizations, invited partner concerns with the Linode purchase.)