Websites using Nominum

Okay, let s break down Nominum, focusing on its overview, revenue (or lack thereof, since it s been acquired), alternatives, pricing (which is now rolled into Akamai s offerings), and customer care details.

Overview of Nominum (Now Part of Akamai Technologies)

• What it Was: Nominum was a leading provider of DNS (Domain Name System) and related security solutions for telecommunications service providers (telcos), mobile network operators (MNOs), and other large network operators. Its products were designed to improve DNS server performance, enhance network security, and enable new services.
• Key Technologies:
  • DNS Caching and Forwarding: Accelerated DNS lookups for subscribers, reducing latency and improving internet browsing speed.
  • DNS Security (DNSSEC): Protected against DNS spoofing and cache poisoning attacks, ensuring users are directed to the correct websites.
  • Subscriber Awareness: Gained insights into subscriber activity to enable personalized services and targeted advertising (though this was a controversial area).
  • Network Analytics: Provided data on network performance, security threats, and subscriber behavior.
• Acquisition: Akamai Technologies, a leading content delivery network (CDN) and cloud service provider, acquired Nominum in November 2017. Nominum s technology and team were integrated into Akamai s security and performance solutions.
• Current Status: Nominum as a standalone entity no longer exists. Its technology is now part of Akamai s portfolio. When you see references to Nominum now, it s usually referring to features or legacy elements within Akamai s DNS solutions.

Revenue

• Before Acquisition: Privately held. Exact revenue figures were not publicly available, but it was estimated to be a substantial player in the DNS infrastructure market.
• After Acquisition: Revenue is incorporated into Akamai s overall financial reporting. Akamai doesn t break out Nominum-specific revenue.

Alternatives

Because Nominum s DNS services are now integrated into Akamai, the alternatives are essentially alternatives to Akamai s DNS solutions. These include:

• Neustar: Offers UltraDNS, a robust DNS platform with advanced security features, including DDoS mitigation.
• Cloudflare: Provides a popular and comprehensive DNS service with excellent performance, security (including DDoS protection), and a generous free tier.
• AWS Route 53: Amazon s highly scalable and reliable DNS service, tightly integrated with other AWS services.
• Google Cloud DNS: Google s globally distributed DNS service, known for its speed and integration with Google Cloud Platform.
• NS1 (Now IBM): A powerful DNS platform with advanced traffic management and automation capabilities. IBM acquired them in 2021.
• Azure DNS: Microsoft s DNS service, integrated with Azure and offering robust performance and security.
• Open Source DNS Servers (BIND, PowerDNS): Suitable for organizations with strong technical expertise and a desire for full control.

Pricing

• Before Acquisition: Nominum s pricing was typically customized based on the specific needs of the customer (size of network, features required, support level). It was generally enterprise-level pricing.
• After Acquisition: You won t find standalone Nominum pricing. Instead, you ll need to look at Akamai s DNS solution pricing, which is complex and depends on usage, features, and contract terms. Contact Akamai sales for a quote.
• Alternatives: Alternatives like Cloudflare, AWS Route 53, and Google Cloud DNS have more transparent, pay-as-you-go pricing models, which can be attractive to smaller organizations.

Customer Care (Now Akamai Customer Care)

• Before Acquisition: Nominum had a dedicated customer support team focused on its DNS products.
• After Acquisition: Support is now handled by Akamai s customer care organization.
  • Akamai Support Channels:
    • Akamai Control Center: Akamai s web-based portal for managing your services and accessing support resources.
    • Phone Support: Akamai provides phone support, with different levels of service depending on your contract.
    • Online Documentation: Extensive documentation, FAQs, and knowledge base articles.
    • Community Forums: A forum where users can ask questions and share knowledge.
    • Professional Services: Akamai offers professional services for implementation, optimization, and ongoing management of its solutions.
• Support Quality: Akamai s support is generally considered to be very good, but response times and the level of expertise can vary depending on your support contract. Given the complexity of Akamai s products, having a higher-tier support plan is often beneficial.
• Consider: When evaluating Akamai for DNS services (formerly Nominum), carefully review the different support plans and SLAs to ensure they meet your requirements.

In Summary:

While Nominum was a significant player in the DNS space, it s now fully integrated into Akamai. When considering these DNS solutions, you are essentially considering Akamai s offerings and, therefore, also the alternatives available in the broader market. Remember to compare pricing models, features, and support options carefully before making a decision.