Company snapshot
| Category | Azion Technologies | NS1 |
|---|---|---|
| Status | active | active |
| Founded | — | — |
| Headquarters | — | — |
| Website | — | — |
| Docs | — | — |
Overview
Azion Technologies offers a global edge computing platform and CDN, focusing on performance, security, and scalability for digital applications. Founded in 2011, the company serves industries like e-commerce, finance, and media with solutions for web acceleration, security, and serverless computing. Customers include enterprises and developers building mission-critical applications such as AI, IoT, and real-time streaming. The platform emphasizes programmability and automation, integrating with modern DevOps workflows. Azion operates a global network with a strong presence in Latin America.
NS1, now IBM NS1 Connect, specializes in DNS traffic steering and MultiCDN solutions to optimize application delivery. Founded in 2013 and acquired by IBM in 2023, it serves enterprises needing precise control over traffic routing across multiple CDNs and cloud providers. Its flagship product, NS1 Connect, uses real-time data and automation to enhance performance and resilience. Customers include large-scale organizations in tech, finance, and media sectors. The platform integrates with various CDNs and cloud services to manage global traffic efficiently.
Network & Architecture
Azion operates over 100 points of presence (POPs) across North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania, with notable strength in Latin America, particularly Brazil. Its edge network leverages intelligent routing and peering with major ISPs to optimize latency and reliability. The platform uses a distributed architecture to support edge computing and content delivery, with capabilities like Edge Functions for serverless processing. Limitations include less extensive coverage in certain APAC and Middle Eastern regions compared to larger competitors like Cloudflare or Akamai.
NS1 operates a global network with 26 points of presence (PoPs) across North America, EMEA, APAC, and other regions, ensuring low-latency DNS resolution. Its architecture leverages authoritative DNS and real-time data for traffic steering, with robust peering to major cloud providers and CDNs. The platform supports hybrid deployments, combining on-premise and cloud DNS for flexibility. It excels in global coverage but may have less focus on niche regional markets like Africa or the Middle East compared to telecom CDNs.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Azion Technologies | NS1 |
|---|---|---|
waf | ✓ | ✗ |
bot_mitigation | ✓ | ✗ |
ddos | ✓ | ✓ |
rate_limit | ✗ | ✗ |
http3_quic | ✓ | ✗ |
tls13 | ✓ | ✗ |
tiered_cache | ✓ | ✗ |
origin_shield | ✓ | ✗ |
instant_purge | ✓ | ✗ |
stale_while_revalidate | ✗ | ✗ |
stale_if_error | ✗ | ✗ |
image_optimization | ✓ | ✗ |
video_vod | ✓ | ✗ |
video_live | ✓ | ✗ |
drm | ✗ | ✗ |
hls_dash_packaging | ✗ | ✗ |
websockets | ✓ | ✗ |
signed_urls | ✓ | ✗ |
edge_compute | ✓ | ✗ |
functions | ✓ | ✗ |
kv_storage | ✓ | ✗ |
api_first | ✓ | ✓ |
realtime_logs | ✓ | ✓ |
log_push | ✓ | ✗ |
terraform | ✓ | ✓ |
Legend: ✓ = Supported, ✗ = Not supported, — = Not listed
Pricing
Azion uses a pay-as-you-go (PAYG) model with pricing based on traffic, requests, and edge function executions. Enterprise plans are tailored for high-volume users, with custom pricing and SLAs. No free tier is publicly advertised, but trials are available for testing. Specific per-GB pricing is not disclosed without a quote, but costs are competitive for enterprise use cases. See https://www.azion.com/en/pricing/ for details.
NS1 operates on an enterprise-only model with custom pricing based on traffic volume and feature sets. No public per-GB pricing is available, and there’s no free tier or pay-as-you-go option. Contact IBM for pricing details.
Integrations & DevEx
Azion supports Terraform for infrastructure-as-code, enabling automated deployments. SDKs and APIs are available for custom integrations, with an API-first design for programmatic control. Real-time logs and analytics integrate with tools like Datadog and Splunk via log push. The platform includes a CLI and supports CI/CD pipelines for DevOps workflows. Migration tools are available to simplify onboarding from other CDNs, with documentation at https://www.azion.com/en/documentation/.
NS1 supports Terraform and Ansible for infrastructure automation, with an API-first design for programmatic control. SDKs and integrations with tools like Catchpoint and ThousandEyes enhance monitoring and analytics. Real-time logs and analytics provide immediate insights, and the platform supports seamless integration with major CDNs and cloud providers. Migration tools are available for transitioning from other DNS providers, with a focus on minimizing downtime.
When it fits
- Enterprises needing a programmable edge platform for custom applications, especially in e-commerce or media.
- Developers in Latin America seeking a CDN with strong regional coverage and low latency.
- Teams requiring serverless edge computing with Terraform and API-first integrations.
- Enterprises needing precise MultiCDN traffic steering across global regions.
- Organizations requiring robust DDoS protection and real-time analytics.
- Teams using Terraform or API-driven workflows for network automation.
When it doesn’t
- Small businesses or startups looking for a free tier or simpler pricing models.
- Users needing extensive POP coverage in APAC or Middle East, where competitors like Cloudflare have broader reach.
- Applications requiring advanced video features like DRM or HLS/DASH packaging, which are not currently supported.
- Small businesses or startups seeking low-cost, pay-as-you-go CDN solutions.
- Users needing native video streaming features like VOD or live streaming.
- Companies focused on niche regional markets with limited NS1 PoP coverage.
History & Notes
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