Imperva vs Level3

Imperva provides a cloud-based CDN integrated with its Web Application and API Protection (WAAP) platform, focusing on security and performance. The service includes content caching, load balancing, and global Points of Presence (PoPs) to deliver low-latency web experiences. It offers robust DDoS protection, a Web Application Firewall (WAF), and bot mitigation, making it suitable for enterprises prioritizing security. Imperva serves industries like finance, healthcare, and e-commerce, with clients such as Mediolanum and Vodafone. The company, founded in 2002 and headquartered in San Mateo, California, was acquired by Thales in 2019. Its CDN is part of a broader cybersecurity suite, emphasizing secure content delivery.

Level3, originally Level 3 Communications, was a multinational telecommunications and internet service provider that operated a global Tier-1 network and content delivery network (CDN) until its CDN services were discontinued in 2023. Acquired by CenturyLink (now Lumen Technologies) in 2017, it provided core transport, IP, voice, video, and content delivery for medium-to-large internet carriers. The CDN focused on video delivery, large object caching, and edge computing, serving clients across North America, Latin America, Europe, and parts of Asia. Level3’s CDN is no longer active, and its network assets are now managed under Lumen Technologies.

Imperva operates a global network with PoPs in North America, EMEA, APAC, and LATAM, including data centers in cities like Tokyo, New Delhi, and Miami. The exact number of PoPs is not publicly disclosed, but the network supports traffic rerouting during maintenance to ensure availability. It uses machine learning for dynamic caching and integrates with major peering partners for optimized routing. Regional strengths include North America and EMEA, with ongoing expansions in APAC and LATAM. Maintenance schedules, such as the August 2025 migrations in Hong Kong and Paris, ensure minimal disruption for Cloud WAF customers. Limitations include less transparency on PoP counts compared to competitors like Cloudflare.

Imperva uses a pay-as-you-go (PAYG) model with enterprise-focused pricing, typically requiring custom quotes. No free tier or public per-GB pricing is available, as plans are tailored for high-security use cases. Volume-based discounts are offered for committed contracts. Pricing details are available at https://www.imperva.com/pricing/. The model suits large organizations but may be cost-prohibitive for smaller businesses.

Imperva provides APIs for configuration and management, supporting an API-first approach. Realtime logs and analytics are accessible via the Imperva Management Portal, with log push for integration into external systems. No public documentation confirms Terraform or specific SDK support, limiting Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) options. Migration tools are not emphasized, but the platform supports standard CDN configurations. Developers may find the API robust but less flexible for CI/CD pipelines compared to Fastly or Akamai.

Level3 was a major player in the CDN market, leveraging its Tier-1 network to deliver high-performance content delivery, particularly for video and large files. Its acquisition of companies like Genuity, WilTel, and TW Telecom expanded its footprint, but the 2017 merger with CenturyLink shifted focus to broader network services. The CDN’s shutdown in 2023 was part of Lumen’s strategic pivot, though specific reasons for discontinuation were not publicly detailed. Some network assets may still support Lumen’s non-CDN services.