Company snapshot

CategoryIncapsulaInternap
Statusactivedefunct
Founded
Headquarters
Website
Docs

Overview

Incapsula, now integrated under Imperva, is a cloud-based CDN platform focused on web application security, DDoS mitigation, and performance optimization. Founded in 2009 as a spin-off from Imperva, it provides services like web application firewalls (WAF), bot mitigation, and load balancing. The platform serves businesses of varying sizes, including high-traffic websites and enterprises like Wix and Siemens. Incapsula’s global network enhances site speed and security, leveraging intelligent caching and content optimization. It operates as a full proxy, sitting between the website and its host to deliver robust security and performance features.
Internap Holding LLC, formerly Internap Corporation (INAP), was a provider of data center, cloud, and content delivery network (CDN) services, founded in 1996 and headquartered in Norcross, Georgia. Its CDN, once a key offering, leveraged the VitalStream platform and Managed Internet Route Optimizer (MIRO) for optimized content delivery. The company served enterprises, including IPTV providers like NetMax Media, with a focus on performance through its Private Network Access Points (P-NAP). In 2023, Internap rebranded to HorizonIQ, shifting focus to bare metal cloud and colocation services. Its CDN operations have been discontinued, and the company now operates as a cloud-focused business.

Network & Architecture

Incapsula operates a global CDN with points of presence (PoPs) across the Americas (e.g., Atlanta, Dallas, Los Angeles), Europe (e.g., Amsterdam, London, Frankfurt), and Asia-Pacific (e.g., Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo). The network includes recent expansions in India (New Delhi, Mumbai). It uses intelligent caching, TCP optimization, and frequency analysis to prioritize frequently accessed files, reducing latency. Routing and peering details are not fully public, but the platform emphasizes high-capacity scrubbing centers (100+ Gbps per Behemoth scrubber) for DDoS mitigation. It performs well globally but has a stronger presence in North America and EMEA, with growing coverage in APAC and India.

Feature comparison

FeatureIncapsulaInternap
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

Incapsula offers a free tier for up to 10 pages, including CDN, IPv6 support, and basic bot protection. Paid plans start at $59/month (Pro) and $299/month (Business) per site, with enterprise plans customized. Pricing is pay-as-you-go (PAYG) with committed options for enterprises. DDoS protection significantly increases costs on higher tiers. Full details are at https://www.imperva.com/pricing/.

Integrations & DevEx

Incapsula supports API-first integrations for configuration and monitoring, with real-time logs and log push for analytics. It lacks Terraform support or dedicated SDKs for CI/CD pipelines. The platform provides a dashboard for bot traffic and WAF alerts, but migration tools are limited, requiring manual configuration or support from Imperva for complex setups.

When it fits

  • Businesses needing robust web security with CDN, especially for DDoS and bot mitigation.
  • High-traffic sites requiring global performance with strong North American and EMEA presence.
  • Enterprises seeking API-driven control and real-time monitoring for security events.

When it doesn’t

  • Sites focused on video streaming or live content, as video-specific features like VOD or HLS/DASH are absent.
  • Small projects needing lightweight, developer-centric CDN without security overhead.
  • Budget-conscious users, as premium security features increase costs significantly.

History & Notes

Internap’s CDN, built on VitalStream and MIRO, was a notable player in the 2000s, with expansions in London, Tokyo, and Hong Kong. Financial challenges, including a $99.7M goodwill writedown in 2008 and multiple bankruptcies, led to asset sales and a pivot away from CDN services. The 2022 ransomware attack on ServerIntellect further disrupted its hosting operations, prompting the final shift to HorizonIQ. No official EOL notice for the CDN is publicly available, but the rebranding and asset sales indicate a complete exit from the CDN market.