Maximize application availability and performance with policy-based, global server load balancing that steers users to the best endpoint in real time. Akamai GTM runs on the highly distributed Akamai Cloud platform to minimize latency under changing Internet conditions and is backed by a 100% uptime SLA.
Control: Define traffic policies and routing logic; adjust behavior without disrupting current traffic.
Request: A user’s DNS query is answered by GTM with the optimal endpoint based on your policies.
Analyze: GTM evaluates real-time Internet conditions and live load signals to map users to the best location.
Deliver: Users connect via the lowest-latency path, with resilience backed by a 100% uptime SLA — even during events like DDoS.
Key capabilities
Automatic failover across data centers and cloud providers
Policy-driven routing by geography, CIDR blocks, ASNs, and IP header data
Performance-based routing with active health checks and real-time load feedback
Weighted and ratio-based distribution to shape traffic and manage bursts
EDNS-enabled precision to map users to the nearest healthy location
Real-time and historical reporting for visibility and capacity planning
Full automation via APIs and Akamai CLI for DevOps workflows
Predictable budgeting with no usage limits on fluctuations
What to look for in a GTM/GSLB solution
Multi-cloud coverage: Native support for routing across providers and regions
Real-time health and load feedback: Active checks, utilization signals, and fast decisions
Rich policy controls: Geo, ASN/CIDR, weighted, and performance-based rules
Precision mapping: Anycast DNS and EDNS client subnet support
Automation: Comprehensive APIs and CLI for infrastructure-as-code
Reporting and observability: Live dashboards and scheduled, customizable reports
Resilience and security: DDoS-hardened DNS with a strong availability SLA
Cost predictability: Pricing and limits that won’t penalize traffic spikes
How Akamai GTM maps to this checklist: multi-cloud failover and steering, policy-based routing (geo, CIDR/ASN, header data), EDNS precision, active health checks with load feedback, full API/CLI control, real-time and historical reporting, and a 100% uptime SLA — all without usage-based penalties on traffic fluctuations.
Comparing options
Akamai GTM and F5 DNS Load Balancer Cloud Service are both managed, DNS-based GSLB offerings for multi-cloud steering and high availability. When evaluating, prioritize real-time load feedback, policy depth (geo, ASN/CIDR), EDNS precision, global platform scale, automation options, and SLA strength. GTM focuses on rich policy controls, active health plus load-based decisions, and deep DevOps automation on a highly distributed platform with a 100% uptime SLA.
For enterprises prioritizing policy-driven DNS routing and infrastructure-as-code GSLB, GTM offers fine-grained policy building (geo, ASN/CIDR, weighted, performance-based with load feedback), EDNS-accurate mapping, real-time reporting, and full API/CLI integration to fit DevOps pipelines.
Note: Always validate specific feature depth, quotas, and SLAs across providers during your proof of concept.
Use cases
Optimize performance and ensure continuity: Reduce latency and eliminate single points of failure with health-aware, performance-based routing.
Improve multi-cloud delivery: Apply consistent traffic policies across clouds; monitor endpoints for status codes, timeouts, and response content at configurable intervals.
Implement GSLB as code: Use APIs and Akamai CLI to standardize and automate global traffic policies across environments.
GTM vs self-managed DNS load balancing
Automatic failover: GTM continuously checks health across data centers and providers, then shifts traffic to healthy endpoints automatically. Self-managed DNS setups often rely on manual changes or slower detection and can be error-prone at scale.
Performance-based routing: GTM factors in real-time load feedback and Internet conditions to choose the lowest-latency healthy location. Self-managed approaches typically lack live utilization inputs and EDNS precision, which can lead to suboptimal routing.
Operational efficiency: GTM centralizes policies, telemetry, and automation, reducing toil and time-to-mitigate during incidents.
Complementary web performance solutions
To deliver fast, dynamic content globally — especially on mobile and variable networks — pair GTM with:
Ion for front-end optimization, adaptive acceleration, and intelligent caching
mPulse for real-user performance insights to guide tuning
Frequently asked questions
What is IP Anycast in GTM?
Anycast lets multiple, globally distributed name servers share the same IP address, routing users to the closest responder for speed and resilience.
Why use GTM with Edge DNS?
Together they protect and accelerate your domain and app traffic: DDoS-hardened DNS resolution plus intelligent traffic steering to the right service location at the right time.
What load-balancing methods are available?
Geographic, CIDR/ASN-based, weighted random, performance-based, and performance-based with load feedback.
What reporting and developer tools are available?
Real-time and historical reporting with configurable data and scheduling. Full API access and the Akamai CLI enable configuration, automation, and diagnostics from your DevOps toolchain.
Your competitive edge starts now. Experience policy-driven, multi-cloud traffic steering on the Akamai platform with a free 30‑day test run. Terms and restrictions apply.