LevelBlue and Akamai Unveil Managed WAAP Services to Simplify and Strengthen Web Application and API Security
In an era where digital transformation is driving businesses to rely heavily on web applications and APIs, securing these critical assets has become a top priority. To address this growing need, LevelBlue, a leader in managed security services, strategic consulting, and threat intelligence, has announced the launch of its Managed Web Application and API Protection (WAAP) service. This innovative offering provides adaptive, always-on protection that reduces risk and operational overhead while helping organizations consolidate, simplify, and scale their security efforts. Powered by Akamai’s industry-leading App & API Protector technology, LevelBlue Managed WAAP combines cutting-edge tools with expert human oversight to deliver comprehensive protection.
The service integrates next-generation web application firewall (WAF), distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) mitigation, bot protection, and foundational API security capabilities. Backed by LevelBlue’s dedicated WAAP Operations team, it ensures organizations are equipped to defend against evolving threats without compromising performance or overburdening internal teams.
The Growing Complexity of Web Application and API Security
As organizations embrace digital-first strategies, the use of web applications and APIs is skyrocketing. According to Enterprise Strategy Group, the average number of web applications per organization is expected to grow from 145 to over 200 within the next two years. Additionally, the percentage of organizations with more than half of their applications using APIs will surge from 32% to 80%. While this growth fuels innovation, it also introduces significant security challenges, including:
- Discovering Deployments: Identifying all active applications and APIs across an organization’s environment.
- Scaling Protections: Ensuring adequate safeguards are in place as the number of applications and APIs grows.
- Mitigating Attacks Quickly: Detecting and neutralizing threats in real time before they cause damage.
- Balancing Security and Performance: Preventing security measures from negatively impacting application speed or user experience.
Compounding these challenges is a widespread shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals. Half of midmarket organizations report that securing web applications and APIs has become significantly harder over the past two years. Many are turning to external partners for help, seeking simplified, consolidated solutions that can address their needs effectively. LevelBlue Managed WAAP was designed specifically to meet these demands, delivering measurable security outcomes while streamlining operations.
A Consolidated, Purpose-Built Solution
“Today, many organizations depend on multiple tools that aren’t purpose-built for web application and API security,” said Sundhar Annamalai, President of LevelBlue. “This leads to complexity, silos, and rising costs. LevelBlue offers a better alternative: proven services that consolidate and simplify protections with predictable investment. By pairing our operational expertise with Akamai’s industry-leading technology, we empower organizations to stay ahead of evolving threats and build cyber resilience for their most critical digital capabilities.”
LevelBlue Managed WAAP is available in two tiers—Essential and Advanced—providing flexibility for organizations to choose the level of service that best aligns with their needs. Key benefits include:
- 24/7 WAAP Expertise: Access to a fully operational team of specialists who provide round-the-clock support, monitoring, and advisory services to enhance protection.
- Asset Discovery and Prioritization: Automated identification and classification of web applications and APIs, with prioritization for those exposed to higher risks or handling sensitive data.
- AI-Powered Threat Defense: Leverage AI-driven detection combined with global threat intelligence to identify anomalies, adapt to emerging attack vectors, and proactively counter threats.
- Streamlined Security Management: Eliminate manual tuning with expert-led, automated policy management that boosts efficiency, reduces false positives, and integrates seamlessly with modern DevOps workflows.
Addressing the Rising Tide of Cyber Threats
The urgency of robust web application and API security cannot be overstated. In 2024 alone, Akamai observed over 311 billion web application attacks—a staggering figure that underscores the scale of the threat landscape. As artificial intelligence accelerates the sophistication of attacks, detecting and mitigating threats has become increasingly difficult.
“Akamai and LevelBlue’s partnership delivers a powerful combination of industry-leading technology and deep operational expertise,” said Rupesh Chokshi, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Akamai’s Application Security Portfolio. “Together, we’re providing customers with a trusted, reliable solution that simplifies security management and fast-tracks organizations toward resilient protection and compliance. This is especially critical as the threat landscape continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace.”
By combining Akamai’s proven technology with LevelBlue’s managed services, the partnership addresses both technical and operational gaps, enabling organizations to focus on their core business objectives while maintaining robust security.
Why Choose LevelBlue Managed WAAP?
For organizations grappling with the complexities of securing web applications and APIs, LevelBlue Managed WAAP offers a compelling solution. Its tiered structure ensures scalability, allowing businesses to start with essential protections and upgrade as their needs grow. The inclusion of AI-powered threat detection and automated policy management reduces the burden on internal teams, freeing them to focus on strategic initiatives rather than day-to-day security tasks.
Moreover, the service eliminates the need for organizations to juggle multiple tools or piece together disparate solutions. Instead, LevelBlue provides a unified platform that consolidates key security functions, reducing complexity and lowering total cost of ownership. With LevelBlue’s dedicated WAAP Operations team standing by 24/7, organizations gain peace of mind knowing their critical digital assets are protected around the clock.
Empowering Organizations to Build Cyber Resilience
As the reliance on web applications and APIs continues to grow, so too does the importance of safeguarding these assets. LevelBlue Managed WAAP represents a significant step forward in addressing the unique challenges of modern application security. By leveraging Akamai’s advanced technology and LevelBlue’s operational expertise, organizations can achieve greater visibility, control, and resilience in their digital ecosystems.
Whether you’re looking to protect a small portfolio of applications or secure a large-scale API infrastructure, LevelBlue Managed WAAP offers the flexibility, scalability, and expertise needed to succeed. To learn more about how LevelBlue and Akamai are redefining web application and API security, visit their website today.
With cyber threats evolving faster than ever, partnering with a trusted provider like LevelBlue ensures your organization stays one step ahead—protecting what matters most while enabling innovation and growth.
About LevelBlue
We simplify cybersecurity through award-winning managed services, experienced strategic consulting, threat intelligence, and renowned research. Our team is a seamless extension of yours, providing transparency and visibility into security posture and continuously working to strengthen it.
We harness security data from numerous sources and enrich it with artificial intelligence to deliver real-time threat intelligence- this enables more accurate and precise decision making. With a large, always-on global presence, LevelBlue sets the standard for cybersecurity today and tomorrow. We easily and effectively manage risk, so you can focus on your business.
Welcome to LevelBlue. Cybersecurity. Simplified. Learn more at www.levelblue.com.
About Akamai
Akamai is the cybersecurity and cloud computing company that powers and protects business online. Our market-leading security solutions, superior threat intelligence, and global operations team provide defense in depth to safeguard enterprise data and applications everywhere. Akamai’s full-stack cloud computing solutions deliver performance and affordability on the world’s most distributed platform. Global enterprises trust Akamai to provide the industry-leading reliability, scale, and expertise they need to grow their business with confidence. Learn more at akamai.com and akamai.com/blog, or follow Akamai Technologies on X and LinkedIn.
