Akamai Prolexic
Akamai Prolexic is a cloud-based DDoS protection service that shields your entire network infrastructure and data centers from high-volume cyber attacks to ensure your digital business remains always available.
Metasploit
Metasploit is a powerful penetration testing framework that helps you identify, exploit, and validate security vulnerabilities across your network to strengthen your overall defensive posture and reduce risk.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Akamai Prolexic | Metasploit |
|---|---|---|
| Website | akamai.com | rapid7.com |
| Pricing Model | Custom | Freemium |
| Starting Price | Custom Pricing | Free |
| FREE Trial | ✘ No free trial | ✓ 30 days free trial |
| Free Plan | ✘ No free plan | ✓ Has free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 1998 | 2003 |
| Headquarters | Cambridge, USA | Boston, USA |
Overview
Akamai Prolexic
Akamai Prolexic provides you with a dedicated defense shield against Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks. It works by rerouting your network traffic through Akamai’s global scrubbing centers, where malicious traffic is filtered out before it ever reaches your data center. This ensures your applications and infrastructure stay online even during massive, multi-terabit attacks that would otherwise crash your systems.
You can protect all your IP-based applications, whether they live in the cloud, on-premise, or in a hybrid environment. The platform gives you a zero-second mitigation SLA for many attack vectors, meaning threats are stopped instantly. It is designed for medium to large enterprises that cannot afford even a minute of downtime, such as financial institutions, e-commerce giants, and government agencies.
Metasploit
Metasploit helps you think like an attacker so you can stay one step ahead of security threats. You can use the world’s most used penetration testing framework to find weak spots in your defenses, simulate real-world attacks, and verify that your security patches actually work. It simplifies the complex process of exploitation by providing a massive library of tested code and automated tools that handle the heavy lifting for you.
You can choose between the open-source Framework for command-line power or the Pro version for a guided, graphical experience. Whether you are conducting a quick vulnerability scan or a deep-dive security audit, the platform provides the data you need to prioritize risks. It is a go-to solution for security consultants, internal red teams, and IT managers who need to prove where their network is vulnerable.
Overview
Akamai Prolexic Features
- Global Traffic Scrubbing Reroute your traffic through 20+ global scrubbing centers to filter out malicious data and keep your backend clean.
- Zero-Second Mitigation SLA Stop known attack vectors instantly with proactive defensive controls that neutralize threats the moment they are detected.
- Network Flow Monitoring Gain deep visibility into your network traffic patterns to identify and respond to anomalies before they become critical.
- Hybrid Protection Secure your assets across any environment, including private data centers, public clouds, and complex hybrid setups.
- SOCC Expert Support Access 24/7 support from specialized security operations centers to help you manage complex attacks and fine-tune your defenses.
- BGP Route Injection Control how your traffic is routed during an attack using standard BGP protocols for a fast and reliable failover.
Metasploit Features
- Exploit Database. Access thousands of verified exploits for various operating systems and applications to test your systems against real-world threats.
- Smart Exploitation. Automatically match vulnerabilities with the correct exploits to save time and increase the success rate of your penetration tests.
- Payload Generation. Create custom payloads that allow you to maintain access and move laterally through a network to test internal security controls.
- Vulnerability Validation. Import data from scanners like Nexpose to verify which vulnerabilities are actually exploitable and pose the highest risk to you.
- Post-Exploitation Tools. Use advanced modules to gather evidence, escalate privileges, and demonstrate the potential impact of a successful breach to stakeholders.
- Phishing Simulations. Launch social engineering campaigns to test your team's awareness and identify users who might be susceptible to real-world phishing attacks.
Pricing Comparison
Akamai Prolexic Pricing
Metasploit Pricing
- Command-line interface
- Manual exploitation
- Access to 2,000+ exploits
- Basic payload generation
- Community-driven updates
- Manual credential harvesting
- Everything in Framework, plus:
- Graphical user interface
- Automated exploitation wizard
- Phishing campaign builder
- Advanced reporting and evidence
- Vulnerability scanner integration
Pros & Cons
Akamai Prolexic
Pros
- Unmatched capacity to handle massive multi-terabit DDoS attacks
- Excellent 24/7 support from highly skilled security experts
- Very low latency impact during active traffic scrubbing
- Comprehensive visibility into attack traffic and mitigation patterns
Cons
- Premium pricing makes it expensive for smaller organizations
- Complex initial configuration requires significant networking expertise
- Dashboard interface can feel overwhelming for novice users
Metasploit
Pros
- Massive library of frequently updated exploits
- Industry standard tool for penetration testing
- Powerful automation features in the Pro version
- Excellent integration with other Rapid7 security products
- Highly customizable for advanced security researchers
Cons
- Steep learning curve for the command-line version
- Pro version pricing is high for small teams
- Can be flagged by antivirus software during testing