Akamai Network Engineering Professional Certificate Course Syllabus

Overview: This professional certificate program provides comprehensive training in Akamai's edge network technologies, CDN architecture, security engineering, and automation. Designed for network professionals, the course blends theoretical foundations with hands-on practice using Akamai's production tools. Learners will progress through five core technical modules followed by a capstone project, requiring approximately 350–400 hours to complete. Each module includes labs, quizzes, and real-world simulations to reinforce learning.

Module 1: Internet Infrastructure Fundamentals

Estimated time: 60 hours

• BGP routing principles and applications in global networks
• Anycast networking and traffic distribution
• DNS architecture and resolution path analysis
• Using EdgeScape and Network Operations Command Center for diagnostics

Module 2: CDN Architecture & Configuration

Estimated time: 80 hours

• Design of Akamai's distributed edge network
• Cache hierarchy and origin shielding strategies
• Traffic steering and load balancing methods
• Advanced caching behaviors and TLS handshake optimization

Module 3: Network Security Engineering

Estimated time: 70 hours

• DDoS mitigation rule implementation
• Rate limiting policy configuration
• Bot management and attack pattern analysis
• Simulation of defense scenarios against volumetric attacks

Module 4: Edge Computing Implementation

Estimated time: 60 hours

• Deployment of serverless functions using EdgeWorkers
• JavaScript development for edge logic
• Implementation of A/B testing at the edge
• Content personalization with security constraints

Module 5: Network Automation & APIs

Estimated time: 50 hours

• Infrastructure-as-code using Akamai CLI
• Automation with REST APIs and Python scripting
• CI/CD pipelines for network configuration changes
• Troubleshooting API errors and bulk property management

Module 6: Final Project

Estimated time: 120 hours

• Design and documentation of a global CDN architecture
• Implementation of security policies and DDoS protection
• Performance testing and incident response planning

Prerequisites

• Strong understanding of TCP/IP, DNS, and HTTP protocols
• Familiarity with basic networking concepts and infrastructure
• Basic scripting knowledge (Python or JavaScript recommended)

What You'll Be Able to Do After

• Design and optimize global content delivery networks (CDNs)
• Configure and troubleshoot Akamai's edge network infrastructure
• Implement advanced caching and traffic routing strategies
• Secure network architecture against DDoS and web attacks
• Automate network operations using Akamai APIs