Akana

Mid-tier enterprise API management vendor competing against larger players like Apigee and MuleSoft, with a strong focus on security and regulated industries

Akana, formerly known as SOA Software, was a pioneering provider of API management, security, and governance solutions for large enterprises. Founded in the early 2000s, the company built a comprehensive platform that enabled organizations to design, publish, manage, and secure APIs across complex digital ecosystems. Its platform was widely adopted by regulated industries such as financial services, healthcare, and government, where API governance and security were critical requirements. Akana's product suite included a full API lifecycle management platform, an API gateway, a developer portal, and OAuth/OpenID Connect security capabilities. The company rebranded from SOA Software to Akana in 2015 to reflect its evolution from service-oriented architecture tools toward modern API management. It competed directly with MuleSoft, Apigee, CA Technologies, and IBM in the enterprise API management space, differentiating itself through strong security features and support for on-premise and hybrid deployments. In 2019, Akana was acquired by Perforce Software, a provider of developer tools and DevOps solutions. Following the acquisition, Akana's platform was integrated into Perforce's broader portfolio of enterprise software tools. The Akana brand was eventually wound down as Perforce consolidated its offerings, and the product capabilities were absorbed into the Perforce ecosystem, effectively ending Akana's existence as a distinct standalone brand in the market.