Guest: Doug Madory  (LinkedIn)
Company: Kentik (Twitter)
Show: Let’s Talk

Kentik has introduced the Cloud Latency Map, a free tool that visualizes latency across cloud regions and providers to provide critical insights into connectivity issues and optimization opportunities. In this episode, Doug Madory, Director of Internet Analysis at Kentik, delves into the tool’s capabilities, its applications for DevOps teams, and how it complements Kentik’s paid platform for detailed cloud network analytics. Reflecting on the tool’s utility, Madory says, “For those with a vested interest in cloud connectivity, this ought to be something that they might spend a little time on.”

Introducing Kentik and their new Cloud Latency Map tool

• Madory introduces Kentik, providing an overview of its origins as a network observability company, well-regarded for its expertise in NetFlow analytics, which enables customers to gain visibility into their network traffic and performance.
• Madory explains Kentik’s recent expansion into cloud services, a move driven by evolving customer needs in a multi-cloud world, positioning the company to support a broader scope of network observability solutions.
• In describing the Cloud Latency Map, Madory emphasizes it as a new demonstration of Kentik’s commitment to cloud observability, designed to address crucial questions customers face regarding performance and internet connectivity.

The development and purpose of the Cloud Latency Map

• With over 15 years in internet analysis, Madory shares how his extensive background influences his role at Kentik, shaping the company’s product development, marketing strategies, and his role as a public speaker on cloud and network observability.
• Madory describes the origin of the Cloud Latency Map, created to address the need for deeper insights into connectivity issues between cloud regions and customer networks through a complex, Kentik-powered mesh of regional connectivity tests.
• Originally developed as an internal resource, the Cloud Latency Map evolved into a community tool, designed to share Kentik’s collected data and expertise widely, offering valuable cloud connectivity insights to a broader audience.

Cloud Latency Map’s functionality and how it is helping users

• The Cloud Latency Map is a free, public tool, accessible without logging in, that allows users to explore latency comparisons between cloud providers across similar geographic paths and make data-driven decisions about connectivity.
• Madory explains how users can compare latency across cloud regions, such as AWS in London and AWS in Mumbai, or across providers like AWS and Azure, providing insights into cross-network connectivity with various providers.
• The tool highlights both optimized and sub-optimal routing scenarios, helping users understand latency variations when crossing different network infrastructures, offering a clearer view of cloud connectivity performance.

What are the advanced features and data analysis capabilities of Cloud Latency Map? 

• Madory details the tool’s ability to process over 10,000 data series, allowing users to analyze significant latency changes and disruptions, including major incidents like submarine cable cuts or regional infrastructure outages.
• Users can filter data by specific criteria, such as by region or timeframe, giving them the ability to pinpoint the timing and impact of connectivity issues, which provides deeper performance insights.
• For analysts and those interested in real-time cloud connectivity, the Cloud Latency Map offers extensive data exploration opportunities, creating a valuable resource for understanding and troubleshooting cloud network performance.

Target audience and its integration with Kentik Cloud Platform

• Madory explains that the Cloud Latency Map was created for networking and cloud DevOps teams, offering a free tool to help them optimize their connectivity insights, although it doesn’t include specific network customization options.
• Madory clarifies that Kentik’s paid product provides more advanced testing capabilities tailored to customers’ unique network configurations, which offer deeper, more customized insights for connectivity optimization.
• By providing this tool freely, Kentik aims to both serve the cloud networking community and raise awareness of Kentik’s expertise in cloud services and NetFlow analytics among a larger audience.

Kentik Cloud Platform and its position in the cloud market

• Madory describes the Kentik Cloud Platform as an extension of Kentik’s core network observability capabilities, designed specifically to help customers address key questions around traffic flow and cost management within cloud deployments.
• Through the platform, customers can monitor their cloud traffic patterns, locate performance bottlenecks, and avoid unnecessary costs, applying Kentik’s high standards in network observability to cloud environments.
• Kentik seeks to establish itself as a major player in the hyper-scaler market by offering innovative, cloud-focused solutions, strengthening its position as a leader in cloud observability and analytics.

This summary was written by Emily Nicholls.