Kong Partners with HPE Japan to Enhance API Management and Hybrid Cloud Solutions

Kong Partners with HPE Japan

Kong Inc., a leading company in API and AI connectivity technology based in Minato, Tokyo, has recently established a partnership with HPE Japan, aiming to assist enterprises in Japan in leveraging APIs and optimizing hybrid cloud environments. The agreement will facilitate the provision of HPE's portfolio to enhance digital transformation (DX) and AI adoption among Japanese companies.

Background of the Partnership

In recent years, for businesses to maintain and enhance their competitive edge, the modernization of applications and the adoption of microservices, along with the creation of new services utilizing AI, have become essential. In these efforts, the importance of APIs, which connect cloud and existing systems flexibly and securely, has increased immensely.

HPE offers powerful enterprise solutions such as the GreenLake cloud, which brings a cloud experience to all IT, and the turnkey system HPE Private Cloud AI, which accelerates the practical application of AI. On the other hand, Kong’s mission is to make every company "API-first", providing a comprehensive approach to the lifecycle of API development, operation, and management.

Both companies aim to address the challenges of API governance and management in increasingly complex hybrid and multi-cloud environments, ultimately providing a secure and scalable digital infrastructure to the Japanese market through this new partnership.

Value Provided by the Partnership

This partnership will showcase a blend of Kong's advanced API management technology and HPE's robust hybrid cloud and AI infrastructure. This combination allows for a consistent support structure from the infrastructure to the application layer, facilitating next-generation digital platforms that accelerate corporate digital transformation. The specific values of this collaboration include:

- Integrated API Management in Hybrid Cloud

By combining the flexible infrastructure environment provided by GreenLake cloud with Kong's lightweight, high-performance API gateway, this partnership ensures consistent API governance and security across various environments, from on-premises systems to public clouds.

- Acceleration of AI Strategies

By linking HPE's AI infrastructure with the Kong AI Gateway, which efficiently utilizes multiple AI systems, this partnership supports the rapid integration of AI services with business systems. This will promote data utilization and automation, ultimately assisting in achieving business outcomes.

- Enhancing Developer Productivity and Speed

Using API development platforms like KongInsomnia in conjunction with HPE's state-of-the-art computing environments will streamline the process from API design to testing and deployment.

Future Outlook

Through this partnership with HPE Japan, Kong aims to expand use cases for API management in the Japanese market, focusing on sectors such as finance, manufacturing, and public services, where high security and stable operations are paramount. The two companies will collaborate on joint proposals and technology validations to robustly support Japanese firms in achieving DX and driving innovation.

Takahiro Hazama, Executive Officer and Head of Advisory & Professional Services at HPE Japan, expressed, "We welcome the opportunity to provide cutting-edge API management solutions through our collaboration with Kong. APIs are the 'nucleus of connectivity' in modern digital business, and I am confident that Kong's exceptional technological capabilities will serve as a powerful engine to accelerate our customers’ hybrid cloud and AI strategies."

Daiki Aizumi, President of Kong Inc., stated, "We are thrilled to establish a partnership with HPE, a leader in IT infrastructure. By merging HPE's robust hybrid cloud and AI solutions with Kong's advanced API management technology, we can address the challenges of API governance and management that Japanese companies face, promoting a truly API-first development environment. Together, we will contribute to realizing a more agile digital society."

About Kong

Kong is a leading company in API and AI connectivity technology, building the necessary infrastructure for the agent era. Trusted by a wide range of clients from Fortune 500 companies to startups, Kong provides an integrated API/AI platform called Kong Konnect, enabling secure management, acceleration, governance, and monetization of the intelligence flowing between APIs and AI models. For more details, visit jp.konghq.com.