# What is MK.IO?

MK.IO is a cloud-native Software as a Service (SaaS) platform for processing, protecting, and delivering live and on-demand video. You can work through guided workflows in the MK.IO portal or automate its resources through the MK.IO APIs.

## Choose live or on-demand video

MK.IO supports two main media workflows. The right starting point depends on whether your video is arriving continuously or already exists as a file.

- [Live video](/mkio/getting-started/live-stream-in-five-minutes): Send a continuous stream from an encoder to MK.IO, process or pass through the signal, and publish it for playback.
- [Video on Demand](/mkio/getting-started/video-on-demand-vod-workflows): Add an existing video file, process it when needed, and publish it so viewers can play it on demand.

**Video on Demand (VOD)** describes video that viewers can start when they choose, rather than a stream tied to a live source. Live recordings can also become VOD assets after an event ends.

**Live workflows** include scheduled events, interviews, continuous channels, and prerecorded content sent as a live source. When MK.IO creates **adaptive bitrate (ABR)** output, it produces several quality levels so a compatible player can select the rendition that suits the viewer's connection and device.

## Understand the resource model

MK.IO combines a small set of resources into complete media workflows:

| Resource               | Role in a workflow                                                                                                                          |
| :--------------------- | :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Project**            | Contains the storage, media, processing, and delivery resources for a workload.                                                             |
| **Storage account**    | Connects MK.IO to the cloud storage that holds source files, outputs, and live recordings.                                                  |
| **Asset**              | References a set of files in connected cloud storage.                                                                                       |
| **Transform**          | Defines a reusable processing task for file-based content.                                                                                  |
| **Job**                | Applies a transform to an input and writes the result to an output asset.                                                                   |
| **Live event**         | Receives a continuous input for passthrough or encoding.                                                                                    |
| **Streaming locator**  | Associates an asset with a streaming policy and provides the path used for playback.                                                        |
| **Streaming endpoint** | Packages and delivers content through playback protocols such as HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) and Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (DASH). |
| **Content key policy** | Defines how MK.IO issues content keys and authorizes protected playback.                                                                    |

You do not need every resource for every task. For example, a live workflow uses a live event instead of a transform and job while the stream is running. The [media resource model](/mkio/understanding/core-concepts) explains these relationships in more detail.

## Deliver video to viewers

A streaming endpoint acts as the origin service for your content. A streaming locator links an asset to that endpoint and generates its playback paths.

For wider delivery, a **Content Delivery Network (CDN)** uses a distributed network of servers to cache content closer to viewers. MK.IO supports integrated CDN endpoints and external CDN configurations. [Streaming endpoints and playback](/mkio/how-to/content-delivery-publishing) explains the available publishing workflows.

You can also protect playback with encryption and Digital Rights Management (DRM). [Content protection](/mkio/understanding/core-concepts/content-protection) explains streaming policies, content key policies, and DRM options.

## Choose where to begin

- [Live stream in five minutes](/mkio/getting-started/live-stream-in-five-minutes) for a first live workflow with a prepared source.
- [Publish your first VOD asset](/mkio/getting-started/video-on-demand-vod-workflows) for a file-based workflow.
- [Set up your account](/mkio/getting-started/account-setup-and-first-steps) if you do not yet have a project.
- [Navigate the MK.IO portal](/mkio/getting-started/platform-navigation-and-key-features) to find product areas and organization settings.
- [Choose an MK.IO API](/api-guides/getting-started/which-api) when you are ready to automate a workflow.