Introduce yourself to CDNs!
A CDN(Content Delivery Network) is a geologically present set of servers that places web content closer to the end user.
But why closer to the users? Because the users of a particular application may present around the globe and the main server might be far away from certain end users. This may cause late response from the host server as the request/response has to travel a lot to be successful.
To counter the above situation, CDN endpoints are placed at different user-centered locations with cached content thus the requests are responded in lesser time.
Is it the same as web host?
NO! A CDN caches the content on the “network edge” — a place where CDN server is located. This network edge is placed near to the user as compared to the host server(where the content is originally present).
The network edge or the CDN retrieves content from the host server when either the requested content is not cached or the cached content has expired.
Benefits of a CDN
Use of CDNs have significant impact on factor such as — Speed, Load, Uptime and Security
- Reduced bandwidth consumption: By caching the data near to the user, it enables less data transfer from host. Thus lowers bandwidth consumption and costs.
- Reduced latency: Latency refers to the delay in the request and response cycle. Distance between the request and response end has a direct impact on latency. As CDNs caches content closer to the user, it reduces latency and improves performance.
- Increased uptime: The load on the host server is reduced significantly as the content is well distributed over different network edges. Less load on host improves uptime.
- Better security: CDNs use fresh TLS/SSL certificates that ensures enhanced standard of authentication, encryption and integrity. A properly configured CDN provides scaling that acts as a protective advantage over DDoS attacks.
- Traffic load: Large chain of CDN servers ensures scaling and thus enable applications to withstand large incoming traffic.
Disadvantages of CDN
- Location: The location of CDN plays an important role. CDN is of no use if not placed near the location of your end user. As it will significantly increase the load time.
- Support: As the infrastructure of CDN is managed and operated by third party providers, the host company or organization cannot analyze the time to put back the server live.
- Cost: To use the advantages of CDN the host organization might have to pay a huge upfront cost for the setup of these servers. It is advisable for heavy pockets companies to look for this solution.
Thus the use of CDNs are completely dependent on the need of your organization. A website/application with heavy incoming traffic should definitely opt for a CDN service to improve the performance and provide that extra layer of security.
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