Know Everything about Content Delivery Network (CDN)

A content delivery network (CDN) is when servers form a global network to deliver content rapidly. All these servers get placed according to a strategy. The sole aim remains the enhancement of the delivery speed of the content.

CDN helps transfer assets via the internet in a blink of an eye. This internet content can be of any type, including javascript files, images, videos, HTML pages, and stylesheets. A CDN stores all the web content and all the internet users directly directed to a particular server without delay.

With the increase in internet users, CDN has become more popular. Nowadays, most traffic gets directed to various websites with the help of CDN. Moreover, a CDN gets appropriately designed. In that case, it can also protect the website from distributed denial of service attacks (DDOS) and malicious attacks.

The core purpose of a CDN is to shorten the distance between the website server and the visitor visiting the web page. CDN stores a Cache version of the website's original content in multiple geographical regions. All these geographical points are referred to as points of preference (PoPs).

All the servers connected to a CDN work collectively to deliver the content quickly, securely, and cheaply. These servers will get placed at the internet exchange point (IXP) between two networks.

The PoPs that we are talking about hold a number of these intersecting servers, which are known as edge servers. Internet providers connect to gain access to the organic traffic to their content across the networks. With the help of the corresponding geographical locations, the CDN provider makes the entire process cost-efficient and reduces the transit time while ensuring fast delivery at any given site.

How CDN functions always remains crystal clear to its users. CDN locates the nearby server to the user automatically and instantly delivers the content to that server. The edge servers connected to the CDN help communicate between the cached and newly created content. This new content will not reach the user as a cached version.

In simple words, CDN edge servers reduce the number of leaps a single data packet must make while travelling toward the destined location. It, in turn, results in a reduction in data packet loss and optimization in terms of bandwidth. Eventually, these factors ensure fast services, minimal timeout or latency issues, and jitters.

Like any other service, CDN also has its advantages and downsides. Here we will mention both sides of the service.

Advantages:   

• Highly Efficient - CDN makes the bounce rate minimal and decreases the loading period of the webpage.

• Enhanced Security - The web content remains secure from WAFs, DDoS, and bot mitigation attacks.

• Increasement in Availability - CDN functions even better than the original server in some cases. CDN is capable of handling high traffic at any given time.

• Optimised Content - CDN network ensures performance by optimising the web content.

• Cost Management - There will be a significant cost reduction as CDN reduces the bandwidth.

Disadvantages  

• Misplaced Servers - You should know about the exact location of your catered audience. Knowing this location will help you to put the servers in the same place. Misplacement of the edge servers will make the entire CDN a failure.

• Not Getting Support - CDN works via third-party intervention. That is why resolving an issue regarding CDN can become difficult.

In present days almost half the traffic present on the internet gets operated with the help of CDN. CDN is free to use, but you must understand whether it is for you. Localised businesses do not require the help of CDN. As most companies now operate on a larger scale, it is better to use CDN for advertising, e-commerce, and other purposes.