4 Secure and Fast CDN Hosting Options
Numerous approaches may be taken to increase the speed of your website or online application. A content delivery network, commonly known as a CDN, is one technique of delivering content. Quite simply, a content delivery network (CDN) is a network of servers that is geographically dispersed and that helps to reduce delays in loading website content by minimizing the physical distance between the server and the user.
A network of this type is typically comprised of an origin server and several edge servers. The origin server serves as the primary server on which the files are stored, while the edge servers serve up cached versions of the content from the origin server.
A content delivery network (CDN) adds value to a web application in the following ways: As soon as a user accesses a website, the webserver answers with the main file, index.html, and all other files, which are known as static assets, are sent to the browser by the edge server that is geographically closest to the user’s location. As a result, the total distance that must be covered is significantly decreased.
Don’t confuse content delivery network (CDN) with web hosting because CDN is only used for static assets, such as pictures, JavaScript, and CSS files—all of the resources that remain the same from one request to the next. If you’re seeking a solution that connects a content delivery network (CDN) with web hosting, you might look at solutions such as Stratton.
It is a WordPress-based website that turns WordPress applications into static assets, which are subsequently deployed on a content delivery network (CDN) to improve loading speed. Traditional web hosting becomes outdated as a result of the availability of such technologies, which combine all of the tools required for serving your application to end customers at lightning speed in a single integrated solution.
CDNs are used by the vast majority of modern web apps. So, if you’re looking to include one into your existing architecture, here’s a list of potential possibilities to consider.
Cloudflare is the first of these.
Cloudflare is one of the most well-known content delivery networks (CDNs), with around 180 POPs (points of presence) spread across six continents. It gained widespread attention in 2014 when it successfully countered the biggest persistent DDoS attack at the time, which blasted 400GB/s of incoming traffic.
It comes with a free plan that may be able to resolve the majority of the issues faced by small websites and web applications because it provides free and automated SSL certificates as well as unmetered DDoS protection with a capacity of up to 65 Tbps. If you upgrade to their Pro or Business plans, you will reap significant benefits, including better protection and advanced optimization tools.
Pros:
The plan that is completely free
A vast network with extremely wide coverage all around the world is available.
APIs for developers are available for HTTP/2 and HTTP/3, which can be utilized for automation.
Pros: excellent DDoS prevention Cons:
Support is only available for premium plans.
2. Security regulations that are limited in scope.
Fastly is an edge cloud platform that offers a variety of capabilities such as image optimization, video streaming, load balancing, and a content delivery network solution, among others. This network is very resilient, handling more than 800 billion requests per day with an average response time of 200 milliseconds.
Unlike the original legacy CDNs, they did not install thousands of little scattered POPs; instead, they positioned a smaller number of more powerful POPs in critical markets around the globe. The network runs over six continents], and their specific location, as well as their stats, may be found on their website [source].
Pros
API for DDoS prevention designed for developers
Acceleration of the webpage in real-time
Cache cleaning on the fly
It is capable of supporting different protocols.
Cons
Offers a free trial period, but does not provide a free plan.
SSL prices are extremely high
3.KeyCDN
Similarly, KeyCDN, another excellent CDN provider, has a presence on six continents and around 40 POPs, with an additional six being built shortly.
Their pay-as-you-go pricing scheme has a monthly use requirement of $4, which is more than the industry standard. Although this is a significant advantage for small websites whose requirements are typically below market minimums, this element must be considered once your site begins to receive significant traffic because there is no limit to the amount of money that can be charged.
Pros
Plans that are pay-as-you-go
Customer service is provided to all clients at no additional charge 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Support for the HTTP/2 protocol, as well as real-time image processing and video streaming Drawbacks
Security features are limited.
Zone pricing—prices vary depending on which zone is picked, and only the first three zones are completely free.
Customers are required to make a minimum payment of $48 for each transaction.
There is no free plan or trial available.
4. StackPath is a path that can be followed.
stack path is yet another prominent content delivery network (CDN) provider that provides a CDN that is simple to use and maintain. It includes real-time analytics as well as a free EdgeSSL certificate from the manufacturer. The network contains more than 50 points of presence (POPs) spread across five continents.
Included among its features are serverless scripting, which enables developers to create stateless applications on their global edge computing platform, and one-of-a-kind optimization tools such as GZIP compression and highly customized CDN rules, which control the way requests are handled and ensure a continuous flow of content, respectively.
Pros
SSL certificates are included in the price of the package.
Simple to use and maintain
The following drawbacks: Complete visibility with built-in analytics REST API DDoS protection
Offers a free trial period, but does not provide a free plan.
A content delivery network (CDN) can accelerate the loading of a website, which benefits the user. As a result, a content delivery network (CDN) can be a valuable tool for your application, particularly if you have a significant number of static content objects to deliver, such as photographs, videos, and so on. In addition, when you factor in the advantages of streaming and real-time image optimization, having a CDN becomes an absolute must.
