Key Takeaways

  • Speed + Security: A CDN (Content Delivery Network) copies your website to servers all over the world. It loads faster and hides your real IP address.
  • DDoS Protection: CDNs absorb massive traffic spikes. If 1,000,000 bots attack you, the CDN takes the hit, not your server.
  • WAF (Web Application Firewall): Many CDNs include a WAF that blocks hacking attempts (SQLi, XSS) before they reach you.

You wouldn't publish your home address in the newspaper. So why publish your server's IP address in DNS records? A CDN is a proxy that stands between you and the internet.

How a CDN Works

Without a CDN, a user in Tokyo connects to your server in New York. The signal travels halfway around the world (Latency). With a CDN, the user connects to a server in Tokyo that has a cached copy of your site.

Security Benefits

1. Hiding your Origin IP

If hackers know your server's real IP, they can attack it directly, bypassing your firewall. A CDN hides this IP. The world only sees the CDN's IP addresses.

2. Bot Management

50% of web traffic is bots. CDNs use "Challenge Pages" (Captchas) to stop scrapers, spammers, and brute-force bots from consuming your resources.

3. SSL/TLS Termination

The CDN handles the encryption handshake closer to the user, making the site load faster (lower TTL).

Cloudflare vs Akamai

Cloudflare is the most popular for individuals and small businesses (generous free tier). Akamai powers the biggest banks and streaming services. Both offer world-class security.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can a CDN be hacked?
Rarely, but it happens. If Cloudflare goes down (which happens once a year), half the internet breaks. This is called "Centralization Risk."
Is it free?
Cloudflare offers a free plan that stops most basic attacks. For enterprise protection, you pay thousands per month.

What attacks does a WAF block?
Read OWASP Top 10