Content delivery networks (CDNs) are interconnected networks of servers strategically placed around the globe to accelerate web content delivery, reduce load times, improve online user experiences, and much more. This presentation includes the 10 most common questions about CDN solutions.

1. CDNetworks
10 Common Questions about Content Delivery Networks

2. What is the Purpose of a CDN?
Quickly deliver websites and applications to end users anywhere in the world in a
secure and reliable environment. The less time it takes to transmit web content to
the end user, the faster websites load/respond. In addition to accelerating content
delivery, CDNs also serve as a fail-safe system to ensure the site is always available
during traffic peaks and server outages.

3. How Does a CDN Work to Solve Web
Performance Issues?
Providing an interconnected network tuned for speed, reliability and scalability.
CDNs enable web entities to bypass the inefficiencies of the standard internet,
ensuring faster and more reliable web content delivery. Site owners can rely on
CDNs to efficiently balance traffic loads, dynamically scale to accommodate any
traffic surges, and even detect and mitigate security threats.

4. Why Should I Use a CDN and Not
Multiple Datacenters?
The primary reasons are it is practical and it saves you cost and time. Managing
multiple, globally distributed datacenters can be extremely expensive and resource
intensive, requiring fixed up-front costs and a multitude of ongoing operating costs.
In addition to cost, it can take months or even up to years to build, set up and
deploy a fully functional network of datacenters.
CDNs provide a quick deployment strategy and eliminate huge investments
associated with building and maintaining an internal infrastructure. Most
organizations will see positive net results in a few months, versus a typical two year
period before seeing any returns on deploying an internal solution.

5. Can CDNs Accelerate Dynamic
Content/Applications?
Yes, but not all CDNs are capable of accelerating dynamic content. Most CDNs only
have the ability to cache (duplicate) content throughout their network for quicker
delivery. However, dynamic content such as games, applications, online trading
transactions… any data that is generated in real-time cannot be cached and must be
delivered directly from the origin server.
Dynamic acceleration is typically only provided by tier-one CDNs configured to
streamline data requests and delivery between the origin server and the end user.
Dynamic acceleration enables data from the origin server to bypass standard
internet nodes and be delivered through a more direct and efficient path, drastically
reducing load time and improving responsiveness.

6. Are CDNs Valuable for Video
Streaming?
Yes, CDN video streaming can accelerate the delivery of media files in a more secure
and reliable environment. In addition to lag free viewing experiences, CDNs also
ensure the asset’s availability at all times, even during huge demand spikes.

7. Can a CDN Help Expand Online
Presence into Global Markets?
Yes, but not all CDNs are capable of offering a solution that can meet your specific
objectives. It depends on which regions/markets around the world are being
targeted and how much traffic is being received from those regions. Larger global
CDNs can provide the means of quickly and cost effectively reaching a global
audience due to its vast network and reliability. Smaller CDNs may have limited
access outside of its home region and have no presence in hard to reach markets
such as China, Russia, India etc…

8. Are CDNs Effective for Mobile
Acceleration?
“In 2013, global mobile data traffic grew more than 81 percent, year over year, to
1.5 exabytes per month,” according to Cisco’s “Visual Networking Index.” As
smartphone usage and data traffic increases, companies need to keep the mobile
experience in mind. Mobile CDNs enhance the experience with Radio Access
Network (RAN) acceleration by taking the following steps:
 Reducing mobile data traffic (without changing content) through text
compression
 Reducing excessive progressive downloading of video content through video
pacing
 Using TCP acceleration which is tuned to fit the mobile user’s networks
environment

9. Will Using a CDN Improve my
Site/Network’s Security?
CDNs continuously monitor, improve, and test their networks, infrastructure and
services to meet strict security regulations. From HIPAA to PHI to PCI standards,
content delivery networks take the steps needed to keep delivery compliant to
these strict regulations and protect critical data. Some CDNs also offer cloud
solutions for protection against DDoS attacks and other security threats.

10. How Much Time and Resources are
Needed to Successfully Implement a
CDN?
Depending on each site/application’s requirements, CDNs are typically easy to
install and simple to deploy. CDNs are pre-configured to meet general web
performance needs and can be customized for specific delivery and performance
requirements.
The cost of CDN services can vary depending on bandwidth, performance, network
size, security, target regions and various integrated features.

11. How can a CDN Increase Revenue?
As we’ve highlighted in previous posts, time is money on today’s e-business
environment. As a brand’s online presence grows on a global scale, so too should
the effort to ensure an optimized, user-friendly web experience. If download speeds
and load times are slower than expected, e-businesses will lose customers and
revenue. No matter how great the offers are, most users will not wait more than 3
seconds for the site to fully load. Through reliable and secured accelerated web
content delivery, CDNs can help drastically reduce load times and maximize the
potential for conversions.
I hope these questions (and the accompanying answers) provided some useful
insights for better understanding why a CDN may or may not make sense for your
needs. If you are considering leveraging the services of a CDN as part of your
strategy, here is a list of considerations that may help with your evaluation process.

12. CDNetworks Products
Web Acceleration
Content Acceleration
China Acceleration
Russia Acceleration
Dynamic Web Acceleration
Dynamic Network Acceleration
Media Acceleration
Mobile CDN
Cloud Services
Cloud DNS
Cloud Storage
Cloud Load Balancer
Cloud Portal
Cloud Security
Web Application Firewall
DDoS protection
Enterprise Application Security

13. CDNetworks Cloud Acceleration & Security
Network of 200 Points of Presence in 100 cities

14. CDNetworks
www.cdnetworks.com
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