A CDN or a content delivery network is a group of servers distributed geographically to collaborate and offer speedy delivery of internet content. The network allows for the fast transfer of assets required for loading internet content like videos, images, stylesheets, javascript files and HTML pages. In present times, CDNs serve the majority of web traffic. It includes traffic from popular sites like Amazon, Netflix and Facebook.

A properly configured CDN might also help in protecting websites against usual pernicious attacks like DDOS or Distributed Denial of Service attacks. Therefore, top web hosting solutions like the best WordPress web hosting services come with CDN.

How is CDN Different from a Web Host?

Although a content delivery network doesn’t host content and can’t substitute the need for a proper web host, it helps in caching content at the network edge to boost website performance. Several websites struggle to have their performance requirements met by conventional hosting solutions. Therefore, web hosting companies go for CDNs.

A CDN can improve security, help prevent services from getting interrupted and use caching to lower hosting bandwidth. Thus, CDN helps do away with the major drawbacks of traditional web hosting.

What Are the Advantages of Using a CDN?

Although the benefits of a CDN differ as per the requirements and size of an internet property, the main advantages for most users are as follows:

Boosting website load times: When content is distributed closer to website visitors with the help of a nearby CDN server, visitors can experience speedy loading. Since they usually click away from a site that loads slowly, a CDN can bring down bounce rates and increase the duration spent by visitors on the website.
Reducing bandwidth costs: One of the expenses for websites is bandwidth consumption costs while hosting a site. Through optimisations like caching, CDNs can lower the volume of data an origin server should provide, thereby lowering the costs incurred by website owners for hosting in India.
Increasing content redundancy and availability: Hardware failures or large volumes of traffic can disrupt normal website functions. Thankfully, since a CDN is distributed, it can manage heavy traffic and hardware failures better than several origin servers.
Improving website security: A CDN may boost security through various optimisations like improvements to security certificates and offering DDoS mitigation.

How Does a CDN Work?

A CDN essentially acts as a network of servers linked together to deliver content as securely, reliably, cheaply and quickly as possible. To improve connectivity and speed, servers are placed by a CDN at the internet exchange points (IXPs) between networks.

These exchange points are the main locations where various internet providers connect to let each other access traffic from their individual networks. Being connected to these highly interconnected and high-speed locations, a CDN provider can help lower transit times and cost involved in fast data delivery.

Consider working with the best WordPress web hosting provider that offers caching, CDN and a free SSL certificate. Cloudflare, for instance, is an advanced CDN offered by a reputed web hosting provider to reduce your website’s loading times and skyrocket its performance.