5 Things to know about AWS CloudFront

Tags: aws, cloudskills
Published: 2020-11-02 09:48:56

With the boom in resource availability through digital platforms, there are tons of websites and applications available for the same task. The prime concern then becomes, how to direct clients to your website. A fast, responsive, and secure website attracts the audience in such cases. [AWS CloudFront](https://aws.amazon.com/cloudfront/) helps you to develop swift and secure applications. We at [SNDK Corp](https://www.sndkcorp.com/blog/aws-cloudfront-things-to-know/) help you to utilize this service of Amazon Web Services.

##AWS CloudFront
Amazon CloudFront is a [content delivery network](https://www.cloudflare.com/learning/cdn/what-is-a-cdn/) (CDN) service that delivers static data, videos, multimedia, APIs, and dynamic data to customers globally and securely with high transfer speed. It comes with the additional feature of AWS integration so your application can be under the roof of a single service provider AWS. SNDK Corp Solutions will help you shift your application completely to the Amazon Cloud.

##CDN
The core of the CloudFront definition was the term Content Delivery Network (CDN). Let’s now understand the basics of CDN as per SNDK Corp.

CDN is a large distribution of servers around the world that caches the data for the low latency rate of content delivery of your application. Now the question is, why do we need to cache data when it can be transferred directly to your device from the server.

Consider the situation. You have built a website and bought servers in Australia. And a client from the USA wants to access your website. Considering the distance between the two continents. It will take an extended amount of time to get the content delivered to the client’s system. You have put in lots of sweat and blood to design the User Interface and make your website more attractive by adding images and graphics. But what is the use when the multimedia files couldn’t load instantly? A slow website is a major turn off for your client.

This is where caching of data comes in the frame.

##HOW CloudFront CDN WORKS?
Let’s continue the previous example. Suppose, data needs to be transferred from Australia to the USA. AWS CloudFront provides you with edge locations distributed across the globe where the data caches. Now, when the client sends a request to the server, the following processes take place in the CloudFront environment.

![AWS CloudFront Use cases](https://www.sndkcorp.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/1-1.jpg)

1. The request is passed to the nearest edge location, a CDN server. If the cached data is found, it will immediately transfer the content to the client.
2. In case there isn’t any cached data, the request is transferred to the server which sends the content.
3. The content then reaches the edge location instead of going directly to the client.
4. It is cached and then transferred to the client’s system.

This process may look long and cumbersome at first glance. But in the long run, it turns out to be way faster than a direct transfer of requests between the server and client. It will prove to be a boon when your user base is confined to a particular location. The edge location nearest to the user base will always have the cached content for quick and efficient delivery. The cherry on the top is, AWS CloudFront replaces the cached data in case the user base gets idle.

##Top Advantages AWS CloudFront
This section covers the [advantages](https://aws.amazon.com/cloudfront/features/?nc=sn&loc=2) AWS CloudFront offers as a Content Delivery Network:

###1. Global:
There are 216 edge locations spread all across the world. There will be an edge location near any of your clients. Planning to make a global website? AWS CloudFront is a must-have add on service for you.

###2. Fast:
The heart of AWS CloudFront is the high data transfer rate. Your application will get loaded with the blink of an eye without any latency rate.

###3. Dynamic Transfer:
Now, this is interesting but at the same time a huge advantage. As soon as one byte is loaded into the cache, it transfers immediately to the client, which opens the door of Live Streaming. AWS CloudFront provides you with the option of both static and dynamic content delivery.

###4. Encryption:
Without any additional cost, AWS CloudFront develops a highly-secure application for you. [AWS Shield Standard](https://aws.amazon.com/shield/?whats-new-cards.sort-by=item.additionalFields.postDateTime&whats-new-cards.sort-order=desc) built-in features are inherited by AWS CloudFront. [AWS Web Application Firewall](https://aws.amazon.com/waf/) is a 7 Layer Protection that is built into each of the CloudFront edge locations worldwide.

###5. Customizable:
To improve responsiveness, you may even program AWS CloudFront. Sometimes, there requires the processing of data at the run time in the server. This task can be accomplished at the edge locations.

###6. AWS Integration:
You can integrate all the Amazon services with the AWS CloudFront application. All of them can be accessible from the same console and get accelerated by availing the features of AWS CloudFront.

##Use Cases of AWS CloudFront
After going through the advantages, we shall extend the dimensions of [applications](https://aws.amazon.com/cloudfront/) of AWS CloudFront as per SNDK Corp.

###A) Static asset caching:
As discussed before, data acceleration can give your users a fast and reliable experience. The regional edge location will manage the cache of static images, stylesheets, and tables.

###B) Live Streaming:
The dynamic data transfer can be used while live streaming to avoid buffering and seamless performance for your client. It can add an advanced flavour to your application.

###C) Security:
If you want to provide your clients, privacy, and encryption features, then simply use AWS CloudFront. The built-in AWS Web Application Firewall (WAF) will take care of the security issues.

![Use Cases of AWS CloudFront](https://www.sndkcorp.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/2.png)

##CONCLUSION
In a nutshell, if you want your application to reach out around the globe, then you must avail of the benefits of [AWS CloudFront](https://www.sndkcorp.com/cloud-computing-services). For reliable, fast, and seamless performance, AWS CloudFront is the best fit. With increasing competition, a responsive application will facilitate your business and make your website stand out from the rest.