The basic role a CDN performs is to cache contents that are static, i.e. such files as JavaScript, CSS, HTML and image files, ensuring that they are unaltered for each user that tries to access them.  Static content files, unlike dynamic contents, are not governed by any restrictions or stipulations in their creation and are always available as they are.  Consequently, the availability and accessibility of these files to your visitors can be greatly enhanced, if only you put them up on a CDN, which has several servers worldwide.

Latency is another factor to be considered in using a CDN; and this refers to the time a server will spend in handling any request.  Latency and distance work at a proportional relationship such that, if you are farther from your client (i.e. your browser), then the latency will also be longer, and the situation even becomes worse when the conditions are less than optimal.  A convenient way out of these problems is to employ a CDN – Content Delivery Network – which in addition to reducing the distance between your site and your visitor, performs other variety of functions. 

A CDN makes your website load superfast

Most users of a CDN are in it for the speed it offers, after all, a fast site is what every visitor wants and site owners, having known this, will always want to make their sites smooth and superfast.  In addition to presenting a great experience to its visitors, a fast site is also Google’s preference.

A CDN makes you spend less on bandwidth

By using a CDN, your bandwidth costs are significantly reduced.  This is because your visitors get static contents through the CDN severs, instead of yours, thus saving you money on web hosting. Most times, you will need to pay extra on web hosting once your site traffic exceeds the limits set by your hosting plan.  Though you will spend on a good CDN as well, however, you definitely have more control in this situation. 

A CDN gives you a more secured site

Perhaps you do not know, using a CDN on your website improves security greatly.  With tools offered by the CDN, it can play the role of a firewall, which ensures that your website is not affected in severe situations such as a Distributed Denial of Service attack (DDoS), and hackers’ threats (for WordPress sites) amongst others. 

A CDN offers improved availability and uptime

With CDN, the availability and uptime of your site are much better, after all, some contents on the site are now hosted on the CDN.  Likewise, if you are using a good CDN provider, they will ensure your site does not go down for any reason, by putting some good tactics in place.  One of these tactics is Load balancing, which keeps you online in such emergency cases as an unexpected huge rise in traffic.

What is the effect of CDN on SEO?

There is no adverse effect whatsoever on your SEO when you use a CDN.  On the contrary, it might improve your rankings slightly, since your website is now faster.  Another advantage of having a CDN installed is the ability to use the latest technologies, including using a HTTP/2 protocol to achieve better uptime and speed for your website, as well as forcing a secure HTTPs connection.

With a faster, secured and highly responsive website, your website users will be happy.  Thus, you should endeavor to install a CDN for your website and do so correctly.  Note that almost all CDN providers offer guidelines on the installation, and these must be followed to the letter to avoid tampering with your website’s SEO.

At Everybody Connects we place all of our client sites on the super fast Cloudflare network.  Special thanks to Cloudflare for making Nonprofit sites crazy fast and much more secured.