A Content Delivery Network (CDN) is designed to scale the web properties (also known as the origin) which is done in four different areas Performance, Optimisation, Monitoring and Automation.

A traditional CDN makes web content faster for the end users. For the sites that are rich and dynamic the CDN will improve performance of interactive and dynamic content as well as provide additional capacity to meet spikes in demand. The CDN will Improve DNS response time, improving page load speed.

CDN provides optimisation for increased user experience. Images can be rendered automatically for each device based upon that device’s capabilities, including bandwith and screen size. The CDN can provide global server load balancing across multiple origins providing instant failover detection.

DNS is a critical element which dramatically influences the page load speed. In addition, securing the DNS zone information is important for overall information security. DNS response time is a vital part of the structure of a HTTP/S request. Without DNS the page will never be found never mind the content.

Monitoring of the CDN allows us to get a better understanding of how content on the page is making users behave. The CDN can prioritise content based on business objectives. The CDN can provide analytical functionality to see how end user experience is affected. Logs can be streamed in near real time. It can simulate peaks in traffic. It’s useful for a one time event. Real time user monitoring can be achieved on the CDN by using java script to collect data from browsers. This gives you the ability to see the performance and experience the user sees.

M Pulse provides insight into customer journey, enables you to fix elements of the website that are sub optimal and gives the ability to run a what if scenario. It can look at embedded third party javascript in a page and see how it slows the page in its entirety. It identifies resources on a page that provide little if any value and those that are critical.

Bot Management enables the website to control access from the internet of automated robots that can steal information and content from the website. It also provides a facility to look for attempts to ‘test’ usernames and passwords stolen previously from other websites. Referred to as credential stuffing.

Automation of API’s and automate distribution of content. The Akamai platform allows customers to automate their operations in conjunction with the CDN through a scripting process. API’s have become an intrinsic part of the websites capabilities and functionality. However, they need optimising and securing. API manager provides additional levels of authorisation and authentication.

Web Application Firewall (WAF) protects the web server and ultimately the website from compromise and hack. It specifically understands the difference between a genuine browser request and one that is targeting the exfiltration of data from the site. The WAF can provide in-cloud SSL offload and hosting of certificates.

Site Shield provides defence of the origin server ensuring that the traffic can only go through to it from the CDN.