CDN as a Service: The advantages and challenges of outsourcing CDN

Quick Read

Content Delivery Network (CDN) as a service is a powerful tool that can help organizations to improve website performance, reduce latency, and increase availability. By outsourcing CDN services to a third-party provider, organizations can take advantage of the provider's expertise and infrastructure without having to invest in and maintain their own CDN. However, there are also challenges that come with outsourcing CDN services. In this blog post, we will take a closer look at the advantages and challenges of CDN as a service and how organizations can overcome them. 

1. Advantages: Outsourcing CDN services has several advantages, including cost savings, scalability, and expertise. By outsourcing CDN services, organizations can save money and resources on the infrastructure and maintenance required for a CDN. Additionally, CDN as a service providers can offer scalable solutions that can grow or shrink with the organization's needs. Furthermore, third-party providers typically have the expertise required to optimize and manage a CDN, which can be beneficial for organizations that don't have the in-house resources to do so. 
2. Challenges: One of the main challenges of outsourcing CDN services is the loss of control and flexibility. Organizations may have specific requirements that a third-party provider is unable to meet, which can lead to a lack of customization and a less-than-ideal user experience. Additionally, organizations may have concerns about the security and compliance of their data when it is stored with a third-party provider. 
3. Solutions: To overcome these challenges, organizations should carefully evaluate potential CDN as a service provider to ensure that they can meet the organization's specific requirements. Organizations should also negotiate service level agreements (SLA) that outline the provider's responsibilities and guarantees in terms of security, compliance, and performance. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing a hybrid solution that includes both an outsourced CDN and an in-house CDN to retain control and flexibility while still benefiting from the expertise and infrastructure of a third-party provider. 

In conclusion, CDN as a service can be a powerful tool for organizations looking to improve website performance, reduce latency, and increase availability. However, there are also challenges that come with outsourcing CDN services, such as loss of control and flexibility, and security and compliance concerns. Organizations can overcome these challenges by carefully evaluating potential providers, negotiating service level agreements, and implementing a hybrid solution that includes both an outsourced and in-house CDN.