What to Look for in a Content Delivery Network - BUYER'S GUIDE
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
BUYER’S GUIDE
What to Look
for in a Content
Delivery Network
CDNs offer more features than ever before,
which means researching before you buy
is a must. Here’s what you need to consider.
BY BOB VIOLINOBUYER’S GUIDE
What to Look for
in a Content Delivery
Network
What to Look for in a Content Delivery Network
As enterprises generate, pages and other types of content the number of content provid-
share and store ever-growing such as video to users based on ers increased. Several providers
volumes of digital content, the their geographic location; this have launched CDN services
market for content delivery minimizes latency and eases since 2008, many serving niche
network technologies and ser- the traffic load on the cus- markets. CDN providers now use
vices is growing faster than ever tomer’s network. CDN services a variety of features and cloud
before. Businesses of all sizes are designed to speed content services including software as a
that need to serve content from delivery, particularly for web- service (SaaS) and infrastructure
a mix of on-premises and cloud sites with a high volume of traf- as a service (IaaS).
locations can now not only dis- fic and a global reach. The closer Business adoption of CDNs
tribute it close to the user but the CDN server is to a user, the in a variety of market seg-
also add on a mix of value-added faster the content will be deliv- ments will continue to acceler-
service options. ered. Content delivery networks ate because major vendors are
can also provide protection building cost-effective prod-
against large traffic surges. ucts and services that can help
CONTENT DELIVERY The first CDNs were devel- customers optimize the per-
NETWORKS EXPLAINED oped in the 1990s to address formance of their Web pages
Content delivery networks, or the pressure on bandwidth that and other content. According
CDNs, are systems of distrib- arose as the demand for audio to a 2015 report by research
uted servers that deliver Web and video streaming grew and firm MarketsandMarkets, the
2 EXPLAINED HOW IT WORKS FEATURES THE BOTTOM LINEBUYER’S GUIDE
global CDN market is expected streaming), and Web and mobile Why do you need a content
What to Look for
in a Content Delivery to grow from $4.95 billion in content acceleration. In addi- delivery network?
Network
2015 to $15.73 billion in 2020 at tion, they offer transparent So why are more enterprises
a compound annual growth rate caching, front-end optimization, using CDNs? These services
(CAGR) of 26%. and services to measure CDN help organizations manage and
MarketsandMarkets catego- performance, load balancing, deliver content of all types to
rizes the CDN market in terms analytics and cloud intelligence. employees, customers, business
of the features that providers CDN service providers in partners and Internet users in
offer. These include Web per- the market include traditional general.
formance optimization, media players such as Akamai, cloud- Demand for fast, secure con-
delivery, cloud storage, data based CDNs like Limelight Net- tent delivery is on the rise for a
security, transparent caching, works, telecom-owned CDNs number of reasons, including the
transcoding and digital rights like Verizon EdgeCast and Level growing use of mobile devices,
management, and analytics and 3 Communications, and other increasing online collaboration
monitoring. niche CDN companies such as and the availability of cloud ser-
Denver-based Fastly, which spe- vices to support content deliv-
cializes in serving fast-changing ery. Content delivery networks
HOW CONTENT DELIVERY content like online store inven- account for a growing share
NETWORKS WORK tory in real time. Beyond getting of Internet content delivery,
CDN value-added services now content closer to users, these including live and on-demand
include monitoring, encoding, providers have introduced prod- streaming media, text, docu-
caching, digital rights manage- ucts designed to help custom- ments, graphics, media files and
ment, content management ers deliver high-quality content applications.
software systems, online video to users as well as analyze and Business users and consumers
platforms (including video monitor its performance. expect content to be available
3 EXPLAINED HOW IT WORKS FEATURES THE BOTTOM LINEBUYER’S GUIDE
quickly and securely, regard- consumes much more network location as possible, the CDN
What to Look for
in a Content Delivery less of the device they are bandwidth than static Web products and services most in
Network
using, said Mark Grannan, an pages. demand now include instant
application development and While CDN use can be valu- configuration using self-service
delivery analyst at Forrester able to any business, verti- tools. “Cloud platforms like
Research, based in Cambridge, cal markets that lead CDN use AWS [Amazon Web Services]
Mass. “Performance on mobile include advertising, media and have dramatically shifted devel-
devices and mobile networks is entertainment, online gaming, oper expectations,” Grannan
often abysmal, and when that e-commerce, Internet service said. With cloud-based services
happens, conversion rates and providers, government, health- from vendors like Fastly and
even brand reputations suf- care, education, hospitality and MaxCDN, companies can deploy
fer,” Grannan said. At the same automotive. to their production environ-
time, he added, there’s a “vora- ments and content becomes
cious consumer appetite for global almost immediately.
digital content. Even traditional CDN FEATURES These vendors are actively
CDN vendors are experiencing AND SERVICE OPTIONS redefining the ability to cache
growth based on their ability to Organizations can choose from content. The tools that help
deliver large files [like software a range of CDN vendors and developers move at their own
updates] or streaming video.” value-added services to meet pace and pipe data and logic into
The huge growth of video and their specific needs. their own systems and processes
over-the-top content traveling While the main mission of are a big area of opportunity
over the Internet is contribut- CDN services is still to deliver for mature CDN vendors like
ing to the evolution of CDNs. Web pages and other types Akamai and Limelight, Grannan
This content, including video on of content like video to users said.
demand and live broadcasting, as close to their geographic Security features that protect
4 EXPLAINED HOW IT WORKS FEATURES THE BOTTOM LINEBUYER’S GUIDE
content delivery networks from cloud service providers deliver. though that also makes the deci-
What to Look for
in a Content Delivery attacks like denial of service are The integration of Web and sion about how to build a CDN
Network
in high demand. CDN vendors video content for services like deployment strategy more dif-
are scrambling to address this e-commerce and digital market- ficult. Enterprises should con-
market, according to Grannan. ing are also having an impact sider a number of factors when
Companies like Akamai, Cloud- on the CDN vendor ecosystem, selecting CDN technology and
Flare and Incapsula are among using DevOps service agil- service vendors, including basics
the leaders in the CDN security ity. Increasingly, CDN services like how much experience the
market, he said. will be embedded in all types of vendor has, cost, the types of
Enterprises looking to deploy enterprise applications, includ- support and maintenance pro-
CDNs need to understand that ing mobile apps. vided, and the financial stability
the vendor market is growing A directory of vendors that of the vendor.
and changing. The emergence Dan Rayburn, executive vice Companies should demand
of the cloud and mobile devices president of StreamingMedia. simplified tools, contractual
are key factors in the changes. com, maintains consists of sev- terms and pricing, Grannan
For example, some cloud service eral dozen CDN technology said. “Cloud delivery should
providers like AWS have become providers whose products and itself carry SaaS-like transpar-
CDN vendors, and CDN compa- services include Web and mobile ency and flexibility. Most ven-
nies like CloudFlare are provid- content acceleration, video dors are making big investments
ing some of the functions that streaming, software downloads, to pivot to this new model, but
transparent caching, front-end you should ask for reference
optimization and CDN perfor- customers and milestone dates
STAY CONNECTED! mance measurement. [for the completion of project
Follow @SearchNetworking today. The presence of so many CDN stages] that will enable an easier
providers offers a lot of choices, working relationship.”
5 EXPLAINED HOW IT WORKS FEATURES THE BOTTOM LINEBUYER’S GUIDE
THE BOTTOM LINE about what they need. These the ongoing growth of online
What to Look for
in a Content Delivery When looking for CDN services, include looking at geographic content and the potential value
Network
enterprises should also ask coverage requirements, access this content can deliver to orga-
what’s on the roadmap in terms for mobile users and security nizations, how they execute
of future offerings. New ser- services. When looking for CDN strategy could have a huge
vices like HTTP/2 support, Web a CDN provider, enterprises impact on the success of the
application firewalls and image should look at a provider’s verti- business. n
optimization are CDN capabili- cal market expertise, ask about
ties that businesses should be conducting a trial with a CDN
BOB VIOLINO is a technology and business
looking for, Grannan said. Busi- provider, and determine whether
freelance writer covering the latest trends in
nesses should also ask when their business needs perfor-
the market, including cloud services, mobile
new offerings are rolling out and mance and security together. technology, social media, big data/analytics
how they map to the company’s It all depends on what services and the Internet of Things. He also writes
broader development and deliv- companies want to enable and on information security, enterprise appli-
ery roadmap. how they’ll work in concert. cations, software-defined networking, IT
management and career issues, radio fre-
Before buying CDN products The answers will help com- quency identification, data storage, server
and services, enterprises have to panies select the best CDN and desktop virtualization, open source
ask themselves tough questions providers and services. With and outsourcing.
6 EXPLAINED HOW IT WORKS FEATURES THE BOTTOM LINEThis Buyer’s Essentials Guide, What to Look for in a Content Delivery Network,
is a SearchNetworking.com e-publication.
Kate Gerwig | Editorial Director
Kara Gattine | Executive Managing Editor
Brenda L. Horrigan | Managing Editor
Chuck Moozakis | Executive Editor
Jessica Scarpati | Features and E-zine Editor
Antone Gonsalves | News Director
Linda Koury | Director of Online Design
Neva Maniscalco | Graphic Designer
Jacquelyn Howard | Senior Director, Editorial Production
Martha Moore | Senior Production Editor
Doug Olender | Senior Vice President/Group Publisher | dolender@techtarget.com
TechTarget 275 Grove Street, Newton, MA 02466
www.techtarget.com
© 2016 TechTarget Inc. No part of this publication may be transmitted or reproduced in any form or by any means without written
permission from the publisher. TechTarget reprints are available through The YGS Group.
About TechTarget: TechTarget publishes media for information technology professionals. More than 100 focused websites enable quick access to a deep store
of news, advice and analysis about the technologies, products and processes crucial to your job. Our live and virtual events give you direct access to independent
expert commentary and advice. At IT Knowledge Exchange, our social community, you can get advice and share solutions with peers and experts.
7You can also read
