AWS CloudFront: The Comprehensive Guide [Updated]

There was a time when owning a Content Delivery Network was a rarity for companies due to its high costs and complex IT infrastructure. However, in recent times, AWS CloudFront has revolutionized data requests, reducing latency, network traffic, and costs. As a result, CloudFront has become an incredibly popular network.

Table of Contents

What is AWS CloudFront?

AWS CloudFront is a globally-distributed network provided by Amazon Web Services. It securely transfers content such as software, SDKs, videos, and more to clients at high speeds.

The Advantages of AWS CloudFront

Caches content in edge locations, reducing workloads and ensuring high application availability.
User-friendly interface, boosting productivity with ease.
High security through the ‘Content Privacy’ feature.
GEO targeting service for delivering content to specific end-users.
Utilizes HTTP or HTTPS protocols for speedy content delivery.
Cost-effective, charging only for data transfer.

How Does AWS CloudFront Work?

The process of content delivery through CloudFront involves the following steps:

Step 1

The client visits a website and requests to download a file, such as an image.

Step 2

The client request is routed by DNS to the nearest CloudFront edge location, ensuring optimal performance.

Step 3

CloudFront searches for the requested cache file at the edge location and promptly sends it to the user.

Step 4

If the file is not found, CloudFront compares the requirements with its specifications and shares them with the respective server.

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Step 5

The web server responds to the request by sending the files back to the CloudFront edge location.

Step 6

Upon receiving the file, CloudFront shares it with the client and adds it to the edge location.

How to Establish a Distribution Network for CloudFront?

To create a distribution network for CloudFront, follow these steps:

Sign in to the AWS Management Console and access the CloudFront console at https://console.aws.amazon.com/cloudfront/.
Click on the “Create Distribution” button.
Next, select “Get Started” on the web section of the Create Distribution Wizard.
Specify the required settings for the CloudFront distribution and save the configuration.
Once the distribution is created, the status will change from “In-Progress” to “Deployed.”
Enable the distribution option to process requests successfully.

Companies That Use CloudFront

Spotify: CloudFront helps Spotify provide instant access to millions of songs and facilitates the rollout of new features.

Jio Saavan: Amazon CloudFront enables Jio Saavan to deliver 15 petabytes of audio and video to subscribers worldwide.

Sky News: The service unifies content for fast distribution to Sky News subscribers.

TV1-EU: CloudFront improves latency and performance, resulting in faster content delivery.

In Conclusion

This article has provided a comprehensive overview of AWS CloudFront. We explored what CloudFront is, discussed its benefits, delved into how it works, and provided a guide on creating a distribution network. Additionally, we highlighted some leading companies that utilize CloudFront in their operations.

AWS is a globally recognized cloud computing company. If you’re interested in pursuing a career in AWS, we strongly recommend checking out the AWS Cloud Architect Certification Course by Simplilearn to take your cloud career to new heights.

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