Hey there! With that in mind we will go over the Cloudflare cons and pros for your website in this guide. Well before we get into all the juicy details, allow me to give you a quick look of what Cloudflare is quite literally.
Read : How to Host a Website for FREE at Home (Windows + VirtualBox + aaPanel)
What is CloudFlare?
CloudFlare, Inc. is an American company that provides CDN (Content Delivery Network) services, DDoS mitigation and internet security. You can use this CDN service for free, or you can use a paid package from CoudFlare.
Although it is free, CloudFlare is equipped with various interesting features that you can get. Here are some features that you can use for free.
- CDN (Content Delivery Network)
Provides faster website access and cache servers on any number of servers in the world - DDoS Protection
Provides website protection against DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) so as not to make the server go down. - Firewall & Security
Cloudflare provides a Web Application Firewall that prevents websites from inputting cyber blacksecialist attacks such as SQL Injection, XSS etc. - DNS Management
Instantly manage DNS in real-time and propagation is much faster than normal DNS. - SSL/TLS Encryption
Auto SSL provides Free SSL Certificate for HTTPS site usage and it is automatic. - Load Balancing
Splits traffic across multiple servers, so that the traffic of the server where the load increases is moved to a separate server meaning better uptime. - Image Optimization
WordPress polish and Mirage feature for image optimization that loads faster without sacrificing quality. - Paging Rules
States the website behavior of URLs such as url redirects and cache settings. - Caching
Allows static content to be cached on edge servers, therefore ensuring faster website load and deployment anywhere. - Workers
Runs js code inside the edge, then you can create serverless apps directly in Cloudflared. - Bot Management
Protects websites from malicious bots that can steal data or spam. |
Advantages of Cloudflared:
- High Security
No need to open public ports (such as 80 or 443) in the firewall, reducing the risk of attacks. - Secure Access through Cloudflare Tunnel
Connections use Cloudflare encryption so data is secure when transmitted. - Easy Integration with Cloudflare Services
Can be connected directly with Cloudflare features such as WAF (Web Application Firewall), DDoS Protection, and Access Control. - Public URL without Public IP
You can create public URLs for local applications without the need for a public IP. - Zero Trust Network
Supports the concept of Zero Trust where every access is strictly verified, even from within the internal network. - Multi-Origin Support
Can connect multiple applications from different servers through one tunnel.
Disadvantages of Cloudflared:
- Dependence on Cloudflare
If Cloudflare experiences downtime, access to the application will also be disrupted. - Bandwidth Limitations on Free Plan
On the free version, there are bandwidth and performance limitations compared to the paid version. - Somewhat Complicated Initial Configuration
For the unfamiliar, configuring Cloudflared and Tunnel requires a few additional steps. - Need a Stable Connection
If the local internet connection drops, the tunnel will be disconnected and access will not be possible. - Not Suitable for Heavy Traffic
If you have heavy traffic, it is recommended to use the Enterprise version or dedicated server.
Cloudflare CDN service, overall is very solid. It's good for websites targeted to overseas visitors and the necessities of security as well as faster access this service. This service, however, you should think twice before using it for Indonesia-targeted markets or visitors.
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