Global CDN and developer platform offering edge computing, DDoS protection, and serverless functions via Workers. Used by ops teams to accelerate content delivery and secure applications.
Cloudflare operates a distributed network spanning 300+ cities worldwide, positioning itself as both a content delivery network (CDN) and a developer platform. For operators, the core value splits into two areas: infrastructure acceleration and security. The CDN layer caches static and dynamic content at edge locations, reducing origin load and latency. Cloudflare's routing intelligence automatically directs traffic to the nearest edge server. This is particularly useful for teams managing global audiences without maintaining regional infrastructure. Workers, Cloudflare's serverless compute offering, runs JavaScript at the edge without provisioning servers. Operators use Workers to execute logic closer to users—request routing, authentication, API transformation, or lightweight business logic. The execution model is event-driven; code runs in response to HTTP requests or scheduled triggers. Security features include DDoS mitigation, WAF (Web Application Firewall), bot management, and rate limiting. These are available across Cloudflare's plans and integrate with the routing layer, blocking malicious traffic before it reaches your origin. Pricing is usage-based for most features, with free tier access to core CDN and basic security. Workers pricing charges per request and CPU milliseconds. Enterprise customers negotiate custom terms, often bundling multiple products. Operators should verify current feature availability and pricing on the vendor site, as Cloudflare regularly updates its product matrix. Integration with existing infrastructure (origin servers, DNS, logging systems) is typically straightforward via API or dashboard configuration.