What is a CDN and do I need one?

A CDN (content delivery network) is a global network of servers that keep copies of your site close to your visitors, so the files travel a shorter distance and arrive faster. Whether you need one depends on where your customers are:

• It cuts the distance - a visitor in Perth is served from a nearby edge server instead of waiting on a single origin server elsewhere, lowering TTFB.
• It absorbs traffic spikes - and shields your origin server during busy periods.
• Many include security and caching - Cloudflare’s free tier, for instance, bundles a CDN with caching and basic protection.

If your audience is all in one city and your hosting is local, the gain is modest; if you sell nationally or your server is overseas, a CDN is one of the better speed investments. For most Australian small businesses, a free-tier CDN like Cloudflare is worth turning on.