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Advanced Technologies

Content Delivery Networks (CDN)

A decentralized server network crafted to curtail delays when loading web content.

CDNs are geographically dispersed networks of proxy servers and data centers. Their primary objective is to deliver content quickly and efficiently by placing it in locations near users.

Functionality:

  1. High Availability: By distributing the load, CDNs mitigate risks associated with server failures, ensuring content remains accessible.
  2. Speed: With servers closer to users, latency is reduced, resulting in faster load times.
  3. Scalability: CDNs can handle high numbers of users or sudden traffic spikes, making them ideal for popular websites or during viral events.

Security Concerns: Malicious Content Injection: CDNs that serve JavaScript or other content types have been exploited by attackers to insert malicious code into web pages. This could lead to a wide range of security issues, such as data breaches or malware dissemination.

Ensure the integrity of content served from CDNs, for instance, by using Subresource Integrity (SRI) checks.

Protection Features: Many CDN providers also offer:

  1. DDoS Protection: Mitigating large-scale attempts to disrupt service.
  2. Web Application Firewalls (WAF): Protecting web applications from common web exploits.

Examples and use cases: 

  • Traditional CDNs: Focus on delivering generic content. Examples include Akamai, Fastly, and Limelight.

    • Video and Audio Streaming: Allows for buffer-free streaming even at peak times.
    • Software Downloads: Efficiently delivers software updates or large file downloads.

  • Cloudflare: While Cloudflare does offer CDN capabilities, its primary focus is on web performance and security. Cloudflare's network accelerates web content and also provides additional services like DDoS protection, WAF, and DNS services.

Site Survey

Definition: A systematic assessment to determine the presence, strength, and reach of wireless access points within a specific environment. The process involves:

  • Involves walking around the target area with a portable wireless device.

  • Measurements of wireless signal strength are taken at various locations.

  • These measurements are often plotted on a floor plan or schematic of the building/site.

LAN & WAN Technologies

Private Circuit Technologies

Private circuit technologies rely on dedicated physical circuits to transmit data. This ensures a constant, guaranteed level of service, but often at a higher cost due to the dedicated resources. Examples include:

Examples:

  • Dedicated or Leased Line: A constant connection between two points, often used for corporate WANs. Provides consistent bandwidth but is expensive.

  • PPP (Point to Point Protocol): A direct communication method between two devices, often used for connecting a computer to the internet.

  • SLIP (Serial Line Internet Protocol): An older protocol for connecting IP networks via dial-up telephone connections.

  • ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network): Allows the simultaneous digital transmission of voice, video, data, and other network services.

  • DSL (Digital Subscriber Line): Provides fast internet access over a telephone line.

While dedicated circuits provide consistent performance, they can be costly due to the reserved resources.

Packet Switching Technologies

Unlike private circuit technologies, packet switching divides data into packets and sends them individually over the most efficient route available, then reassembles the data at its destination. It uses virtual circuits rather than dedicated physical ones, which can be more efficient and cost-effective.

Examples:

  • X.25: An older ITU-T standard for packet-switched wide area network (WAN) communication. Mainly used before the modern internet.

  • Frame Relay: Designed for cost-effective data transmission for intermittent traffic between LANs and between endpoints in a WAN.

  • ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode): Uses small, fixed-sized cells (packets) to carry data and is designed for both LANs and WANs.

  • SDLC (Synchronous Data Link Control): An IBM communication protocol used primarily in systems network architecture (SNA) environments.

  • HDLC (High-Level Data Link Control): A bit-oriented protocol for communication over point-to-point and multipoint links.

Optimizes resource use, allowing multiple users to share bandwidth, making it generally more cost-effective.

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