Amazon CloudFront (for Private Content)
A fast content delivery network (CDN) service that securely delivers data, videos, applications, and APIs to customers globally with low latency, high transfer speeds, all within a developer-friendly
Overview
Amazon CloudFront is a major public CDN, but it has robust features for creating a private content delivery system. By using signed URLs or signed cookies, developers can control who can access their content and for how long. This is ideal for distributing restricted content like paid video streams, confidential documents, or premium software downloads. When configured for private content with an S3 origin, Origin Access Control (OAC) can be used to ensure users cannot bypass CloudFront and access the files in S3 directly.
✨ Key Features
- Signed URLs and Signed Cookies for access control
- Origin Access Control (OAC) to restrict direct S3 access
- Field-Level Encryption
- Integration with AWS WAF and Shield for security
- Global network of Edge Locations
- Real-time logs and monitoring
🎯 Key Differentiators
- Deep integration with the AWS ecosystem (S3, Lambda, IAM, etc.)
- Granular access control mechanisms (Signed URLs/Cookies)
- Pay-as-you-go pricing model with a generous free tier
- Programmability at the edge with Lambda@Edge and CloudFront Functions
Unique Value: Provides a highly scalable, cost-effective, and secure way to deliver private content globally by leveraging the vast AWS infrastructure and its robust security features.
🎯 Use Cases (4)
✅ Best For
- Subscription-based media streaming platforms
- Secure software distribution
- Private content for e-learning platforms
💡 Check With Vendor
Verify these considerations match your specific requirements:
- Organizations needing a fully dedicated, physically isolated network
🏆 Alternatives
Offers deeper and more seamless integration with other AWS services than its competitors, making it the default choice for applications built on AWS.
💻 Platforms
🔌 Integrations
🛟 Support Options
- ✓ Email Support
- ✓ Live Chat
- ✓ Phone Support
- ✓ Dedicated Support (Business, Enterprise tier)
🔒 Compliance & Security
💰 Pricing
Free tier: 1TB of data transfer out; 10,000,000 HTTP/S Requests; 2,000,000 CloudFront Function invocations per month.
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