Security and Performance in Modern CDN Caching: A Study of Akamai?s Caching Infrastructure

Mohit Thodupunuri

Abstract: Modern CDNs are at the heart of web performance optimization and security by caching and delivering content closer to the user. It examines Akamai's content delivery mechanism concerning caching, detailing how various levels of sophisticated caching mechanisms further performance enhancement and robust security. The multi-tiered caching approach of Akamai with intelligent request-routing mechanisms and smart content replication is carefully examined herein. This study has demonstrated that Akamai caching reduces latency in page loading speed. In addition, Akamai includes security features such as DDoS protection, bot management, and data encryption, showing how caching can play a very defensive role in many applications. This paper provides insight into the symbiotic relationship between performance and security in CDN caching. It gives an understanding of how Akamai's infrastructure meets modern web application demands for speed, resiliency, and security.

Keywords: security, performance, CDN caching, Akamai's Caching, infrastructure, encryption