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I will show you in two clear steps how the CDN changeover of your website runs smoothly and which settings you should set correctly from the outset. The guide takes you from the first backup to DNS and caching - with concrete steps that you can implement directly and achieve immediate results. Performance-effects.
Key points
I will briefly summarize the most important aspects here:
- DNS Set up correctly and check SSL
- Caching Configure specifically (TTL, versioning)
- Plugins Connect cleanly (e.g. WordPress)
- Tests and compare measured values
- Security activate (DDoS protection, WAF)
What are the concrete benefits of the CDN changeover?
With a Content Delivery Network, you deliver images, CSS, JS and videos from edge locations close to the user and thus noticeably reduce waiting times. I keep the Origin load low, the TTFB decreases, and pages remain fast and responsive even during peak loads. reliable. DDoS filters, rate limits and a WAF protect your application from attacks, while caching rules enable clean repeat access. For international target groups, you pay in euros with a CDN and serve regions worldwide without additional servers. If you want to delve deeper into measurement values and tuning, you will find compact knowledge on CDN optimizationwhich I apply in practice.
Step 1: Preparation and inventory
I first secure the website and the database so that I can jump back at any time. Then I check logins for the hoster, domain registrar and DNS, because without access, every Amendment. I collect all static resources: images, CSS, JavaScript, web fonts and download files to deliver them later via the CDN. A look at the directory structure (uploads, themes, plugins) shows me where large files are located that drive up the loading time. I then document current DNS entries and TTL values so that I can track the steps cleanly and, if necessary, quickly revert.
Step 2: Select provider and create account
I choose the Provider according to target group locations, price model, security and support. Services such as Cloudflare or Bunny.net are suitable for the start; Cloudfront is also suitable for very flexible setups if I want to use the Fine control need. I create an account, create a zone or pull destination and note the CDN hostname provided. I also check available POP locations (edge servers) in the regions that my users visit most frequently. For those who prefer support in German and GDPR-compliant routes, I look for European data centers and clear Data processes.
Step 3: Connect the domain to the CDN
I follow the onboarding of the ProvidersEither I change the name servers (e.g. with Cloudflare) or I create a subdomain such as cdn.yourdomain.tld. In many cases, a CNAME points to the CDN hostname specified by the provider, so that I can cleanly route the traffic for static files. divert. For the name server variant, I move all DNS entries to the new administration and shorten the TTL for quick changes. I wait until the DNS propagation is complete and then use tools or dig/nslookup to check whether the subdomain points to the edge service. Important: I don't change anything on the origin server until the connection is confirmed and the subdomain is reliable. answers.
Step 4: Integration into the website
I replace the URLs for static resources with the new CDN-subdomain; in WordPress I use a cache or CDN plugin for this. If necessary, a look at Cloudflare in Pleskwhen I create zones directly in the hosting panel. In WP Rocket, W3 Total Cache, CDN Enabler, WP Fastest Cache or Perfmatters, I enter the CDN URL and select file types such as images, CSS and JS that should run via Edge. I pay attention to correct paths, avoid double slashes and keep exceptions (e.g. admin or checkout paths) away from delivery. After saving, I clear the plugin cache and the CDN cache so that new Routes immediately.
Step 5: Avoid SSL and mixed content
I activate SSL on the CDN and select the appropriate mode (Full/Strict) for Origin so that all paths run via HTTPS. I then check whether there are still http links in the theme, in plugins or in hardcoding and correct these links to https. In the browser console, I pay attention to mixed-content warnings and resolve them consistently so that no content is blocked. Many providers offer free certificates that are automatically renewed and thus reduce the maintenance effort. For external scripts, I set SRI hashes and content security policies where possible to additionally secure delivery. to secure.
Step 6: Test and measure
I compare key figures such as TTFB, LCP and number of requests before and after the changeover so that I can clearly demonstrate the effect. The DevTools show me in the network tab whether files come from the CDN and which cache hits occur. GTmetrix or WebPageTest are sufficient for initial checks; it remains important to compare the results with my real user profile. mirror. I test locations that cover my target group, for example Frankfurt, London or New York. I then look at the CDN statistics to see whether a high hit rate and low origin traffic volume indicate a clean configuration. indicate.
Step 7: Set caching rules correctly
I define meaningful TTL-values for static files, for example several days or weeks, to save repeated requests. For changes, I use file versions (style.css?v=3.2) so that the CDN and browsers immediately recognize new content. recognize. Depending on the project, I cache HTML and APIs for a shorter time or not at all, while I keep images, fonts and scripts longer. I set rules so that admin areas, shopping baskets and logins do not end up in the edge cache. Finally, I check the response headers (cache-control, cf-cache-status, etc.) so that I can see how the client and the CDN are actually processing the file. treat.
WordPress practice: Plugin setup in 5 minutes
I install a Plugin such as W3 Total Cache or CDN Enabler, activate the CDN function and enter the subdomain. Then I select the file types (images, CSS, JS) that I want to distribute via Edge and save the settings. Next, I clear the cache in the plugin and CDN, reload the page and check the headers for Hits. If mixed content occurs, I correct hard-wired URLs in theme or plugin files. If necessary, I gradually deactivate further optimization options (Minify, Combine), test again and then selectively reactivate them later high.
Provider comparison and criteria
For the selection of the CDN I look at edge coverage, price per region, support times, security functions and ease of integration. A compact cost window for many projects is just a few Euro per month, depending on traffic and features. I also check how easy it is to set rules, routing, transformations and logs. If you prefer entry-level help, you will find practical tips on CDN integration including typical stumbling blocks. The following table provides a quick overview of common options and their strengths:
| Place | Provider | Price/performance | Integration | Security |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | webhoster.de | Test winner | Very simple | Excellent |
| 2 | Cloudflare | Very good | Simple | Very good |
| 3 | Bunny.net | Very good | Very simple | Good |
| 4 | StackPath | Good | Good | Very good |
| 5 | Amazon Cloudfront | Good | Sophisticated | Outstanding |
Frequently asked questions answered briefly
I set a CDN-integration without rebuilding the page, as the change usually only affects static content and DNS. If necessary, I exclude individual files by using exception rules or plugin options and keeping critical paths out of the edge cache. I ensure GDPR compliance through European routes and suitable agreements, which makes data flows clear and transparent. testable remain. Costs often start in the low single-digit euro range for entry-level plans, but grow with traffic and additional functions. For stores or portals, I plan buffer budgets so that load peaks and additional security modules can be handled at any time. covered are.
Typical mistakes during the changeover and how to avoid them
I avoid hardcoding with http, because they generate Mixed-content warnings and slow down the delivery. Incorrect CNAME destinations or swapped records lead to failures, so I check DNS entries with tools and short TTLs. I consistently clear out empty caches so that old assets don't overwrite the Metrics falsify. For sensitive areas such as checkout or login, I set cache bustings and no-cache headers to avoid incorrect content. I document every step and have a fallback option ready so that I can quickly return to the last stable state in the event of problems. return.
Step 8: Activate Edge optimizations
I switch HTTP/2 and HTTP/3 (QUIC) on the zone so that parallel requests are processed faster and connection setup times are reduced. I also activate Breadstick-compression for text files (HTML, CSS, JS, SVG), with Gzip as a fallback for older clients. Where available, I use 0-RTT or TLS optimizations to make reconnections even faster. For images, I am testing functions for On-the-fly-Optimization: WebP/AVIF transcoding, resize and quality levels for each end device. This allows me to save bandwidth without visibly degrading the image quality. I use Minify options deliberately: I either incorporate Minify into the build process or I use the Edge Minify function - but never doubleto avoid errors. For static files, I leave ETag and Last-Modified correctly so that browsers and CDNs use delta validations efficiently.
Step 9: Precisely control cache keys and variations
I define what the Cache key should influence: Schema (http/https), host, path and - selectively - query strings. I ignore tracking parameters (utm_*, fbclid) so that they do not contaminate the cache. If I deliver device-dependent variants (e.g. different image sizes), I use Vary-I use the hreflang header with care or regulate the variation on the server side via a uniform URL strategy. I cache language versions (hreflang) separately if the content really differs, otherwise I keep everything consistent at one language level. I only include cookies in the cache key if they are absolutely necessary; many cookies are irrelevant for the display and should not be stored in the edge cache. blow up. For personalized pages, I define clear bypass rules (login, shopping cart, profile) and only leave really static parts at the edge.
Step 10: Origin protection and shielding
I set a Origin Shield (if available) so that not every edge pop hits the origin individually - this significantly reduces backend requests. In the firewall, I only allow the IPs or networks of the CDN on the web server and block direct access so that nobody bypasses the CDN protection layer. I keep timeouts, keep-alive and maximum header sizes in the web server set so that they match the typical CDN request patterns. For uploads and admin actions, I define Rate Limitsto reduce abuse. Where appropriate, I limit outgoing responses (e.g. very large files) with bandwidth rules or use dedicated storage CDNs for downloads to minimize the Origin to relieve.
E-commerce and dynamic areas
For stores (e.g. WooCommerce) I exclude Shopping cartCheckout and account pages from the cache and strictly control cookies (session, cart_hash). Product pages may often be cached as long as I reload individual elements (e.g. "Last viewed") on the client side. For price badges or stock levels, I use short TTLs or fragment content: Static HTML remains in the cache for a long time, small JSON fragments with stock levels are given short lifetimes. I check whether promotions through Cache invalidations or reliably go live through versioning, and plan a controlled pre-warm phase for top seller pages during campaigns. Payment providers and webhooks are always running origin-directI keep these paths out of the edge cache and also secure them using WAF rules.
Staging, deployment and rollback
I set up a Staging-subdomain that points to its own CDN zone to test rules safely. Before releases, I reduce TTLs for critical assets to a few minutes, carry out the deployment and then increase TTLs again. I use differentiated Purgesindividual URL, prefix, tags (if available) and only in an emergency a global purge. I do cache warming with a sitemap or URL list that I retrieve via script so that the most important pages are pre-warmed at all relevant locations. For rollbacks, I document the previous zone settings (export), version-secure configurations and define a rollback strategy that includes DNS/TTL and CDN rules. If I have changed nameservers, I plan a Maintenance periodin which changes can spread reliably.
Monitoring, logs and error analysis
I activate Real time-Statistics and logs: Status codes, cache hit rates, bandwidth and top URLs. I sort conspicuous 5xx values: 5xx from the Edge indicate CDN or routing problems, 5xx from the Origin indicate server or application errors. I diagnose typical error patterns (timeouts, 520/522/524) with request IDs from response headers and correlate them with origin logs. I use curl and the browser DevTools to check headers such as cache-control, age, vary, etag and CDN-specific cache status headers. I define Alarms for hit rate dips, erratic origin egress and unusual response sizes. In the event of incidents, I temporarily lower TTLs, switch off rules, test step by step and restore stabilized policies in a targeted manner here.
Cost control and scaling
I observe Traffic-peaks, image transformations and video deliveries separately, because these are the biggest cost drivers. A high hit rate reduces the origin egress and therefore often the overall costs - that's why I consistently optimize cache keys, TTLs and purge strategies. For very large files (downloads), I use dedicated buckets or pull targets and prevent Hotlinkingso that external sites do not access my assets. I use tiered caching or hierarchy shields to reduce backup requests to the data center. If several regions are served with different cost models, I set regional rules (e.g. adjust image quality/size) so that I can maintain the performance-to-cost balance for each market. optimize.
SEO, crawlers and indexing
I make sure that robots.txt and sitemaps are accessible and are not cached too aggressively. Sitemaps receive short TTLs so that new content can be found quickly. I have the origin set canonical tags, hreflang and redirect chains correctly; the CDN only passes them on. For Core Web Vitals, the combination of edge cache, HTTP/3, Brotli and image optimization is crucial - I therefore test with realistic Locations and devices. Crawlers benefit from stable responses and consistent URL structure: I avoid redundant hosts, do not duplicate content and keep the asset hosts constant. If the bot traffic is high, I define rate limits with exceptions for known crawlers so that users can continue to access the site. Priority have
Legal matters and data protection
I activate european routes where available and limit log retention to what is necessary. I pseudonymize IPs if there is no close diagnostic need and ensure that order processing contracts are in place. I operate the WAF in such a way that legitimate users are not blocked: I use challenge modes in a targeted manner and document exceptions. Cookie banners and content logics remain unaffected by the CDN; I just make sure that their scripts are not cached if they have a User decision are reflected. For third-party integrations, I check whether they are allowed to run via the CDN or whether there are compliance reasons for direct integration.
Practice: Header and purge fine-tuning
I set up clear Cache control-header: For static assets, I set high max-age values plus immutable; for HTML, I choose short TTLs or no-store, depending on the project. With stale-while-revalidate and stale-if-error, I can continue to serve users while the CDN updates in the background or in the event of origin failures. bridged. For purges, I document which content goes via versioning and which via URL or tag purge. For build pipelines, I make sure that file names hashed (app.9f3a.css) so that I practically never have to empty them globally. And I regularly check whether the response headers and edge rules match - inconsistencies cost performance or are generated Misconduct.
Operation: processes, team and documentation
I hold a short Runbook ready: onboarding steps, zone export, purge options, contact paths to support and typical troubleshooting paths. I assign roles and rights in the CDN account in a minimally invasive way: read, analyze, change rules - only those who need it are given write access. For larger teams, I define Change window and simple releases so that no competing rule changes occur. I version configuration snippets (headers, rules, transformations) in a repo and link them to deployments so that the state of the art is always available. comprehensible is.
Summary: A faster site in 15 minutes
The changeover is quick and easy: create a backup, DNS bind, store CDN URL, activate SSL, test and fine-tune caching. With plugins and clear rules, I bring static files to the edge locations, relieve the Origin and secure the delivery against attacks. Measured values such as TTFB and LCP show progress in a short time when the hit rate increases and requests run via the CDN. For WordPress, I use a tried and tested Plugin, regulate exceptions and keep the console free of warnings. This way, the site delivers faster worldwide, remains responsive during load peaks and makes users and search engines alike happy. Satisfied.
