When to use it
- Website security protection requirements: Cloudflare provides website security management services, including DDoS protection, CC protection, Web application firewall and other functions, which can effectively resist various network attacks and protect the security of the website. Especially for small and medium-sized enterprises and personal websites, Cloudflare can provide a certain degree of protection when facing the threat of cyberattacks.
- Improve website performance and access speed: Through its Content Distribution Network (CDN) service, Cloudflare can accelerate content distribution of websites, reduce access latency, and increase access speed for users in different regions around the world. If your website has a large number of visits or has a wide range of users, using Cloudflare can improve the user experience.
- Hide the real website IP address: It can intelligently filter suspicious traffic, hide the real IP address of the website, and reduce the risk of attacks directly against the source server.
- The website has a lot of static content: For websites containing a large number of static resources (such as images, CSS, JavaScript files, etc.), Cloudflare's CDN function can effectively cache and accelerate the distribution of these static content.
- Websites for foreign visitors: If the website's main visitors come from abroad, Cloudflare's node distribution around the world can better provide these users with a fast access experience.
- Lack of professional safety protection team: Cloudflare provides relatively simple and easy-to-use security protection settings, without professional security services or complex configuration changes, and is suitable for individuals or small and medium-sized enterprises without a professional security team.
- Hope to reduce costs: Its free plan can provide unlimited DDoS attack defense, basic functions can meet the needs of some users, and the cost of use is relatively low.
aboutCloudflareSecurity rule setting and optimization
For details, please move to:Cloudflare security rule settingsAnd further optimization summary based on this configuration:Cloudflare's WAF rule optimization
A little regret
Cloudflare itselfIt does not directly provide cloud servers in the traditional sense. However, it provides some related services and functions, such as CDN (content distribution network), DNS (domain name system) services, DDoS protection, etc. These services can be combined with otherCloud ServerOr use the website to improveperformance、Securityand reliability.
In addition, some users may use certain products or technologies from Cloudflare to achieve cloud server-like functions or achieve specific purposes. For example, using Cloudflare Tunnel can open up the boundaries between enterprises, employees, and devices, realize intranet penetration, and allow Cloudflare's CDN to access services deployed on the intranet through encrypted channels.
But it should be noted that this method is not truly owning and managing a complete cloud server, and its functions and usage may differ from conventional cloud servers.
Therefore, if you need to use a cloud server, you still need to buy it from a manufacturer like Alibaba Cloud.
Furthermore, there are some restrictions and precautions when using Cloudflare, such asVisits in mainland China may be slower and there may be filing-related issues(Using Cloudflare may cause changes in the IP of the website to access, which will affect filing). Before deciding to use it, you need to comprehensively consider factors such as your own needs, the characteristics of the website, and relevant regulatory requirements.