GeoDNS explained
Every time users request a website, and it takes a long time to be loaded, they leave! Website owners know that it could be that the server is busy or the server is located too far from the user. But users do not care and just abandon the site and maybe never comes back.
That’s called latency. A severe problem for website owners that, fortunately, can be fixed!
What is GeoDNS, and how does it work?
GeoDNS (Geographical Domain Name System) means a traffic distribution process based on the requests’ location. This is possible due to a group of name servers strategically located on different spots (regions, countries, continents).
When a visitor requests a domain, a long and complex process of domain resolving gets triggered. And it must happen in a few seconds for the site to be served successfully and fast.
Once the visitor types a domain in the browser, a request will travel to a DNS resolver. In the case of GeoDNS, the DNS server will read the visitor’s IP address to know the user’s location. Already knowing that the request will be sent to the closest server. Finally, this last will serve visitor’s request.
The difference between a traditional DNS service and GeoDNS is that the traditional DNS servers have the same IP address for the domain. The GeoDNS have different IP addresses, depending on the region, and that is the magic boosting the speed.
Benefits of having GeoDNS
There are clear benefits of enabling GeoDNS for your domain.
Optimized distribution of traffic
Intelligent management of traffic is possible through GeoDNS. It is a load balancing solution. It ensures the closest nameserver to the visitor will respond to the request. Besides, through this distribution, traffic overload can avoid automatically.
Uptime enhancement
Having not a DNS server but a group of them is a great benefit. In case a server is down, the visitor’s request for sure will find another server that will answer.
Faster loading
Fast loading is vital to improve the users’ experience and a key factor to be ranked better in search engines. Considering the smart location process of GeoDNS, waiting time definitely will be shorter for your visitors. This is already a great advantage but, now that offering a positive user experience will also be taken into account to be positioned in the first search results, the benefit is even more valuable.
IP filtering (Geofencing)
To deny access or direct users from a specific region, a website you choose can be done through IP filtering.
A singer, contracted exclusively by a British company, will release a new set of songs. The access to the new material can definitely be restricted through IP filtering just for British users. IP’s coming from other countries will be dropped.
Ventures who want to offer different contents per continent can configure the access aligned with that objective.
For whom GeoDNS is?
GeoDNS is good for all kinds of businesses. Small and medium websites would like to have it for growing. And large companies, for running smoothly the big needs they have.
But let’s say there are specific companies that can get the most out of it. International companies (tech, banking, and more) managing massive amounts of traffic, content platforms, and their need of delivery for a worldwide audience or e-commerce, always looking for high uptime and low latency to guarantee profits.
Conclusion
GeoDNS is a technology that offers real benefits to your business. If your company is growing internationally or if you are already global, keep it in mind. Big needs require advanced and efficient solutions!