About
Azure CDN China
Microsoft Azure - commonly referred to as Azure - is a cloud computing service created by Microsoft for building, deploying, and managing applications through Microsoft-managed data centres. Similar to Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure allows companies to add cloud capabilities to their existing network through its platform-as-a-service (PaaS) or Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS).
Use Case & Application
Chinafy and Microsoft Azure both are related to a website and or web applications performance. However -
Chinafy specialises in web performance for China. The platform combines both intelligent China web resource compatibility solutions with a fully-managed China-specific infrastructure - including fast near-China CDN.
The Azure CDN solution is widely used across various websites for acceleration and security purposes, with the majority of its solutions applied across global, non-China websites.
They can be used in compliment. More in Using Chinafy with Azure.
Chinafy vs. CDNs
CDNs are not able to resolve any resource compatibility issues on the software layer that websites face in China.
That is why a number of Tier 1 CDN providers including AWS, Azure, and Alibaba Cloud partner with Chinafy to further help their end-users have a stronger digital presence in China. Chinafy conversely works closely with these partners to offer our clients access to their other solutions.
By combining an intelligent China web compatibility suite with a fully-managed infrastructure stack - including a multi-CDN - Chinafy helps websites and web applications load an average of 5.6x faster in China and display more fully.
Read more about
Chinafy vs. CDNs, and how they work in compliment from network to application layer optimisation.
Onshore vs. Offshore PoPs
Use of any onshore CDN PoPs in China, irrespective of provider, requires an ICP license which relatedly requires an onshore China business entity.
Without one, most companies are leveraging the provider's Global CDN, including Near-China PoPs.
Azure Global CDN (Offshore) in China
There is typically three times latency for cross-border data transfer with Azure’s non-China CDN.
Azure CDN China (Onshore)
Microsoft Azure does not operate it's own CDN or points-of-presence (i.e. POPs) in China. Instead, Azure China is independently operated and transacted by Shanghai Blue Cloud Technology Co., Ltd. ("21Vianet”).
You must register a separate subscription to use Azure CDN China.
21VianetGroup is an Internet and data center service provider based in Beijing, China. It is the exclusive operator for Microsoft Azure and Office 365 in China.
Pre-requisites to use Azure CDN China include an ICP Filing or License, local hosting agreement with Chinese-based hosting provider, PSB Bei An, a legal entity in China/China-owned business or a China-based representation office. Companies remain the exclusive owner of customer data but data must be stored domestically in China.
Compatibility in China
Azure China CDN does not provide China compatibility solutions to handle for, resolving, or replacing resources that are blocked or inaccessible from China. Common technologies that interfere with a site’s functionality in China and may appear broken include Vimeo, Youtube, Twitter, Google APIs and more.
Please refer to Chinafy vs. CDN. above.
Do you use Azure CDN China? Use both Chinafy and Azure CDN China.
We regularly work with sites using various CDNs.
CDNs inherently do not fully address web performance issues in China, as they do not address nor resolve any third-party issues. However, it doesn't mean you can't use other features and or leverage their leading CDN capabilities outside of China.
Do you have a regulated entity and ICP license?
A) If no, no problem. Learn more about how Chinafy helps companies to achieve near-native onshore performance, offshore without a separate site, ICP license or onshore hosting to compliment your existing tech stack. Bolt-on China access.
B) If yes, reach out to us to see how you can combine Chinafy's intelligent web resource compatibility suite with Azure CDN China with Chinafy for Enterprise.
