Infrastructure for

streaming video

In a CDN marketplace marked by provider shutdowns, price hikes, and shifting priorities, reliability is survival. If your current provider folds, you're not just facing downtime—you're losing revenue and customer trust. For the world’s top 2,000 companies, the total annual downtime cost is $400 billion, eroding 9% of profits. Choosing the right CDN partner isn’t just about performance, it’s about protecting your business from disruption.In this guide, we show you how to identify early warning signs, evaluate providers, and switch before your business takes the hit.Red flags: signs that it’s time to consider a new CDN providerIf you’re experiencing any of the following issues with your current CDN provider, it might be time to reconsider your current setup.Slower load times: If you’ve noticed lagging performance, your CDN provider may be running on outdated infrastructure or not investing in upgrades.Rising costs: Increasing prices without additional value? A higher bill and the same service is a major red flag.Uncertainty about long-term service: Look for clear communication and a demonstrated commitment to infrastructure investment, essential a market where providers frequently consolidate and shift focus.Your CDN should scale with you, not hold you back. Prioritize a partner who can evolve with your needs and support your long-term success.5 must-haves when choosing a CDN partnerNot all CDNs are created equal. Before switching, compare providers across these five key factors.Performance: Check real-world performance benchmarks and global coverage maps to understand how a CDN will serve your audience in key regions. Throughput (the amount of data that can be successfully delivered from a server to an end user over a specific period of time) and low latency are non-negotiable when choosing a CDN provider.Pricing: Before signing up, it’s essential to know what is and isn’t included in the price in case there are hidden fees. Look for predictable billing, volume-based tiers, and transparent overage charges to avoid surprise costs. Avoid vendors who lure you in with low rates, then add hidden overage fees.Security: Choose a CDN that offers built-in protection out of the box: DDoS mitigation, TLS, WAF, and API security. Bonus points for customizable policies that fit your stack. Strong security features should be standard for CDNs to combat advanced cyber threats.Edge computing: When it comes to Edge computing, understanding the power of this strategic CDN add-on can give you a significant advantage. Look for CDN providers that offer flexible edge compute capabilities, so you can process data closer to users, reduce latency, and improve response times.Future-proofing: The CDN market’s volatility makes partnering with providers with long-term stability vital. Pick a provider that’s financially solid, tech-forward, and committed to innovation—not just sticking around to get acquired.Choosing a new provider may feel like a challenge, but the long-term payoff—improved performance, lower risk, and a future-ready infrastructure—makes it well worth it. By picking a CDN partner that meets your needs now and for the future, you’ll receive fast, personalized, and secure experiences that truly stand out.What makes Gcore CDN different?Gcore CDN isn’t just another CDN, we’re your long-term performance partner. Here’s what we offer:Global scale, blazing speed: Our network spans 180+ edge locations across 6 continents, optimized for low-latency delivery no matter where your users are.Transparent, flexible pricing: No hidden fees. No lock-in. Just fair, flexible pricing models designed to scale with your growth.A stable partner in a shaky market: While others pivot or fold, Gcore is doubling down. We’re investing in infrastructure, expanding globally, and building for the next wave of content and edge use cases.If you’re ready to make the switch, we’re here to help. Get in touch for a free consultation to discuss your specific needs and tailor a transition plan that suits your business. For more insights about choosing the right CDN for your business, download our free CDN buyer's guide for a more in-depth look at the CDN landscape.Get your free CDN buyers guide now

Online gaming can be an enjoyable and rewarding pastime, providing a sense of community and even improving cognitive skills. During the pandemic, for example, online gaming was proven to boost many players’ mental health and provided a vital social outlet at a time of great isolation. However, despite the overall benefits of gaming, there are two factors that can seriously spoil the gaming experience for players: toxic behavior and cyber attacks.Both toxic behavior and cyberattacks can lead to players abandoning games in order to protect themselves. While it’s impossible to eradicate harmful behaviors completely, robust technology can swiftly detect and ban bullies as well as defend against targeted cyberattacks that can ruin the gaming experience.This article explores how gaming studios can leverage technology to detect toxic behavior, defend against cyber threats, and deliver a safer, more engaging experience for players.Moderating toxic behavior with AI-driven technologyToxic behavior—including harassment, abusive messages, and cheating—has long been a problem in the world of gaming. Toxic behavior not only affects players emotionally but can also damage a studio’s reputation, drive churn, and generate negative reviews.The online disinhibition effect leads some players to behave in ways they may not in real life. But even when it takes place in a virtual world, this negative behavior has real long-term detrimental effects on its targets.While you can’t control how players behave, you can control how quickly you respond.Gaming studios can implement technology that makes dealing with toxic incidents easier and makes gaming a safer environment for everyone. While in the past it may have taken days to verify a complaint about a player’s behavior, today, with AI-driven security and content moderation, toxic behavior can be detected in real time, and automated bans can be enforced. The tool can detect inappropriate images and content and includes speech recognition to detect derogatory or hateful language.In gaming, AI content moderation analyzes player interactions in real time to detect toxic behavior, harmful content, and policy violations. Machine learning models assess chat, voice, and in-game media against predefined rules, flagging or blocking inappropriate content. For example, let’s say a player is struggling with in-game harassment and cheating. With AI-powered moderation tools, chat logs and gameplay behavior are analyzed in real time, identifying toxic players for automated bans. This results in healthier in-game communities, improved player retention, and a more pleasant user experience.Stopping cybercriminals from ruining the gaming experienceAnother factor negatively impacting the gaming experience on a larger scale is cyberattacks. Our recent Radar Report showed that the gaming industry experienced the highest number of DDoS attacks in the last quarter of 2024. The sector is also vulnerable to bot abuse, API attacks, data theft, and account hijacking.Prolonged downtime damages a studio’s reputation—something hackers know all too well. As a result, gaming platforms are prime targets for ransomware, extortion, and data breaches. Cybercriminals target both servers and individual players’ personal information. This naturally leads to a drop in player engagement and widespread frustration.Luckily, security solutions can be put in place to protect gamers from this kind of intrusion:DDoS protection shields game servers from volumetric and targeted attacks, guaranteeing uptime even during high-profile launches. In the event of an attack, malicious traffic is mitigated in real-time, preventing zero downtime and guaranteeing seamless player experiences.WAAP secures game APIs and web services from bot abuse, credential stuffing, and data breaches. It protects against in-game fraud, exploits, and API vulnerabilities.Edge security solutions reduce latency, protecting players without affecting game performance. The Gcore security stack helps ensure fair play, protecting revenue and player retention.Take the first steps to protecting your customersGaming should be a positive and fun experience, not fraught with harassment, bullying, and the threat of cybercrime. Harmful and disruptive behaviors can make it feel unsafe for everyone to play as they wish. That’s why gaming studios should consider how to implement the right technology to help players feel protected.Gcore was founded in 2014 with a focus on the gaming industry. Over the years, we have thwarted many large DDoS attacks and continue to offer robust protection for companies such as Nitrado, Saber, and Wargaming. Our gaming specialization has also led us to develop game-specific countermeasures. If you’d like to learn more about how our cybersecurity solutions for gaming can help you, get in touch.Speak to our gaming solutions experts today

One of the biggest challenges facing the media and entertainment industry is digital piracy, where stolen content is redistributed without authorization. This issue causes significant revenue and reputational losses for media companies. Consumers who use these unregulated services also face potential threats from malware and other security risks.Governments, regulatory bodies, and private organizations are increasingly taking the ramifications of digital piracy seriously. In the US, new legislation has been proposed that would significantly crack down on this type of activity, while in Europe, cloud providers are being held liable by the courts for enabling piracy. Interpol and authorities in South Korea have also teamed up to stop piracy in its tracks.In the meantime, you can use technology to help stop digital piracy and safeguard your company’s assets. This article explains anti-piracy technology tools that can help content providers, streaming services, and website owners safeguard their proprietary media: geo-blocking, digital rights management (DRM), secure tokens, and referrer validation.Geo-blockingGeo-blocking (or country access policy) restricts access to content based on a user’s geographic location, preventing unauthorized access and limiting content distribution to specific regions. It involves setting rules to allow or deny access based on the user’s IP address and location in order to comply with regional laws or licensing agreements.Pros:Controls access by region so that content is only available in authorized marketsHelps comply with licensing agreementsCons:Can be bypassed with VPNs or proxiesRequires additional security measures to be fully effectiveTypical use cases: Geo-blocking is used by streaming platforms to restrict access to content, such as sports events or film premieres, based on location and licensing agreements. It’s also helpful for blocking services in high-risk areas but should be used alongside other anti-piracy tools for better and more comprehensive protection.Referrer validationReferrer validation is a technique that checks where a content request is coming from and prevents unauthorized websites from directly linking to and using content. It works by checking the “referrer” header sent by the browser to determine the source of the request. If the referrer is from an unauthorized domain, the request is blocked or redirected. This allows only trusted sources to access your content.Pros:Protects bandwidth by preventing unauthorized access and misuse of resourcesGuarantees content is only accessed by trusted sources, preventing piracy or abuseCons:Can accidentally block legitimate requests if referrer headers are not correctly sentMay not work as intended if users access content via privacy-focused methods that strip referrer data, leading to false positivesTypical use cases: Content providers commonly use referrer validation to prevent unauthorized streaming or hotlinking, which involves linking to media from another website or server without the owner’s permission. It’s especially useful for streamers who want to make sure their content is only accessed through their official platforms. However, it should be combined with other security measures for more substantial protection.Secure tokensSecure tokens and protected temporary links provide enhanced security by granting temporary access to specific resources so only authorized users can access sensitive content. Secure tokens are unique identifiers that, when linked to a user’s account, allow them to access protected resources for a limited time. Protected temporary links further restrict access by setting expiration dates, meaning the link becomes invalid after a set time.Pros:Provides a high level of security by allowing only authorized users to access contentTokens are time-sensitive, which prevents unauthorized access after they expireHarder to circumvent compared to traditional password protection methodsCons:Risk of token theft if they’re not managed or stored securelyRequires ongoing management and rotation of tokens, adding complexityCan be challenging to implement properly, especially in high-traffic environmentsTypical use cases: Streaming platforms use secure tokens and protected temporary links so only authenticated users can access premium content, like movies or live streams. They are also useful for secure file downloads or limiting access to exclusive resources, making them effective for protecting digital content and preventing unauthorized sharing or piracy.Digital rights managementDigital rights management (DRM) refers to a set of technologies designed to protect digital content from unauthorized use so that only authorized users can access, copy, or share it, according to licensing agreements. DRM uses encryption, licensing, and authentication mechanisms to control access to digital resources so that only authorized users can view or interact with the content. While DRM offers strong protection against piracy, it comes with higher complexity and setup costs than other security methods.Pros:Robust protection against unauthorized copying, sharing, and piracyHelps safeguard intellectual property and revenue streamsEnforces compliance with licensing agreementsCons:Can be complex and expensive to implementMay cause inconvenience for users, such as limiting playback on unauthorized devices or restricting sharingPotential system vulnerabilities or compatibility issuesTypical use cases: DRM is commonly used by streaming services to protect movies, TV shows, and music from piracy. It can also be used for e-books, software, and video games, ensuring that content is only used by licensed users according to the terms of the agreement. DRM solutions can vary, from software-based solutions for media files to hardware-based or cloud-based DRM for more secure distribution.Protect your content from digital piracy with GcoreDigital piracy remains a significant challenge for the media and entertainment industry as it poses risks in terms of both revenue and security. To combat this, partnering with a cloud provider that can actively monitor and protect your digital assets through advanced multi-layer security measures is essential.At Gcore, our CDN and streaming solutions give rights holders peace of mind that their assets are protected, offering the features mentioned in this article and many more besides. We also offer advanced cybersecurity tools, including WAAP (web application and API protection) and DDoS protection, which further integrate with and enhance these security measures. We provide trial limitations for streamers to curb piracy attempts and respond swiftly to takedown requests from rights holders and authorities, so you can rest assured that your assets are in safe hands.Get in touch to learn more about combatting digital piracy