Explanation of Traffic Director 

Traffic director is a way to optimize and manage the traffic going to your domain by using geographical-based routing. Like this, your clients from Asia will get connected to your Asian servers; your European clients will connect to the closest servers they have in Europe and so on.
Traffic Director is a cloud-based implementation of Load Balancing (you can check our article on Load Balancing). It helps to improve the performance of your network. It can be incredibly useful for medium and large companies that need to deliver content to different parts of the world.

Some companies call this service traffic director, others Global Traffic Director (GTD) or GeoDNS director, but it is best known as GeoDNS, and that is why we use this term as the name of our service.

How does it perform?

Traffic Director gives you easy access to a powerful global load-balancing system by making configuration easy. All you need to do is set your own regional rules, and the Traffic Director will intelligently direct DNS queries through strategically-placed nameservers.

ClouDNS enables you to optimize your query traffic with custom regionalization, allowing you to divide traffic across six global regions:

• Africa
• Asia
• Europe
• North America
• Oceania
• South America

By leveraging Traffic Director, you can ensure your site visitors have a better experience. For example, through regionalized configurations, queries are redirected to the geographically closest nameservers, meaning Chicago visitors would be answered by a nameserver in the North American region rather than relying on a Asia or even overseas-based server.

In addition, If you want to ensure users from France, for example, receive the best possible experience, the Traffic Director can help you achieve this. Its regionalized configurations enable you to specify that all DNS queries from the country-based region (France) should be answered by a server located in Paris. This means you can ensure users are connected to the closest, most efficient nameserver. 

DNS lookups are the first step in making any DNS request. In order to produce the best user experience, DNS traffic must be routed efficiently and with purpose. If it is not handled optimally, it can lead to poor performance and contribute to a degraded user experience. By using a Traffic Director, you can ensure users get the speedy, reliable performance they deserve.

Typical DNS vs. Anycast vs. GeoDNS

Typically, you will have few DNS servers. A visitor trying to connect will ask at random one of them for your web server’s IP address. The visitor will be lucky if the server is close and not so happy if it is far away, but he or she will get the same IP address.
If you are using just an Anycast, multiple servers will respond to the same IP. With it, the visitor will get a response from the topologically closest nameserver. The reaction is quick, but it still can take time to connect to the web server if it is far away.
Here comes the GeoDNS/Traffic Director and its advantages. By using it, a visitor will get a different IP address, depending on his/her location. It will result in fast DNS query response and consequently fast connection to the web server.

Why should you get a Traffic Director/GeoDNS?

Multiple Geolocation target options

You can efficiently target regions, countries or whole continents. You can create an exact Geolocation load balancing. Filter your visitors and direct them to the servers which are closest.

Well-placed servers
We have located our servers close to high traffic international locations.

ClouDNS network is continuously growing. We have currently 50+ Anycast DNS locations on six continents for faster DNS query resolving.

DDoS Protected DNS
DDoS attacks are becoming a common threat. For your convenience and safety, our GeoDNS plans include DDoS Protection.
DDoS attacks and how to protect ourselves

Cost Effective
Although our plans include a limited amount of queries per month, we won’t charge you extra or temporarily stop your DNS if you get additional traffic in a month or two. If this trend continues for a more extended period, we will just propose a more suitable plan for your needs.

EDNS-client/subnet support
Our service makes decisions based on the real locations of the visitors, not on those of the DNS resolver.

SEO friendly
One of the most important factors of SEO is the speed. Thanks to the Network System of servers, the DNS queries will be resolved faster, and this will help you have higher SEO ranking.

Who can benefit from using Traffic Director?

Traffic Director, with its advanced load balancing and network traffic management capabilities, can provide significant advantages for a wide range of industries and sectors. Here are some key entities and scenarios where a Traffic Director can be highly beneficial:

• Large Enterprises and Corporations: Companies with large online operations, such as those in e-commerce, financial services, and digital media, can highly benefit from Traffic Director. It ensures that their websites and applications can handle massive traffic volumes efficiently, improving user experience and minimizing downtime during peak periods.
• Cloud Service Providers: Providers that offer cloud computing resources and infrastructure as a service (IaaS) can use Traffic Director to manage and distribute traffic across their data centers more effectively. That way, it enhances performance and reliability and optimizes resource utilization, leading to cost efficiency.
• Telecommunications Companies: Telecom operators can use a Traffic Director to manage the vast amounts of data passing through their networks. By efficiently routing traffic, they can enhance the quality of service for their subscribers and reduce the load on network infrastructure.
• Online Gaming and Entertainment: In industries where customer satisfaction is closely tied to the responsiveness and stability of the service, like online gaming, Traffic Director is a game-changer. It plays a crucial role in managing sudden spikes in traffic and maintaining a seamless user experience.
• Global Businesses: For businesses operating across multiple geographical locations, the Traffic Director helps implement global load balancing. That way, it ensures that users worldwide receive quick and reliable access to their services.

Conclusion

GeoDNS or Traffic Director as some call it can significantly improve your DNS network. Your visitors will be happy, connecting faster to your website and you can even deliver them different content depending on their location. GeoDNS is an excellent solution for media companies who need to provide high-quality content to different users from all around the world as fast as possible.

The post What is Traffic Director? appeared first on ClouDNS Blog.

Authoritative DNS server

Such a server is the name server, which has the original zone records. It has been configured from the original source, and it returns answers to queries that have been predetermined by the administrator.
These DNS servers are giving responses to queries just for the zones they are configured. This makes them very efficient and fast. They will not respond to recursive queries too. The requests that reach them are from Resolving name servers (resolvers) and the authoritative servers will either have the complete answer or they will pass to the name server who is responsible for it.

The authoritative servers don’t cache query results. They have data that is saved in their system.
It can be master or slave. It can store the original zone records, or a secondary server which communicates directly with the primary and copies the records directly through a DNS mechanism.

The authoritative DNS servers can be where the website is hosted or where the DNS provider is.

Premium DNS Service!

ClouDNS offers Authoritative DNS Servers; you can check our Managed DNS page for more information. We provide cloud-based infrastructure with 50+ points of presence and advanced features like E-mail Forwarding, Web Forwarding, Dynamic DNS, Domain parking, HTTP REST API, DNS statistics, zone sharing and more. You can even protect it from DDoS attacks.

Types of Authoritative name servers

An Authoritative server provides definitive answers to DNS queries, such as mail server IP address or web site IP address (A resource record). It does not simply return cached responses from another name server, but rather provides answers to queries about domain names that are configured in its system. We distinguish two types of Authoritative DNS servers: Primary name servers and Secondary name servers.

• A Primary name server (also known as a Master server) stores the authoritative copies of all zone records. The DNS administrator is responsible for making changes to Master server zone records. All Slave Servers receive updates via the DNS protocol’s special automatic updating mechanism and maintain an identical copy of the Master records.
• A Secondary name server (also known as a Slave server) is an exact replica of a Master server. We use it to distribute the load on the DNS server and to increase the availability of a DNS zone in the event of a failure (DNS outage, DNS attacks, etc) of the Primary server. Furthermore, it is advisable for a domain to have at least two Slave servers and one Master server.

Authoritative DNS server vs. Recursive DNS server 

Both Authoritative DNS servers and Recursive DNS servers have crucial functions, and they depend on each other to fulfill their purposes. However, there are some fundamental differences between them. 

Authoritative DNS servers store the most recent and accurate information (DNS records) for a domain and are able to provide the final answers for users’ DNS queries (DNS lookups). On the other hand, Recursive DNS servers only keep a copy of the DNS information for a particular amount of time, also known as Time to live (TTL). Additionally, they often have to obtain the answer for a DNS query from another server. 

So let’s explain a little bit more about the differences between them!

Аuthoritative DNS server

An Аuthoritative DNS server is responsible for answering DNS queries for a particular set of DNS zones by providing information from its own data. It does not have the need to reference another source. Most commonly, it replies to the requests with one of the following types of answers:

• Authoritative DNS information (DNS records) from its own store. It could come from a master zone file, from a secondary zone duplicate transferred from a master server, from Dynamic DNS, etc.
• In case it doesn’t know the answer, it is going to direct to another nameserver. For instance, the Root name server points to the responsible TLD (Top-Level Domain) server.
• An authoritative NXDOMAIN. It replies that the requested domain name doesn’t exist.
• An authoritative empty NOERROR (NODATA) answer. The requested domain name exists, but the particular queried DNS record does not.

Recursive DNS server

The Recursive DNS server replies to DNS queries by asking other nameservers for the needed information (DNS records). In some cases, this server responds to DNS requests directly from its cache if the information is available there. In case it is not, the Recursive DNS server, also known as DNS resolver, is going to perform a search and ask the responsible authoritative servers until it finds the needed answer.

Normally, Recursive DNS servers store in their cache memory information about previously queried domain names for further use. That really reduces the network traffic and improves the performance. 

Recursive DNS servers normally answer DNS queries in the following way:

• Authoritative DNS information (DNS records) from its own store, if there is any. That could be a positive response, NXDOMAIN, or NOERROR/NODATA.
• Non-authoritative DNS information that is received and cached from a previous recursive DNS query, if there is any.
• Data retrieved from remote authoritative name servers. It can be further cached and reused for answering future DNS queries.

Recursive DNS servers are most commonly used to reply to general DNS queries for users on a local network.

How to get Authoritative DNS server for a domain?

It is actually very easy to get the Authoritative DNS server for a domain name. Here we are going to show you how by using popular tools such as Dig, NSlookup, Host, and WHOIS. 

• Dig command

We are going to use the Dig command and request the NS records, where NS stands for nameserver. Therefore, this DNS record is going to show us which are the authoritative DNS servers for the particular domain name or DNS zone.

Type the following:

$ dig +short NS exampledomain.com

• NSlookup command

NSlookup is another popular tool that can help you get the Authoritative DNS server for a domain name or a DNS zone. It works on Windows, Linux, and macOS. Once again, we are going to query the NS records.

Simply type the following:

$ nslookup -type=NS exampledomain.com

• Host command

Host command is a beneficial tool that you can use on your Linux or macOS device. For our purpose, to get a list of the Authoritative DNS servers, we should request the NS record. 

Just write the following:

$ host -t NS exampledomain.com

• WHOIS 

With the WHOIS command, you can get a list of the Authoritative DNS servers too. 

Write the following:

$ whois exampledomain.com | grep -i “Name .*:”

*Make sure to replace “exampledomain.com” with the one you want to check.

Importance of Authoritative DNS Servers

Authoritative DNS servers are critical for several reasons:

• Resolution: Authoritative DNS servers translate domain names into IP addresses, enabling users to access websites and services.
• Accuracy and Reliability: They maintain up-to-date records, ensuring users receive correct IP addresses for requested domains.
• Performance: By distributing authoritative DNS servers globally, organizations can reduce latency and improve the performance of DNS resolution.
• Security: Properly configured authoritative DNS servers play a crucial role in mitigating DNS-related attacks, such as DNS spoofing and DDoS attacks.
• Domain Management: They give administrators the possibility to modify DNS records and make the needed adjustments to effectively direct traffic.

Best Practices 

For optimal performance and security, it is best for organizations to stick with the best practices when managing authoritative DNS servers:

• Redundancy: Deploy redundant authoritative DNS servers across multiple geographic locations to improve fault tolerance and minimize downtime.
• Security Measures: Implement security measures such as DNSSEC (Domain Name System Security Extensions) to protect against DNS-related threats.
• Regular Monitoring: Monitor authoritative DNS servers regularly for performance issues, unauthorized changes, and potential security breaches.
• Capacity Planning: Predict future growth and ensure that servers can handle increased DNS query loads without degradation in performance.

Conclusion

So now you are familiar with what the Authoritative DNS server actually is and its crucial purpose! Its ability to provide authoritative answers to the DNS requests (DNS queries) is one of the key fundamentals of the entire DNS (Domain Name System) and the Internet as well! 

The post What is Authoritative DNS server? appeared first on ClouDNS Blog.

DNS – domain name system is a marvelous invention. It makes it easy for all of us to enter our favorite addresses on the web. We don’t need to remember thousands of IP numbers of all websites that we use; we simply write the domain name and the DNS magically matches our text with the associated IP and show us the result.

The Traditional Approach: Self-Managed DNS

First, let’s investigate the option of creating and using our DNS servers.
There are few advantages and disadvantages that we would like to share with you.

Advantages
An obvious benefit of such a move is the control. You are the administrator and you can set values and change parameters, making changes is easier and faster than outsourcing it to another company.
You can have more options in your interface in comparison with a managed DNS of another company. If you have enough knowledge this can be very useful but, on the other hand, if you are not so familiar with managing servers, it can be confusing.

Disadvantages
One apparent problem is the additional administrative work. You must make sure the servers work correctly and to be updating your knowledge regularly on how to protect it from new vulnerabilities. This extra activity is very time-consuming.
You need to be checking all the time for DDoS attacks and prevent them. You don’t want your servers to be down.

And now let’s see why you could be more interested in using managed DNS servers.

The Game-Changer: Managed DNS

Giving the task of managing your DNS to another company has its benefits. You will be liberated of most of the administrative tasks and the constant worry that your servers can go down. Using a provider like us – ClouDNS, you can enjoy the following benefits:

Infrastructure based in the cloud
Our DNS servers are cloud-based, which gives you the ability to monitor live the DNS zones status at the different locations. Adding extra DNS resources is possible anytime and instantly. After you set up your zones, our system will easily synchronize across all points of presence (POPs) simultaneously.

Professional DNS tools and features
We offer many professional instruments and features for Primary, Secondary and Reverse DNS. In addition to all the types of DNS records that we provide, you can benefit from Web Forwarding, E-mail Forwarding, Domain parking, Dynamic DNS, HTTP REST API, DNS statistics and more!

DDoS Protection
It is quite hard to protect your domain name/names from SPOF (Single point of failure). We have long experience working with DDoS Mitigation companies. We offer extra service of DDoS Protected DNS. Like this your website, application or game server can be adequately protected.

Custom-build options
With ClouDNS you can decide what you need and choose exactly: how many and what types of servers do you need, where would you like your servers to be located, and whether you want DDoS protection or not.

Own DNS servers or Managed DNS?

Managed DNS services offer a host of advantages over traditional DNS servers. Below, we’ll explore these differences in detail:

Furthermore, there is an option between these two methods – Hybrid DNS solution. It combines aspects of both Traditional DNS and Managed DNS to address specific needs. They can be particularly useful for organizations looking to balance cost-effectiveness with performance and reliability.

Choosing the Right Managed DNS Provider

When considering Managed DNS, it’s essential to choose the right provider. Here are some factors to consider:

• Global Network: Ensure that the provider has a global network of servers to guarantee low latency and high availability for users worldwide.
• Security Features: Evaluate the security features offered, such as DDoS protection, DNSSEC support, and threat intelligence.
• Performance Optimization: Look for providers that offer performance-enhancing technologies like Anycast routing and intelligent traffic management.
• Scalability: Verify that the provider can easily accommodate your growth without compromising performance.
• Support and Reliability: Check customer reviews and testimonials to gauge the provider’s reputation for customer support and uptime.
• Cost: Compare pricing plans and consider the value you receive in terms of performance, security, and reliability.

Managed DNS for Content Delivery

Managed DNS plays a pivotal role in optimizing Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) and enhancing user experiences:

For content providers seeking to elevate CDN performance, Managed DNS:

• Reduces Latency: By intelligently routing users to the nearest CDN server, it minimizes lag for media streaming and content retrieval.
• Ensures Global Reach: Content remains readily accessible worldwide, even during peak demand periods, such as live streaming events.

Moreover, Managed DNS enables precise content delivery strategies, such as Geo-targeting for region-specific content delivery and Personalization by leveraging location and user preferences to make content recommendations. These improvements are particularly valuable for content providers aiming to captivate a global audience and deliver exceptional digital experiences.

How to create your own CDN using DNS

Conclusion

Now that you know more about the topic of Managed DNS vs. own DNS, you can choose easier. Would you try on your own or would you prefer to trust an experienced DNS provider who will manage and administrate your DNS servers?

You can choose a Premium DNS plan from here and start your 30-day completely free trial (no credit card required) or sign up for a free account and test for yourself.

The post Why do we need Managed DNS? appeared first on ClouDNS Blog.

What is domain transfer?

Domain transfer refers to the process of moving a registered domain name from one domain registrar to another. It is a common practice when individuals or businesses are dissatisfied with their current domain registrar’s services, pricing, or overall experience. The transfer allows them to switch to a new registrar that better meets their needs. During a domain transfer, the ownership and management of the domain name are transferred from the current registrar to the new registrar. It typically involves steps such as unlocking the domain, obtaining an authorization code, initiating the transfer process, and verifying the transfer with both the old and new registrars.

Why should you move your domain name to ClouDNS

One year FREE – We offer you a one-year extension for free! You can enjoy the extra period at no additional cost. Whether you decide to transfer months in advance or just before your domain’s expiration, rest assured that not a single moment will be lost. For instance, if your domain is set to expire on Jul 13, 2023, and you initiate the transfer on Jun 13, 2023, behold the magic—the new expiry date becomes Jul 13, 2024!

Seamless transfer – We value your online presence and know that every second counts. With ClouDNS, the transfer process is as smooth as silk. We take special care to ensure that your domain name’s name servers remain unchanged throughout the transfer journey. This means you can wave goodbye to downtime worries – your domain will retain its seamless online presence throughout the entire process.

Risk-free transfer – We understand that glitches can happen, plans can change, or unexpected hurdles may arise during the transfer process. But fear not! We’ve got you covered with our risk-free transfers. If, by any chance, your domain transfer encounters any roadblocks or is canceled, we’ll promptly credit the full amount you paid for the transfer back to your customer account. 

Premium DNS account – You can use all features of our Premium DNS for 30 days for free. After this period, your account will automatically become a Free account. However, if you wish to continue enjoying the benefits of our Premium DNS, you can easily upgrade to the Premium plan at any time.

How to transfer your domain name to ClouDNS?

We will explain the necessary steps that you need to take to transfer your domain name to us:

1. Review your contact information with your current domain register. If you are using an e-mail from the domain you want to move, you better change to another mailbox like Gmail or Yahoo Mail. Like this, you won’t have problems with the next steps.

2. Request to unlock your domain. You should do it in the control panel of your current domain registrar.

3. Request the Authorization Code (transfer code; domain secret; EPP code) from your current domain registrar.

4. Be sure you haven’t moved your domain in the last 60 days, or you didn’t register it during that period. The international regulator ICANN doesn’t allow it.

5. Now go to our website and register or sign in to your account.  When you are done, select Transfer from the Dashboard. Add the domain name you want to transfer and check the Transfer Fee. There, you can see the future price for renewal. You will need to use the Authorization Code from step 3.

6. After confirming, you will get redirected to the cart. You will need to add your information. The fields with * are a must

7. Then you will need to choose a payment method (see the options).

8. Once the payment is completed and the transfer is started, your old registrar will contact you to verify the process.

9. You are done!

Welcome to ClouDNS! Now that you already successfully transferred your domain name, you can see other additional services that can come in handy like SSL certificates and Managed DNS services.

FAQ’s 

Question: How long does a domain transfer take?
Answer: The duration of a domain transfer can vary, but it typically takes around 5 to 7 days. The actual time can depend on factors such as the domain extension and the responsiveness of the current registrar. While some transfers may be completed sooner, it’s advisable to allow for this timeframe when planning your domain transfer. 

Question: Can I transfer an expired domain?
Answer: Yes, you can still transfer an expired domain. However, there are some considerations. If you have renewed the domain with your previous registrar after it expired, it’s recommended to wait for at least 60 days from the previous expiry date before initiating the transfer. Transferring within this period may result in the loss of the renewal fees paid to the previous registrar and may not add an additional year to your domain registration.

Question: Will my website experience any downtime during the domain transfer?
Answer: No, your website will not experience any downtime during the domain transfer process. At ClouDNS, we prioritize a seamless transition. Your domain’s name servers remain unchanged throughout the transfer, ensuring uninterrupted access to your website, emails, and other associated services.

The post How to transfer your domain name? appeared first on ClouDNS Blog.

By choosing to cooperate with a Managed DNS provider like us, you can take advantage of a vast DNS network with many points of presence. You will provide a faster service and more secure too. Increase the redundancy by partnering with us.
You will be free of constantly checking your DNS servers and be worry that they might go down. Your clients will be delighted by the results.

Speed Boost

Creating hosting plans with Managed DNS will give them significant speed boost in comparison with the competition. With many servers around the globe and extra services like GeoDNS, you can handle heavy traffic from different locations. You can provide service for heavy purposes like video streaming.

DDoS protected DNS

Our sizeable DNS network is very resisting to DDoS attacks. For extra security, we provide DDoS Protected DNS too. By using DDoS Protected name servers, you can lower the downtime significantly by protecting your domain name.

Cloud-based infrastructure

This gives you the possibility to monitor the DNS zones status live. Adding additional DNS is allowed easily, and it is instant. The synchronization across the points of presence happens simultaneously.

Seamless integration with hosting services

You can add Managed DNS to your hosting easily without bothering any of your core services. Your clients will just enjoy one extended service, which outperforms the rest of the hosting provider in the price range.

Customer service

Our Technical staff will quickly respond to any situation. We will help with any DNS related problem. We will help you with all your questions about the integration of our Managed DNS service with your hosting one.

Low operational cost

By creating a partnership with us, you will be able to provide DNS services without actually buying all the needed hardware. You won’t need additional servers and many more staff members to execute such a solution. This will keep your costs low but increase the value of your services.

We already have started to cooperate with different hosting providers. They have seen significant performance improvement at a very affordable price. ClouDNS.net would like to continue building such relationship that benefits both parties. Please contact us to learn more how you can implement Managed DNS in your own company.

The post Why should you implement Managed DNS in your hosting company? appeared first on ClouDNS Blog.

The DDoS attacks are also increasing. According to Kaspersky Lab 33% of organizations experienced a DDoS attack in 2017, compared to 17% in 2016. So we also want to know if the top shopping websites are well prepared for future attacks.

In this article, we will check with our DNS tool all of the top 50 E-Commerce websites. We will see if their speed and DDoS protection is fine or they will need to improve. Based on our research we will make recommendations how these websites can improve.

DNS Tool

For this research, we will be using our DNS lookup tool

It shows how fast the servers are responding from six different international locations – 1. Roubaix, France, 2. Atlanta, USA, 3. Sao Paulo, Brazil, 4. Sydney, Australia, 5. Johannesburg, South Africa and 6. Singapore.

It is a small and very helpful tool that you can use for diagnostic of your DNS. It is easy to use, and it let you download a PDF report of your findings.

What are we checking?

Name servers

We are checking how many name servers are listed on the parent server. It is recommended to be more than two; three is ok, four is better. This adds resilient to your DNS network; it will result in better up time. If one or two are down for maintenance, the rest will still satisfy the needs of your customers. Another benefit is the increased security. More servers can handle better the traffic and this way they resist more to DDoS attacks.

NS records

NS records delegate a sub-domain to the name servers you have. They should be synchronized.

SOA record

Another that needs to show the same result for all of the name servers. It shows the start of authority, so it must indicate the same master name server, timestamp and few more characteristic.

A record distribution

By location for the domain and the www.domain (same but with www).

Speed

And finally one of the most important for an e-commerce website, the speed. As said above, a slow site can push the visitors away and lose a lot of sales.

Top 50 E-commerce websites

For the case study, we will also use the following SimilarWeb rank list.

Results

You can find all reports that we generated and additional information in this spreadsheet.

1.Amazon.com

The first one in the list is Amazon.com. They are using Dyn DNS and Neustar UltraDNS and average response time of the name servers is 50.66ms. We don’t know why they don’t use their DNS network – Route 53.

2. Taobao.com

Very slow global speed – 350.59ms. They don’t use any DNS provider, which is interesting since they are owned by Alibaba, and Alibaba has AliDNS. We don’t know why Alibaba does not use their DNS services.

3. eBay.com

Congratulations eBay, that’s the way to do it. Using Verisign as their Primary DNS provider and Dyn as a Secondary DNS. Low speed in South Africa, but they have ebay.co.za for that.

4. Tmall.com

Another property of Alibaba. Low speed even in Singapore (above 130ms). Not good Tmall. Alibaba do you plan to use your DNS for your websites?

5. Craigslist.org

Not a typical shopping site, but it’s on the list, so we need to check it out. Average speed 162.98ms. Even the two name servers in Atalanta show 64 and 63 ms. We think their users deserve better speed than that. No backup DNS.

6. AliExpress.com

In 2016, AliExpress claimed they reduced load time by 36% and recorded a 10.5% increase in orders and a 27% increase in conversion rates. Our report shows that they are using Alibaba Cloud. But unfortunately, this doesn’t help. The average response time of the name servers is 215.78ms. Just two name servers are showing speed less than 100ms. And this is a global site which depends on international users. We suggest adding a Secondary DNS provider. A company which generated almost 23 Billion in revenue in a single day, surely can set aside few thousands of dollars annually for this.

7. JD.com

An average response time of the name servers is 399.32ms. If they want to beat Alibaba at least, they have to provide good speed for their users. Singapore speed is also very low – name server in Singapore shows 145ms.

Next stop four properties of Amazon in different locations. Let’s see if some of them are using Route 53 this time.

8. Amazon.de

Excellent speed Amazon.de – 50.60ms. Using two DNS providers again – Neustar and Dyn. No sign of Route53 though. Interesting.

9. Amazon.co.uk

Good job Amazon.co.uk. – the best global speed of the top 10 websites – 45ms. Using ten name servers and two DNS providers again – Neustar and Dyn. This is a recipe for success. Still no sign of Route53 though.

10. Amazon.co.jp

Two DNS providers again – Neustar and Dyn and good average response – 76.06ms.

11. eBay.co.uk

Using Verisign as their Primary DNS provider and Dyn as a Secondary DNS as eBay.com. Good overall speed.

12. Walmart.com

The whopping amount of 12 name servers. Not the fastest global speed, but since the majority of their audience is coming from the US, the result is excellent. Using two DNS providers, Akamai and Neustar UltraDNS. Some say that they got in the online business too late, but they are sure fast learners and understand that speed and security is the only way to compare to Amazon.

13. Avito.ru

According to SimilarWeb, the majority of their traffic is coming from Russia, Ukraine and the rest of the CIS countries. Wow, 2.17ms. Global speed and maybe we have a winner. They are using Cloudflare and no secondary DNS provider. Fast speed on all 6 test POPs. We can’t say much, except that they are doing an excellent job. Only if they had backup DNS, it would have been the perfect example.

14. Mercadolivre.com.br

Latin America’s most popular e-commerce website. According to Similarweb 98% of the Mercadolivre.com.br traffic is coming from Brazil. No DNS providers, The speed is not good even in Brazil – above 100ms.

15. Amazon.in

Around 10% of their traffic is international, so it’s good for them to have good global speed. And they do. Using Dyn and UltraDNS, they achieve excellent speed – 68.96ms, except South Africa.

16. Rakuten.co.jp

No DNS providers = slow global speed. Not much to say here. Guess they don’t rely on revenues outside Japan.

17. Allegro.pl

Again no DNS providers = slow average response. Yes, you’ll say they don’t need it because they are targeting mostly users in Poland, but what about the searches outside PL. Around 5% of their traffic is coming outside Poland. And what about DDoS protection and backup?

18. eBay.de

As the other eBay domains, this one is also using Verisign as their Primary DNS provider and Dyn as a Secondary DNS. Good overall response – 70.92ms.

19. Amazon.fr

Around 20% of the traffic comes outside of France, so it’s good to have at least reasonable EU speed. And they do. Using Dyn and UltraDNS, they achieve excellent global speed, except South Africa.

20. Аmazon.it

Amazon surely knows how important is speed and to have a backup. So far they are using the same recipe for success – two DNS providers – Dyn and UltraDNS.

21. Leboncoin.fr

The French classified site. Good speed in France, slow speed globally. No sign of DNS providers. If anyone from Leboncoin is reading, please protect your revenue and your users and set up a backup DNS.

22. 58.com

Like all other Chinese e-commerce sites, they also have terrible global speed – 357.49ms and don’t use Managed DNS provider.

23. Target.com

Using Akamai which is good, but no Secondary DNS provider. Excellent speed in the US and Europe. Overall good – below 100ms.

24. Etsy.com

One of our personal favorites. Let’s see how they perform the test. Using AWS and Dyn. Nice to know that someone is using Route 53 after we found out that the Amazon doesn’t. Good speed everywhere except South Africa – 51.06ms.

25. Bestbuy.com

Using Akamai but no Secondary DNS provider. Good speed in the US and Europe. Low speed in Australia, Brazil, and South Africa. For reference, bestbuy.com.mx also doesn’t have good speed in Brazil.

26. Amazon.es

The Spanish domain of Amazon also has good global speed – 69.31ms and again uses two Managed DNS providers – UltraDNS and Dyn.

27. Sahibinden.com

The most prominent Turkish online store. They are using five nameservers, and 1 of them is not responding. Terrible global speed – 631.28 and no DNS providers (we checked the website few times, and the servers were not responding, and the speed was over 500ms each time).

28. Flipkart.com

The Indian e-commerce giant. They use Neustar. Excellent average speed. No Secondary DNS.

29. Ikea.com

The Scandinavian furniture manufacturer uses no DNS providers for its online shop. Good speed at our French POP and not so good globally.

30. Gearbest.com

A genuinely international website with traffic from all over the globe. Using Akamai, but the global speed is above 100ms. Highest response time in Brazil, which is interesting since according to Similarweb 18% of their traffic is coming from this country.

31. Mercadolibre.com.ar

Argentina’s most famous e-commerce store. No DNS providers, The speed is not good even in Brazil – above 100ms.

32. OLX.pl

Another Polish e-commerce site. They are using Amazon Route 53. Excellent speed in Europe. No Secondary DNS, no backup.

33. eBay-Kleinanzeigen.de

Good response according to our France POP, poor global speed – 176.19ms. No DNS provider is detected.

34. Mi.com

The international online portal of Xiaomi – the smartphone manufacturer. The average response time of the name servers is terrible – 367.21ms. They don’t use DNS providers, and respectively their bounce rate is high.

35. Amazon.ca

Good job also for Amazon.ca. Using two DNS providers again – Neustar and Dyn. The technical guys from Amazon understand the importance of using DNS provider. The last of the Amazon properties on our list and still none of them are using Route 53. Can we say according to this that the Dyn and Neustar DNS networks are better than the Route 53’s… Don’t know; we leave the presumptions to you.

36. OLX.ua

As the rest of the OLX properties, they are using Amazon Route 53. Excellent speed in Europe. No Secondary DNS, no backup.

37. Wish.com

Using the services of Amazon Route 53. Good overall global speed – 61.72ms, except South Africa – above 150ms.

38. HM.com

The international shopping site of the H&M brand. Good speed in EU and US, poor in Brazil and Singapore. Maybe they don’t rely so much on sales in South America and Asia. They are using Akamai, but no secondary DNS provider.

39. Mercadolibre.com.mx

Another site from the Argentinian giant. Hope this one performs better, let’s see. Good speed in the US, poor everywhere else, even in Brazil. Average response time is 143.79ms. No sign of DNS provider and backup DNS.

40. HomeDepot.com

Good speed in the US, which is good, since they are relying heavily on US consumers. Fear global speed – 102.44. If you look at the spreadsheet and the report you’ll see that they are also using Akamai.

41. Market.yandex.ru

The marketplace of Yandex – the Russian bear. They are using their DNS, which gives excellent speed in Europe, but very poor globally – 178.63ms. We’re guessing global presence is not essential for them. The bear won’t leave Russia with this speed.

42. Americanas.com.br

Good overall speed, except in South Africa, but with 99% of the traffic coming from Brazil, that is logical. Using Route 53 but unfortunately no Secondary DNS provider.

43. Alibaba.com

Like all tested so far Alibaba properties, Alibaba.com is not an exception. Poor global speed – 256.2ms, especially in Australia, South Africa, and Singapore. No Secondary DNS provider. Bounce rate is high respectively – 46.31%.

44. Sonymobile.com

The international platform of Sony Mobile is in 44th place. Using Route 53 but no backup DNS provider. Guess Sony didn’t learn the lessons from the frequent DDoS attacks they received on their PlayStation Network.

45. DMM.com

The Japan-based electronic commerce and Internet company is next. They are using ten name servers, 6 of which are from Akamai, but global speed is not high.

46. OLX.com.br

As the rest of the Argentinian classified giant OLX properties, com.br is also using Amazon Route 53. Good speed almost everywhere except South Africa. No backup DNS.

47. Macys.com

Macys are using Akamai also. Good speed in Europe and US, poor in Brazil. Average response time – 128.06ms. No secondary DNS.

48. Suning.com

Sunning is one of the largest retailers in China. Almost two years ago Alibaba bought shares in the company, so let’s see if they are using AliDNS or not. And the answer is no. Poor speed almost everywhere except Singapore. No primary and backup DNS provider, which corresponds to the highest bounce rate of all e-commerce websites so far – above 70%. That’s millions of dollars lost according to everybody’s calculations.

49. Kohls.com

As the rest of the websites using Akamai network, the site of the American department store retailing chain has good speed; only Brazil is lagging. But since 98% of their traffic is coming from the US they can live with it. The lack of back DNS is not good though.

50. Asos.com

The British online fashion and beauty store comes last in our report. They have lots of international traffic, only 25% of the traffic comes from the UK, the rest is all over the globe. They have eight name servers, using Dyn and Secondary DNS provider. Excellent global speed, except in South Africa.

Conclusion

According to our research majority of the big brands still didn’t learn the lesson from the 2016 Dyn DDoS attack, where huge sites were down for hours. 70% of the sites in this case study don’t have backup DNS. Not setting up a backup DNS or at least using a single DNS provider, leaves you open for DDoS attacks and respectively revenue losses. The question is not if it’ll happen but when.

Winner global top speed is Avito.ru with an average response time of 2.17ms.

The average amount of name servers per site is five, and the average DNS lookup speed of all 50 websites is 146.63ms.

We can draw a parallel between the response time of the websites and their bounce rate, as 89% of the sites with bounce rate above 40% had also lousy speed (see red fields in the spreadsheet).

And finally a recommendation for all other e-commerce sites – if you want to fight the big boys and win, you need to invest in your site speed and DNS. Make sure you are using not one but two DNS providers. You will be surprised at how little money you can get a good night’s sleep.

The post A case study of the top 50 e-commerce sites and their DNS appeared first on ClouDNS Blog.