Cloudflare

Cloudflare is an internet infrastructure and security company that provides a global cloud network for application delivery, zero trust access, and network security services.

• Global anycast network for content delivery, Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) mitigation, and reverse proxy services (application delivery and security)
• Zero trust access and Secure Web Gateway (SWG) offerings for workforce connectivity and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) access control (zero trust security)
• Authoritative Domain Name System (DNS), DNS filtering, and DNS-based protection services (networking and security)
• Web Application Firewall (WAF), bot management, and Application Programming Interface (API) protection capabilities (application security)
• Developer and edge computing platform for running code and deploying applications closer to end users (edge compute and developer platform)

More About Cloudflare

Cloudflare provides a cloud-based network platform that sits between users and enterprise infrastructure, functioning as a reverse proxy, security layer, and performance layer for public-facing and internal applications. Enterprises and institutions route traffic through Cloudflare’s anycast network, which operates from data centers distributed across many regions, to improve latency and apply centrally managed security controls. The platform is used for websites, APIs, SaaS access, internal applications, and network-to-network connectivity.

The company’s application and website protection capabilities (application security) include a WAF that inspects Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) and HTTPS traffic, DDoS mitigation at the network and application layers, and bot management to distinguish automated from human traffic. These services commonly leverage protocols such as Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), User Datagram Protocol (UDP), HTTP/HTTPS, and Transport Layer Security (TLS), and integrate with existing origin infrastructure hosted on public clouds, private data centers, or hybrid environments. Cloudflare’s reverse proxy and content delivery features (application delivery and security) cache static content and terminate TLS at the edge, reducing origin load and enabling centralized certificate and policy management.

Cloudflare offers zero trust services (zero trust security) that connect users to applications and the broader internet through identity-aware and device-aware controls. These offerings typically integrate with Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) and OpenID Connect (OIDC) identity providers, and support protocols such as HTTP/HTTPS, DNS, and common corporate access methods. Capabilities span SWG functions, cloud access controls, and private application access without traditional Virtual Private Network (VPN) appliances, aligning with zero trust network access patterns.

In the networking domain, Cloudflare provides authoritative DNS and related security services (networking and security), including DNS-based filtering and protection against DNS-targeted attacks. Its DNS services use standard DNS protocols and are designed to interface with enterprise resolvers, registrars, and infrastructure services. Cloudflare’s anycast routing enables traffic steering to the nearest available edge location, which can support resiliency and consistent policy enforcement across geographies.

Cloudflare also operates a developer and edge computing environment (edge compute and developer platform) that allows organizations to run code, define routing logic, and integrate with data and storage services at the network edge. This platform uses standard web technologies and APIs, and is positioned for use cases such as custom security logic, API gateways, personalization, and request/response manipulation closer to end users. For directory and taxonomy purposes, Cloudflare maps to categories including application delivery and security, DDoS protection, DNS and network services, zero trust security, and edge compute and developer platforms.