Take your AEM architecture and performance strategies to the next level with a deep dive into the evolving roles of the Dispatcher and the Content Delivery Network (CDN).

In modern AEM deployments—especially with AEM as a Cloud Service—the line between the traditional Dispatcher and the Edge (CDN) is shifting. This session is designed for AEM architects, developers, and DevOps engineers who want to master the art of content delivery. We will explore how to balance these two layers to achieve maximum speed, robust security, and efficient cache management.

From fine-tuning your TTL strategies to implementing advanced traffic filter rules and managing complex redirects, this session covers the practical "how-tos" of modern AEM delivery.

What you’ll learn in this session:

• Caching Strategies for the Modern Web: Understanding the shift from Dispatcher-heavy caching to Edge-first delivery. We’ll discuss TTL-based invalidation vs. traditional flushing.

• Redirect Management at Scale: Where should redirects live? We will compare CDN-level redirects (Edge) for performance versus Dispatcher/Apache maps and AEM-managed redirects for flexibility.

• Hardening the Dispatcher: Deep dive into filter configurations to ensure only authorized traffic reaches your publish instances. We'll cover the "deny-by-default" strategy and how to avoid common bypass vulnerabilities.

• Security at the Edge vs. the Origin: How to leverage the CDN for WAF and DDoS protection while maintaining tight security filters at the Dispatcher level.

• CDN & Dispatcher Synergy: How to configure headers (like Surrogate-Control and Cache-Control) to orchestrate seamless communication between your layers.

• AEM as a Cloud Service Insights: A look at the Adobe Managed CDN and how it changes the way we think about the Dispatcher.

• Pro Tips & Pitfalls: Real-world examples of common configuration mistakes that lead to cache misses or security vulnerabilities.