How To Use AWS ALB with CloudFront Without Caching or Static Data

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Using CloudFront in front of your Application Load Balancer (ALB) can offer several advantages, even if you don’t need caching for your static content. Here’s how you can benefit from this setup:

First, improving security is a key reason to set up CloudFront with your ALB. CloudFront handles all incoming requests first, which means it can see the real IP addresses of your visitors—this helps your Web Application Firewall (WAF) work more effectively. You can also restrict access to your ALB so that only CloudFront IP addresses can reach it, preventing direct access from unwanted sources. Additionally, adding custom headers from CloudFront to your ALB ensures that all traffic genuinely comes through your CloudFront distribution, adding an extra layer of security.

Next, there are performance benefits. CloudFront uses Amazon’s global network of edge locations to reduce the time it takes for users to access your application. This results in lower latency. CloudFront also maintains persistent connections to your ALB, which means it doesn’t have to repeatedly open new ones—saving time and resources. Plus, it supports modern protocols like HTTP/3 and TLS 1.3, so your users can enjoy faster and more secure connections, even if your application isn’t currently configured for them.

Cost savings are another advantage. Using CloudFront may reduce your overall data transfer costs because it has a free tier of 1TB per month, and it generally charges less than regional resources like ALBs for data transfer. Moreover, fewer active connections to the ALB can lead to using less capacity, which helps keep costs down.

Lastly, CloudFront offers several extra features. You can modify response headers, such as removing server identification details that could be used by attackers. CloudFront also allows you to apply functions that change requests and responses at the edge, giving you more control. Plus, it provides better protection against Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks through AWS Shield and its integrated WAF capabilities.

Recently, AWS made it easier to connect CloudFront directly from the ALB console with a simple one-click integration, making the setup process straightforward.

For dynamic content, you can configure CloudFront with a “CachingDisabled” policy. This ensures every request goes directly to your origin server, while still gaining the other security and performance benefits.

By setting up CloudFront this way, you can enhance your application’s security, speed, and cost efficiency—creating a more reliable and protected environment for your users.