Company snapshot
| Category | Microsoft Azure | Peer5 |
|---|---|---|
| Status | active | defunct |
| Founded | — | — |
| Headquarters | — | — |
| Website | — | — |
| Docs | — | — |
Overview
Microsoft Azure CDN provides content delivery services through a global network of edge nodes, integrated with Azure’s cloud ecosystem. It serves enterprises, developers, and media companies, offering caching, security, and analytics. The service supports web content, video streaming, and edge compute capabilities. Azure partners with Akamai and Verizon for its underlying infrastructure in some configurations.
Peer5 operated a peer-to-peer (P2P) content delivery network (CDN) specializing in live video streaming, leveraging WebRTC for in-browser, clientless enterprise CDN (eCDN) solutions. Founded in 2012, the company was acquired by Microsoft in August 2021 to enhance video streaming capabilities in Microsoft Teams. Peer5’s technology optimized bandwidth usage through self-balancing mesh networks, serving large-scale enterprise events with up to 2 million concurrent users. As of 2025, Peer5’s standalone services are defunct, with its technology integrated into Microsoft’s eCDN for Teams.
Network & Architecture
Azure CDN operates over 100 points of presence (POPs) globally, with strong coverage in North America, EMEA, and APAC. It leverages Microsoft’s global backbone and partnerships with Akamai and Verizon for optimized routing and peering. The service supports HTTP/3 and dynamic content acceleration. Limited public data exists on specific peering arrangements or regional performance nuances.
—
Feature comparison
| Feature | Microsoft Azure | Peer5 |
|---|---|---|
waf | ✓ | ✗ |
bot_mitigation | ✗ | ✗ |
ddos | ✓ | ✗ |
rate_limit | ✗ | ✗ |
http3_quic | ✓ | ✗ |
tls13 | ✓ | ✗ |
tiered_cache | ✓ | ✗ |
origin_shield | ✓ | ✗ |
instant_purge | ✓ | ✓ |
stale_while_revalidate | ✓ | ✗ |
stale_if_error | ✓ | ✗ |
image_optimization | ✓ | ✗ |
video_vod | ✓ | ✗ |
video_live | ✓ | ✓ |
drm | ✗ | ✗ |
hls_dash_packaging | ✗ | ✗ |
websockets | ✓ | ✗ |
signed_urls | ✓ | ✗ |
edge_compute | ✓ | ✗ |
functions | ✓ | ✗ |
kv_storage | ✗ | ✗ |
api_first | ✓ | ✓ |
realtime_logs | ✓ | ✓ |
log_push | ✓ | ✗ |
terraform | ✓ | ✗ |
Legend: ✓ = Supported, ✗ = Not supported, — = Not listed
Pricing
Azure CDN uses a pay-as-you-go (PAYG) model with tiered pricing based on regions and usage. No free tier is offered, and pricing is enterprise-focused. Example: data transfer costs ~$0.08/GB in North America (subject to change). Full details at https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/details/cdn/.
—
Integrations & DevEx
Azure CDN supports Terraform for infrastructure-as-code. SDKs are available for multiple languages (Python, .NET, Java). Real-time logs and analytics integrate with Azure Monitor. Migration tools are provided for importing configurations from other CDNs. The API-first approach simplifies integration with CI/CD pipelines.
—
When it fits
- Enterprises already using Azure services, seeking seamless CDN integration.
- Organizations needing global reach with strong North America and EMEA presence.
- Developers requiring edge compute with Azure Functions and Terraform support.
—
When it doesn’t
- Small businesses or startups looking for a free tier or lower-cost options.
- Users needing specialized video features like HLS/DASH packaging or DRM.
- Those requiring detailed public data on network peering or POP specifics.
—
History & Notes
—
Peer5 was known for its innovative use of WebRTC to create a decentralized, browser-based P2P CDN, reducing server load and improving video delivery for large audiences. The company powered events for over 1 billion users before its acquisition. No official EOL announcement for standalone services was found, but Peer5’s website now redirects to Microsoft’s eCDN page, indicating full integration. Some third-party sources mention continued support for existing Peer5 customers post-acquisition, but this is unconfirmed as of 2025.