CDN with custom domains in Azure - Step-by-Step Execution

Process Flow - CDN with custom domains

Create CDN Profile

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Create CDN Endpoint

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Add Custom Domain to Endpoint

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Validate Domain Ownership

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Enable HTTPS (Optional)

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Custom Domain Ready for Use

This flow shows how to set up a CDN with a custom domain: create profile, endpoint, add domain, validate ownership, and enable HTTPS.

Execution Sample

Azure

az cdn profile create --name myProfile --resource-group myGroup --sku Standard_Microsoft
az cdn endpoint create --name myEndpoint --profile-name myProfile --resource-group myGroup --origin myapp.azurewebsites.net
az cdn custom-domain create --endpoint-name myEndpoint --profile-name myProfile --resource-group myGroup --hostname www.example.com
az cdn custom-domain enable-https --endpoint-name myEndpoint --profile-name myProfile --resource-group myGroup --hostname www.example.com

This code creates a CDN profile and endpoint, adds a custom domain, and enables HTTPS for secure delivery.

Process Table

Step	Action	Command	Result	Notes
1	Create CDN Profile	az cdn profile create --name myProfile --resource-group myGroup --sku Standard_Microsoft	Profile 'myProfile' created	Profile is the container for CDN endpoints
2	Create CDN Endpoint	az cdn endpoint create --name myEndpoint --profile-name myProfile --resource-group myGroup --origin myapp.azurewebsites.net	Endpoint 'myEndpoint' created	Endpoint points to origin server
3	Add Custom Domain	az cdn custom-domain create --endpoint-name myEndpoint --profile-name myProfile --resource-group myGroup --hostname www.example.com	Custom domain 'www.example.com' added	Domain must be owned and DNS configured
4	Validate Domain Ownership	Automatic or DNS TXT record verification	Ownership validated	Ensures you control the domain
5	Enable HTTPS	az cdn custom-domain enable-https --endpoint-name myEndpoint --profile-name myProfile --resource-group myGroup --hostname www.example.com	HTTPS enabled	Secures traffic with SSL/TLS
6	Custom Domain Ready	N/A	Custom domain active and serving content	Users can access CDN via custom domain

💡 All steps completed successfully; CDN with custom domain is ready for use.

Status Tracker

Resource	Initial State	After Step 1	After Step 2	After Step 3	After Step 4	After Step 5	Final State
CDN Profile	None	Created	Created	Created	Created	Created	Created
CDN Endpoint	None	None	Created	Created	Created	Created	Created
Custom Domain	None	None	None	Added	Validated	HTTPS Enabled	Active
HTTPS Status	Disabled	Disabled	Disabled	Disabled	Disabled	Enabled	Enabled

Key Moments - 3 Insights

Why do we need to validate domain ownership before using a custom domain?

Validation confirms you control the domain to prevent misuse. See execution_table step 4 where ownership is validated before enabling HTTPS.

What happens if HTTPS is not enabled on the custom domain?

Traffic will not be encrypted, which can cause security warnings. Refer to execution_table step 5 where HTTPS is enabled to secure traffic.

Can the CDN serve content without adding a custom domain?

Yes, it serves via the default CDN endpoint hostname. Adding a custom domain is optional for branding and easier access, shown in step 3.

Visual Quiz - 3 Questions

Look at the execution_table, what is the state of the CDN Endpoint after step 2?

A Created

B None

C Validated

D HTTPS Enabled

💡 Hint

Check the 'CDN Endpoint' row in variable_tracker after Step 2.

At which step does the custom domain become active and ready for use?

A Step 3

B Step 4

C Step 6

D Step 5

💡 Hint

Refer to execution_table step 6 and variable_tracker final state for Custom Domain.

If HTTPS is not enabled, what will be the HTTPS status after step 5?

A Enabled

B Disabled

C Validated

D Created

💡 Hint

Look at the HTTPS Status row in variable_tracker after Step 5.

Concept Snapshot

Azure CDN with Custom Domains:
1. Create a CDN profile to group endpoints.
2. Create an endpoint pointing to your origin.
3. Add your custom domain to the endpoint.
4. Validate domain ownership (via DNS).
5. Enable HTTPS for secure traffic.
6. Custom domain is ready to serve content.

Full Transcript

To set up a CDN with a custom domain in Azure, first create a CDN profile which acts as a container for your CDN endpoints. Next, create a CDN endpoint that points to your origin server where your content is hosted. Then, add your custom domain to this endpoint. You must validate that you own this domain, usually by adding a DNS TXT record. After validation, enable HTTPS to secure the traffic between users and the CDN. Once all these steps are done, your custom domain is active and ready to serve content securely through the CDN.