Cloudflare, a company most people never think about, has quietly become one of the most influential players on the internet by positioning itself as essential infrastructure for security, performance, and reliability. Founded to protect websites from attacks and speed up content delivery, it now sits in front of a huge portion of global web traffic, helping block cyberattacks, manage bots, and keep sites online during major surges or outages. As AI use, geopolitical tensions, and online threats grow, Cloudflare’s role has expanded into areas like protecting elections, enforcing content rules, and shaping how data moves across borders. The company has gained visibility by taking strong public stances on internet security and resilience, even when those decisions are controversial. What was once a behind-the-scenes service has become a central force influencing how the modern internet functions.
