What is the key benefit of configuring AEM to use the dispatcher?

Configuring AEM to use the dispatcher provides a significant benefit in terms of reducing server load. The dispatcher acts as a caching and load balancing mechanism, which means it can cache static resources and serve them directly to users without continuously hitting the AEM author or publish instances for every request. This behavior is particularly beneficial for heavy traffic situations, as it decreases the number of requests that need to be processed by the AEM servers, thereby freeing up resources and allowing those servers to manage other tasks more efficiently. By serving cached content directly, the dispatcher helps to maintain a smooth and responsive experience for users while also optimizing the overall performance and scalability of the AEM environment.

While improved page rendering speed can be a result of reduced server load, and enhanced security can be configured in various ways, the primary and most direct advantage of deploying the dispatcher centers around the efficiency it brings to server resource management.