With Cloudflare, you can secure your website, increase speed, and get a CDN (Content Delivery Network) at no charge. This guide walks you through the process of creating a Cloudflare account, signing up for the service, and updating the DNS records to reap the benefits.
Easy Steps To Set Up a Cloudflare Account and Update DNS Records
Step 1: Account Creation
For the first step, set up an account on the Cloudflare site. Click the signup button and fill in the email field. Follow through with a strong password. Once everything is filled out, click the “Account” button to confirm your details.
Step 2: Website Integration
After signing into your account, click the “Add a Site” option. When prompted, add your domain (that is, cloudflare.com).
Then click “Continue.” Now you’ll have to select a plan, and we recommend starting with the Free Plan. Before recommending other choices later, Cloudflare will prompt you to scan your current DNS records, which may take a while.
Step 3: DNS Record Management
Verify Cloudflare’s DNS records that they took from your existing host with precise scrutiny. Check and update key records like A records for IP address pointing, CNAME records for subdomains, and MX records hosting emails.
Through the orange cloud icon, you can choose whether to enable the Cloudflare proxy. When it is toggled on, traffic gets routed to Cloudflare; when toggled off, traffic goes directly to your web host.
Note: For MX records present under DNS, the toggle should be set to Off to prevent any email-related issues.
Step 4: Nameserver Update
Cloudflare has assigned new nameservers to you, such as “ns1.cloudflare.com” and “ns2.cloudflare.com.” Access your domain registrar’s dashboard; this could be MilesWeb, GoDaddy, or Namecheap.
Go to the Nameservers section and replace the nameservers currently in use with the ones provided by Cloudflare. Click on save and wait for some time for the changes to be implemented fully. This may take a few hours because of DNS propagation.
Step 5: Setup Verification and Configuration
After waiting a few moments for the nameserver changes to propagate, go back to Cloudflare and select “Done, Check Nameservers.” Their systems will then validate your configuration, activating your domain in the process.
Also, make sure to navigate to the SSL/TLS section and turn on the SSL toggle, setting it to “Full” or “Full (Strict)” for the best security possible. For maximum performance improvement, Auto Minify must be active for CSS, JavaScript, and HTML, while Brotli compression needs to be turned on. Cloudflare’s DDoS protection and the rules of their firewalls can also be used to provide added protection.
By using Cloudflare and modifying your DNS records, you can enhance the security and performance of your website easily and simply. Once you’ve modified your nameservers and enabled Cloudflare, you can benefit from improved loading speeds, attack blocking, and free SSL offered by the service.
