How to Offload SSL Certificate with Cloudflare
SSL offloading with Cloudflare is an effective strategy to reduce the load on origin servers, improving website performance and security. In this guide, we will see how to configure it correctly.
What is SSL Offloading?
SSL offloading allows Cloudflare to handle SSL termination instead of the origin server. This means that the traffic between the visitor and Cloudflare is encrypted, but communication between Cloudflare and the origin server can be in plain text or with another level of encryption.
Advantages of SSL Offloading with Cloudflare
- Reduces server load: The origin server does not have to handle SSL encryption/decryption.
- Increased security: Cloudflare protects against DDoS attacks and provides a firewall to mitigate threats.
- Better performance: Cloudflare optimizes traffic and uses its own CDN network to improve website speed.
How to Configure SSL Offloading on Cloudflare
1. Add Your Domain to Cloudflare
- Log in to Cloudflare and add your domain.
- Cloudflare will automatically detect DNS records; verify that they are correct.
2. Configure SSL Certificate
- Go to SSL/TLS → Overview.
- Choose the most suitable SSL mode:
- Flexible: The traffic between the visitor and Cloudflare is encrypted, while Cloudflare communicates in HTTP with the origin server.
- Full: Traffic between the visitor, Cloudflare, and the origin server is always encrypted but accepts self-signed certificates.
- Full (Strict) (Recommended): Traffic is fully encrypted with a valid SSL certificate on the origin server.
3. Configure Cloudflare Origin Certificates (Optional)
- If your origin server does not have a valid SSL certificate, you can use a Cloudflare Origin Certificate:
- Go to SSL/TLS → Origin Server.
- Click on Create Certificate and choose "Let Cloudflare generate a private key and a CSR."
- Install the certificate on your origin server.
4. Enable HTTPS Redirection
- Go to SSL/TLS → Edge Certificates Settings.
- Enable Always Use HTTPS to ensure all connections are secure.
5. Verify the Configuration
- After configuring everything, test your website:
- Visit the site in a browser and check that the SSL padlock is active.
- Use the SSL Checker tool to verify that the certificate is working correctly.
Conclusion
SSL offloading with Cloudflare is a simple and effective way to enhance your website’s security and performance. By following this guide, you can configure it in just a few minutes and enjoy the benefits of a secure and optimized connection.
