Is Cloudflare Good for SSL?

Cloudflare is renowned in the realm of web security and performance. Many wonder if it's genuinely worth utilizing for SSL. Let's explore the advantages and drawbacks of using Cloudflare for SSL.

What is Cloudflare and How Does It Offer SSL?

Cloudflare is a web security and performance company that provides a range of services, including SSL. They offer a free, one-year SSL certificate that can be renewed without additional cost. This certificate is suitable for any website, making it accessible to a wide range of users.

Why Use Cloudflare for SSL?

The primary benefit of Cloudflare lies in their ability to handle the installation and configuration of the SSL certificate for you. This process is a significant time-saver, especially if you're not familiar with SSL. Additionally, Cloudflare automatically renews your certificate to prevent it from expiring.

Cloudflare also provides a myriad of other security features such as DDoS protection and malware removal. These security measures are invaluable if you're concerned about your website being attacked or compromised.

Challenges of Using Cloudflare for SSL

While Cloudflare presents numerous advantages, it is not without its drawbacks. One potential issue is the occasional outages experienced by the service. These outages, although typically short in duration, can be frustrating when you need to access your website during this period.

Comparison with Commercial SSL Certificates

Cloudflare's free SSL certificate is less flexible compared to commercial certificates. It lacks the flexibility of wildcard and multi-domain certificates, which are suitable for official businesses requiring verification of legal identity.

For businesses that require a more robust solution, Cloudflare recommends obtaining a Business Validation certificate. This type of certificate not only verifies your legal identity but also significantly enhances customer trust.

Summary

Overall, Cloudflare is a commendable choice for SSL, particularly for small businesses and regular sites. The free certificate, ease of installation, and additional security features make it an attractive option. However, for official businesses, a commercial SSL certificate with business validation might be more appropriate to ensure legal identity verification and enhanced customer trust.

To learn more about the distinction between free SSL certificates from Cloudflare and commercial SSL products, check this article.