- Introduction

In this video, we will delve into the technical aspect of website management by utilizing a platform called Cloudflare. This is a crucial step to both speed up and secure our website without incurring extra costs. The video presenter understands the intricacy of this process and pledges to provide comprehensive guidance to avoid any adverse impact on our website's functionality. By walking us through the steps involved, he aims to ensure that we can effectively maneuver through this technical terrain.

The first step involves accessing our Namecheap account and navigating to the dashboard to locate the domain we purchased. Here, we are instructed to change our name servers from Hostgator to Cloudflare to transfer control of our website. Simultaneously, we are encouraged to create an account on Cloudflare and proceed to add our site using the domain name obtained from Namecheap. It's important to note that the tutorial emphasizes opting for the free plan while setting up the account on Cloudflare, ensuring there is no additional cost incurred.

Continuing further into the process, Cloudflare automatically scans all DNS records from Hostgator, a task that may take some time to complete but requires no manual intervention. While Cloudflare conducts this scan, we are advised to log into our Hostgator cPanel to access and understand the DNS zone editor. Essentially, this part of the process involves shifting control from Hostgator to Cloudflare for managing DNS records, a technical but crucial maneuver for website management.

- Step 1: Log in to Namecheap and Change Name Servers

To begin the process of securing your website using Cloudflare, the first step is to log in to your Namecheap account and change the name servers to Cloudflare's. Once you're logged into your Namecheap account, navigate to the "Account" section and go to your dashboard where you can find the domain name that you want to manage. Click on the domain name and select "Manage." Here, you will stay on this page while you make the crucial change of name servers from HostGator to Cloudflare.

By making this change, you are essentially transferring control of your website from HostGator to Cloudflare, which is an essential step in this process. This shift allows Cloudflare to manage your website's DNS records and enhances its security and performance. Following this, you will need to open another tab and visit Cloudflare's website. Sign up for a new account or log into your existing one. Once you're signed in, the next steps will involve adding your site and changing the name servers on Namecheap to complete the process of migrating control over to Cloudflare.

- Step 2: Create a Cloudflare Account

To create a Cloudflare account, start by visiting the Cloudflare website and clicking on the "Sign Up" button. Once there, you can click "Create Account" and fill in your details to begin the registration process. If you already have an account, you can simply log in with your existing credentials.

After successfully signing up or logging in, you will be directed to a screen to add your website. Click on the blue "Add Site" button and enter your domain name. Then, click "Add Site" once more to proceed. You may encounter an upsell offer, but for the purposes of this tutorial, you can just select the free plan and continue. This will prompt Cloudflare to scan all your DNS records, which may take some time.

Upon completion of the scanning process, Cloudflare will display the DNS records from your current host, such as HostGator. This signifies a successful retrieval of your website's DNS records by Cloudflare. Following this, you can navigate to the "Security" tab to optimize your site's security using Cloudflare's free services.

- Step 3: Add Site to Cloudflare and Select Free Plan

To add your site to Cloudflare and select the free plan, follow these steps. After logging into your Cloudflare account, click on the blue “Add Site” button. Enter your domain name and then click “Add Site” again. You'll be prompted to select a plan. Choose the free plan, and then click "Continue". Cloudflare will then scan all your DNS records, which may take some time. While that's happening, log into your hosting provider’s website, such as HostGator, and access your cPanel.

In cPanel, navigate to the “Domains” section and select “DNS Zone Editor”. Here, you'll be changing the control of your DNS records from your hosting provider to Cloudflare. Take note of your current shared IP address listed in the cPanel. Once Cloudflare has completed scanning your DNS records, click "Continue" to proceed. Next, you'll update the name servers to point to Cloudflare. This action effectively transfers the control of your website from your hosting provider to Cloudflare. Remember to save the changes. After this, you may be notified that it could take up to 48 hours for the changes to take effect. This process completes the transfer of DNS control to Cloudflare and sets up an additional layer of speed and security for your site.

- Step 4: Verify DNS Records and Wait for Cloudflare Scan

After updating your name servers on Namecheap, head to Cloudflare and sign up for an account. Once logged in, the platform will scan all your DNS records from Namecheap, which might take some time. While waiting for the scan to complete, it's advisable to log into your cPanel on HostGator.

The next step is to move control of your DNS records from HostGator to Cloudflare. In your cPanel, navigate to the "Domains" section and access the "DNS Zone Editor." This allows you to manage your DNS records. Take note of the shared IP address under the "General Information" section as you'll need it later.

After Cloudflare completes the scan and detects all your DNS records, proceed with the process by clicking "Continue." This prompts you to change your name servers to point to Cloudflare. Once this is done, you'll need to wait for the changes to propagate, which can take up to 48 hours. After this period, you can verify the successful change in name server propagation by checking the DNS records in Cloudflare to confirm that they are now active.

- Step 5: Log in to HostGator cPanel and Note Shared IP Address

After changing the name servers in Namecheap, the next step is to log in to HostGator's cPanel and note down the shared IP address. This is an essential piece of information for configuring the DNS records. By accessing the cPanel, you'll be able to gather the necessary details to complete the process of shifting control to Cloudflare.

Once you log in to HostGator's cPanel, navigate to the 'General Information' section on the right side of the dashboard. Here, you will find the shared IP address of your website. It's crucial to jot down this unique IP address as it serves as the location identifier for your website within the HostGator server network.

The shared IP address provided by HostGator is specific to your website and will be different for every user. Therefore, it's important to accurately record this information to ensure a smooth transition of your website's control to Cloudflare. The shared IP address will then be used when updating the DNS records on Cloudflare's platform, enabling the seamless transfer of control and management of your website to Cloudflare.

In this step, the focus is on gathering the necessary technical details from HostGator's cPanel to facilitate the subsequent configuration and setup on Cloudflare's platform.

- Step 6: Review DNS Zone Records in HostGator

In this step, you are required to review the DNS zone records for your website in HostGator. These records are fundamental as they essentially dictate the functionality of your website and its accessibility on the internet. Therefore, transitioning control of these records from HostGator to Cloudflare is a crucial aspect of securing and speeding up your website. To initiate this process, log into your HostGator account and locate the DNS zone editor under the Domains section. Upon entering the DNS zone editor, you will encounter a list of records that direct internet traffic to your website's server.

Once you have accessed the DNS zone editor, you will need to manage the records to facilitate the transfer of control to Cloudflare. The purpose of this transfer is to enhance the performance and security of your website. By modifying the DNS zone records, you are essentially rerouting the pathways through which users access your website. This transfer of control to Cloudflare ensures that your website's performance is optimized, and it is better shielded against potential cybersecurity threats. Overall, this step is vital in the process of fortifying and accelerating your website's operations, positioning it for sustained success and efficiency on the internet.

- Step 7: Complete DNS Control Shift to Cloudflare

In the next step, we will complete the shift of DNS control from HostGator to Cloudflare. By doing this, we will be giving Cloudflare the control of our website, a crucial part of the website speeding up and securing process. To start, navigate back to the cPanel in HostGator. Find the "Domains" section and select the "DNS Zone Editor." This is where we will be making the necessary changes to shift control to Cloudflare.

Once in the DNS Zone Editor, you will see a list of DNS records. These records essentially tell the internet where to direct specific requests related to your domain. Now, the critical part is to change the functionality from HostGator to Cloudflare. Remember to note the "Shared IP Address" provided on the right-hand side of the screen as it is unique to each website hosted on HostGator.

After ensuring Cloudflare has scanned all DNS records, head back to the Cloudflare dashboard. Scroll to the bottom and click "Continue." This action will prompt the actual change of name servers. Cloudflare will provide you with two name servers that you need to copy. Once copied, return to the Namecheap dashboard and navigate to where you will replace the existing name servers with the Cloudflare-provided ones. Paste the name server values, save the changes, and the shift of DNS control to Cloudflare is complete.

- Step 8: Monitor Name Server Propagation

After making the necessary changes to your name servers and DNS records, it is essential to monitor the propagation of the name servers throughout the internet. This process ensures that the changes made are reflected across all servers worldwide.

To monitor the name server propagation, you can utilize Cloudflare's platform. Upon logging into your Cloudflare account, navigate to the DNS section. Here, you will be able to view all the updated DNS records that were previously hosted on HostGator. These records indicate that the control has transitioned to Cloudflare.

Confirming the completion of the name server propagation is crucial for your website's functionality and security. By reviewing the DNS records on Cloudflare, you can ensure that the transition has been successful. It's important to note that the update may take some time to fully propagate, typically up to 48 hours.

Once Cloudflare confirms that the name server propagation is complete, you can rest assured that your website is now operating under the enhanced security and performance benefits provided by Cloudflare's services. With the successful propagation of the name servers, your website will now reap the benefits of an extra layer of speed and improved security.

- Conclusion

In conclusion, by utilizing Cloudflare, website owners can both optimize their site's performance and bolster its security at no cost. The migration process from HostGator to Cloudflare involves changing the name servers and consolidating DNS control within Cloudflare. Though it may take up to 48 hours for the changes to propagate throughout the internet, the benefits are substantial. The migration affords an extra layer of speed to the site and serves as a crucial step toward enhancing security.

With the DNS control effectively shifted to Cloudflare, website owners can rest assured that their site is better equipped to handle potential cyber threats. Cloudflare’s services not only optimize the website's performance but also protect it from various online dangers like DDoS attacks and SQL injections. The transition to Cloudflare empowers site owners with the tools necessary to maintain a secure digital presence and is an essential step in the ongoing effort to safeguard against cyber threats.

Highlight

In this video tutorial, the instructor provides a step-by-step guide on how to secure a website for free using Cloudflare. This process involves changing the name servers from HostGator to Cloudflare, thereby shifting control of the website to Cloudflare.

The instructor begins by directing viewers to log in to their Namecheap account and then make their way to the dashboard to select the domain name. From there, they guide users on how to create an account on Cloudflare and add their site, emphasizing that the free plan should be selected without the need to make any purchases.

The tutorial includes detailed instructions on how to navigate the DNS records and make necessary changes within HostGator's cPanel. By moving the control of DNS from HostGator to Cloudflare, users can enhance the speed and security of their website.

The instructor stresses the importance of waiting for the changes to propagate throughout the internet and provides a demonstration of how to verify that the name server propagation has taken place within Cloudflare.

By the end of the tutorial, users should have successfully transitioned their DNS control to Cloudflare, resulting in improved speed and security for their website.

Overall, the tutorial offers a comprehensive and technical understanding of the process, ensuring that users can implement these changes accurately to avoid disruptions to their websites.

FAQ

Q: What is the process of speeding up and securing a website using Cloudflare?

A: The process begins with logging into the Namecheap account and navigating to the dashboard to manage the domain. From there, users change the name servers from Hostgator to Cloudflare. After that, they create an account on Cloudflare and add the website to their dashboard. The free plan is selected, and Cloudflare then scans all the DNS records. Concurrently, users log into their Hostgator cPanel and take note of their shared IP address. Once Cloudflare has found all the DNS records from Hostgator, users proceed to change their name servers on Namecheap to those provided by Cloudflare.

Q: What role does DNS play in this process?

A: DNS (Domain Name System) records play a crucial role in directing internet traffic. By changing the name servers from Hostgator to Cloudflare, users effectively shift control of their website to Cloudflare. This process ensures that all DNS control is managed through Cloudflare going forward.

Q: What does the propagation timeline for the name server change entail?

A: The propagation timeline refers to the duration it takes for the updated name servers to be recognized across the internet. This process can take up to 48 hours, during which users may experience a waiting period before the changes fully take effect globally.

Q: How can users verify if the name server propagation has been completed?

A: To check if the name server propagation has been completed, users can navigate to their Cloudflare dashboard and review the DNS records. If all the DNS records are now on Cloudflare and the name servers indicate that they are active, it confirms that the propagation is complete.

Q: What are the benefits of using Cloudflare for website speed and security?

A: Cloudflare offers various benefits, including improved website speed through its content delivery network (CDN), DDoS protection, SSL/TLS encryption, and firewall security features. Additionally, it provides real-time threat intelligence and analytics to help monitor and optimize website performance.

Conclusion

Once you have completed the process of transferring your DNS control to Cloudflare as outlined in the video, your website will benefit from an added layer of speed and security. By using Cloudflare's services for free, you can optimize your website's performance and ensure a secure browsing experience for your users. Stay tuned for the next video where we will explore how to further enhance the security of your site at no cost.