At Cadogy, we believe your website should be fast, secure, and stress-free to manage. That’s why we’re big fans of tools that make life easier—and Cloudflare is definitely one of them.
If you’ve ever worried about your website going down because of a traffic spike or a DDoS attack, Cloudflare is your digital bodyguard. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to set it up, step-by-step.
Who’s this guide for?
You’ve got a website, a registered domain name, and access to your domain registrar (like GoDaddy, Namecheap, or Google Domains). And you’ve created a free Cloudflare account. If so, you’re ready!
Step 1: Connect Your Domain to Cloudflare
1. Log into Cloudflare and Add Your Site
Once you’re in your Cloudflare dashboard, click “Add a site” and type in your domain name (like yourwebsite.com). Hit Continue.
2. Pick a Plan
We recommend starting with the Free plan—it includes great security features and performance boosts. You can always upgrade later if needed.
3. Review Your DNS Records
Cloudflare will scan your domain and pull in your existing DNS records. These records help route traffic to your website correctly. Double-check that everything looks right—especially your A and CNAME records.
Look for the orange cloud!
If your DNS records show an orange cloud ☁️ with an arrow, it means traffic is being routed through Cloudflare. That’s good—it means Cloudflare’s security and speed perks are active.
4. Update Your Domain’s Nameservers
Now it’s time to tell your domain registrar to use Cloudflare’s nameservers instead of your old ones.
Cloudflare will give you two new nameservers (like olga.ns.cloudflare.com). Head over to your domain registrar’s control panel and swap out the existing nameservers for the Cloudflare ones.
Not sure how? Every registrar is a bit different, but it’s usually under something like DNS Settings or Nameservers.
5. Wait for Propagation
Once you’ve updated your nameservers, it can take a few minutes—or up to 24 hours—for the changes to take effect. During this time, Cloudflare will show a Pending status.
Eventually, your domain status will switch to Active, and voilà—your site is now protected and powered by Cloudflare.
Step 2: Turn On “I’m Under Attack Mode” (When Needed)
Cloudflare comes with a built-in firewall that protects against malicious traffic. But if your site is hit with a DDoS attack (where tons of fake traffic tries to take your site down), you can activate a powerful feature called “I’m Under Attack Mode.”
What Does It Do?
When enabled, visitors to your site will see a short 5-second page that checks their browser before letting them through. It’s like a bouncer making sure everyone in line is legit.
Heads up: This mode requires JavaScript and cookies to be enabled in the visitor’s browser.
When Should You Use It?
Only during an active attack. If your site is running normally, keep it turned off so your regular users aren’t delayed.
How to Enable It
- Go to your Cloudflare dashboard
- Under the Overview tab, look for the Quick Actions sidebar
- Click “I’m Under Attack Mode” to turn it on
How to Disable It
Once the storm has passed, head back to the Overview tab and toggle it off. Cloudflare will ask what security level you want to return to—Medium is usually a solid choice.
What’s Next?
Now that Cloudflare is protecting your site, you’ve got access to a whole toolbox of features:
✅ Free SSL (HTTPS)
✅ Content Delivery Network (CDN)
✅ Web traffic analytics
✅ Caching for faster load times
✅ DDoS protection
Want to take it even further? Check out Cloudflare’s Recommended First Steps for new users to fine-tune your setup.
Need Help?
We specialize in building and maintaining websites that run like clockwork. Whether you need a hand with setup or want to explore advanced features, we’re here to make sure your site stays secure, speedy, and worry-free.
Ready to optimize your web presence? Get in touch with us today!