What differences are there between changing a name server and an A record/CNAME?

After you complete the initial steps of Cloudbric registration, such as signing up for an account and inputting your website URL, there are two methods of finalizing registration.

1. Changing a Name Server

If you decide to change your name server, you will need to change your website's name server to one provided by Cloudbric instead of using the one originally provided by your web hosting provider. The reason you need to do this is because your website URL is now redirecting to a unique Cloudbric IP address instead of your original web server IP. 

Once the name server correctly identifies your website as redirecting to Cloudbric IP, Cloudbric will act as a shield to block and filter out any malicious traffic that comes to your website.

In order to change your name server to the one provided by Cloudbric, you can change them at your web hosting provider's console where you originally purchased domain.

2. Changing an A Record/CNAME

• As a background, a DNS zone file is a reference for name servers to correlate URLs with web server IP addresses. A records/CNAMEs are stored in these DNS zone files. 
• A records/CNAMEs are simply the records that name servers use to match a domain URL, CNAME, and a web server IP address, A record. If you decide to use Cloudbric's protection by changing your A records, you can keep your name server as the original name server provided by your web hosting provider. However, you must manually change the physical A record/CNAME in your hosting provider's console to redirect to the Cloudbric's IP address. Once you have changed your A record/CNAME, you will have fully registered your website for free Cloudbric website protection.

Pros and Cons

* Note: For those who plan to alter their subdomains and servers, please reach out to Cloudbric support center at https://cloudbric.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/requests/new.

• Changing Your A Records/CNAME:

Pros

1) No need to manually input complicated DNS zone file records

• The records listed in a DNS Zone file can be rather complex and inundating to work with. If you have many subdomains, we highly recommend you proceed with the changing A records/CNAME method.

2) Convenient registration in the event of registering only subdomains or name servers that can not be altered

• In instances where you cannot change your name server such as when working with a University, Tumblr, or Wix name server.

Cons

1) You cannot see DNS records and security settings on one page

• The cons to changing A records/CNAMEs can be you cannot see your DNS records and security settings on one convenient page. Your web hosting console will store your DNS records and your security settings will separately be stored on Cloudbric's website.

• Changing Your Name Server:

Pros

1) You can see DNS records and security settings on one page

• It enables you to see both DNS and security settings on your Cloudbric dashboard. 

Cons

1) Need to manually input complicated DNS zone file records

• If you have multiple sub-domains, it can be a long and tedious process to update the DNS settings for each sub-domain

2) Cannot use this method if your domain lives on a web server in which you cannot change your name server

• Some web hosting sites do not allow you to change your name server (university websites, Tumblr, Wix, etc)
• Regardless of the method you choose, once you change name server or A record/CNAME, Cloudbric will filter out malicious web traffic and allow all your good traffic to your website.