description Cloudflare Access Overview
Cloudflare Access controls access to applications by checking identity and applying access policies before admitting a request. For protected web applications, it can act as an identity-aware proxy, placing authentication in front of the service. DNS helps direct traffic, but Access performs the separate task of deciding whether a user or other permitted requester may proceed. The service suits organizations protecting internal web tools or self-hosted applications while using an existing identity provider.
Its zero-trust approach means access is assessed through explicit rules rather than granted solely because someone is on a trusted network. Correct routing and application setup still matter, including preventing unintended direct access to the origin. Its distinguishing role is centralized application access control, rather than DNS record management.
help Cloudflare Access FAQ
Why is Cloudflare Access listed with DNS if it is not a DNS manager?
Cloudflare Access protects applications that are reached through hostnames, so DNS and proxying are part of the deployment path. The product itself is an identity-aware access layer inside Cloudflare Zero Trust, not a place to edit A or CNAME records.
What login providers can Cloudflare Access sit in front of?
Cloudflare Access can work with identity providers such as Google Workspace, GitHub, Okta, Azure AD, and one-time PIN email flows. That lets a team protect an internal admin panel without building login code into the app.
Can Cloudflare Access protect a self-hosted app without opening it to the public internet?
Yes, teams often pair Access with Cloudflare Tunnel so the origin service does not need a public inbound port. The public hostname still exists, but users must pass Access policy before reaching the app.
How is Cloudflare Access different from a traditional VPN?
A VPN usually puts the user onto a network, while Cloudflare Access grants identity-based access to specific applications. That makes it closer to Google's BeyondCorp zero-trust model than to a broad site-to-site VPN.
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