It is common that Error Code 525 or ‘SSL Handshake Failed’ occur when a secure connection between the web server and Cloudflare, which is a CDN, can’t be created. This error wall OFFs users from accessing your site and causes interferences to overall user experience. Fortunately, at least for the time being, users can avoid getting Error Code 525 by taking certain measures. Below are five significant ways that can help prevent occurrence of this error in future.

1. Make Validity of SSL/TLS Certificates probable
One of the leading reasons why Error 525 is experienced is as a result of an invalid and expired SSL/TLS certificate of your origin server. Look to confirm whether or not your certificates are current and still recognize by the respective organizations. Finally, ensure your SSL certificates are lodged right and are relevant to the domain you are protecting. This way, there will be an option of an automatic renewal system for the certificate before the expiry date is noticed. To be able to cripple access to your site one has to possess valid certificates which are very important in ensuring the protection of your site.

2. Make SSL Settings of Cloudflare Equal to Those of Your Server
Cloudflare offers different types of SSL settings, these include Flexible, Full and Full (Strict). Something as simple as a misconfiguration of your server’s SSL and the SSL option that is chosen on Cloudflare can lead to Error 525. The recommended level should be set extremely high in the Cloudflare – Full (Strict) option, which will only open if there is a correct SSL certificate with zero vulnerabilities on both the server and at Cloudflare. This will ensure your server is communicating securely, and in behind in sync with Cloud flare’s requirement.

3. SSL/TLS check Server Configuration
For compatibility reasons with Cloudflare your server configuration must support the latest SSL/TLS protocols. ween your web server and Cloudflare, a popular content delivery network (CDN). This error prevents users from accessing your site and disrupts user experience. Luckily, there are ways how to protect yourself from getting Error Code 525 by following a few relatively simple measures. The following are five central steps that can help to prevent this error in future:

4. check the SSL settings used by Cloudflare with those used at the server level
Cloudflare offers certain levels of SSL namely Flexible SSL, Full SSL and Full SSL (Strict). A mismatch between your server’s SSL configuration and the SSL setting selected in Cloudflare can trigger Error 525. For optimal security, choose the “Full (Strict)” setting in Cloudflare, which requires a valid SSL certificate on both the server and Cloudflare. This will ensure your server is communicating securely and in sync with Cloud flare’s requirements.

Final Thoughts:
Error Code 525 is major issue that hampers the site’s availability and the user experience, however, following these preventive measures, will help avoid such issue in the future. It will maintain a secure and unbroken connection by following up the validity of the acquired SSL/TLS, synchronizing SSL settings, updating server, firewall rules, and optimizing server performance. Through these measures you make your website safer for your users and their browsing is less likely to be interrupted by errors which you fixed beforehand.