Custom domains and SSL in Azure - Step-by-Step Execution

Process Flow - Custom domains and SSL

Start: User owns a domain

↓

Add custom domain to Azure service

↓

Verify domain ownership

↓

Configure DNS records

↓

Enable SSL certificate

↓

Azure provisions SSL

↓

Service accessible via HTTPS

↓

Renew SSL automatically or manually

↓

End

This flow shows how a user adds a custom domain to an Azure service, verifies ownership, configures DNS, enables SSL, and accesses the service securely.

Execution Sample

Azure

az webapp config hostname add --webapp-name myapp --resource-group mygroup --hostname www.example.com
az webapp config ssl bind --certificate-thumbprint ABC123 --ssl-type SNI --name myapp --resource-group mygroup

Commands to add a custom domain to an Azure Web App and bind an SSL certificate to enable HTTPS.

Process Table

Step	Action	Input/Command	Result	Next Step
1	Add custom domain	az webapp config hostname add --webapp-name myapp --resource-group mygroup --hostname www.example.com	Domain www.example.com added to myapp	Verify domain ownership
2	Verify domain ownership	Check DNS TXT or CNAME records	Ownership verified	Configure DNS records
3	Configure DNS records	Add CNAME www to Azure app default domain	DNS records updated	Enable SSL certificate
4	Enable SSL certificate	az webapp config ssl bind --certificate-thumbprint ABC123 --ssl-type SNI --name myapp --resource-group mygroup	SSL certificate bound to myapp	Azure provisions SSL
5	Azure provisions SSL	Automatic process	SSL certificate active and HTTPS enabled	Service accessible via HTTPS
6	Access service	Browse https://www.example.com	Secure connection established	Renew SSL automatically or manually
7	Renew SSL	Automatic renewal configured	SSL certificate renewed before expiry	End

💡 SSL certificate is active and service is securely accessible via the custom domain.

Status Tracker

Variable	Start	After Step 1	After Step 2	After Step 3	After Step 4	After Step 5	After Step 6	Final
CustomDomain	None	www.example.com added	Ownership verified	DNS configured	SSL bound	SSL active	HTTPS accessible	SSL renewal configured
SSLStatus	Not enabled	Not enabled	Not enabled	Not enabled	Bound	Active	Active	Renewed automatically

Key Moments - 3 Insights

Why do we need to verify domain ownership before configuring SSL?

Verification ensures you control the domain to prevent misuse. This is shown in step 2 of the execution_table where ownership is confirmed before DNS and SSL setup.

What happens if DNS records are not configured correctly?

The domain won't point to the Azure service, so SSL provisioning and HTTPS access will fail. Step 3 shows DNS configuration is essential before enabling SSL.

Is SSL certificate renewal manual or automatic?

Azure can automatically renew SSL certificates if configured, as shown in step 7. This avoids service interruption due to expired certificates.

Visual Quiz - 3 Questions

Look at the execution_table, at which step is the SSL certificate bound to the Azure service?

A Step 4

B Step 3

C Step 5

D Step 6

💡 Hint

Check the 'Action' and 'Result' columns in step 4 for SSL binding details.

According to variable_tracker, what is the SSLStatus after step 5?

A Not enabled

B Bound

C Active

D Renewed automatically

💡 Hint

Look at the SSLStatus row under 'After Step 5' column.

If domain ownership verification fails at step 2, what happens next?

A DNS records are configured anyway

B Process stops, no DNS or SSL setup

C SSL certificate is bound

D Service becomes accessible via HTTPS

💡 Hint

Refer to the flow in concept_flow and step 2 in execution_table about verification importance.

Concept Snapshot

Custom domains let you use your own website address with Azure services.
You must verify you own the domain by updating DNS records.
Then configure DNS to point to Azure service.
Bind an SSL certificate to enable secure HTTPS access.
Azure can auto-renew SSL certificates to keep your site secure.

Full Transcript

This visual execution shows how to add a custom domain and SSL to an Azure service. First, you add the domain to your Azure app. Then you verify ownership by setting DNS records. After verification, you configure DNS to point your domain to Azure. Next, you bind an SSL certificate to enable HTTPS. Azure provisions the SSL certificate automatically. Finally, your service is accessible securely via your custom domain. SSL certificates can be renewed automatically to avoid downtime.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of adding a custom domain to an Azure web app?

easy

A. To increase the storage capacity of the web app

B. To use your own website name instead of Azure's default URL

C. To enable automatic backups of the web app

D. To improve the speed of the web app

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand what a custom domain is

   A custom domain lets you replace the default Azure URL with your own website name, making it easier for visitors to remember.

2. Step 2: Identify the purpose of using a custom domain

   Using your own domain improves branding and trust, not storage or speed.

3. Final Answer:

   To use your own website name instead of Azure's default URL -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Custom domain = Your own website name [OK]

Hint: Custom domain means your own website name, not Azure's URL [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing custom domain with storage or speed features
• Thinking custom domain automatically improves backups
• Assuming custom domain changes app performance

2. Which Azure CLI command is used to bind an SSL certificate to a web app's custom domain?

easy

A. az webapp domain bind

B. az webapp create ssl

C. az ssl certificate add

D. az webapp config ssl bind

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall Azure CLI commands for SSL binding

   The correct command to bind an SSL certificate to a web app is az webapp config ssl bind.

2. Step 2: Eliminate incorrect commands

   az webapp create ssl and az ssl certificate add are not valid commands. az webapp domain bind binds domains but not SSL certificates.

3. Final Answer:

   az webapp config ssl bind -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   SSL bind command = az webapp config ssl bind [OK]

Hint: SSL bind uses 'az webapp config ssl bind' command [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using 'az webapp domain bind' for SSL binding
• Confusing create and bind commands
• Trying non-existent commands like 'az ssl certificate add'

3. Given this Azure CLI command:
az webapp config ssl bind --certificate-thumbprint abc123 --name myapp --resource-group mygroup --ssl-type SNI
What will this command do?

medium

A. Bind the SSL certificate with thumbprint abc123 to the web app myapp using SNI SSL

B. Create a new SSL certificate with thumbprint abc123 for the web app myapp

C. Remove the SSL certificate from the web app myapp

D. List all SSL certificates for the web app myapp

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze the command parameters

   The command uses az webapp config ssl bind with a certificate thumbprint, web app name, resource group, and SSL type SNI.

2. Step 2: Understand the command effect

   This command binds the existing SSL certificate identified by thumbprint abc123 to the web app myapp using Server Name Indication (SNI) SSL.

3. Final Answer:

   Bind the SSL certificate with thumbprint abc123 to the web app myapp using SNI SSL -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   SSL bind command with thumbprint = Bind SSL cert [OK]

Hint: Binding SSL uses thumbprint and 'az webapp config ssl bind' [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking the command creates or removes certificates
• Confusing listing certificates with binding
• Misunderstanding SNI SSL as removal

4. You tried to bind an SSL certificate to your Azure web app but got an error saying the certificate thumbprint was not found. What is the most likely cause?

medium

A. The SSL type SNI is not supported

B. The web app name is incorrect

C. The SSL certificate was not uploaded to the Azure resource group

D. The custom domain is not verified

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the error about missing certificate thumbprint

   The error means Azure cannot find the SSL certificate with the given thumbprint in the resource group.

2. Step 2: Identify the cause

   This usually happens if the certificate was not uploaded or imported into the Azure resource group before binding.

3. Final Answer:

   The SSL certificate was not uploaded to the Azure resource group -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Missing thumbprint error = Certificate not uploaded [OK]

Hint: Upload SSL cert before binding to avoid thumbprint errors [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming web app name causes thumbprint errors
• Thinking SNI SSL is unsupported
• Ignoring domain verification as cause

5. You want to secure your Azure web app with a custom domain and SSL. Which sequence of steps is correct?

hard

A. Add custom domain to web app, upload SSL certificate, then bind SSL certificate to domain

B. Bind SSL certificate to web app, then add custom domain, then upload SSL certificate

C. Upload SSL certificate, add custom domain, then bind SSL certificate to domain

D. Add custom domain, bind SSL certificate, then upload SSL certificate

Solution

1. Step 1: Add the custom domain to the Azure web app

   You must first add your custom domain to the web app so Azure knows which domain to secure.

2. Step 2: Upload the SSL certificate to Azure

   Next, upload the SSL certificate to the Azure resource group to make it available for binding.

3. Step 3: Bind the SSL certificate to the custom domain

   Finally, bind the uploaded SSL certificate to the custom domain on the web app to enable HTTPS.

4. Final Answer:

   Add custom domain to web app, upload SSL certificate, then bind SSL certificate to domain -> Option A

5. Quick Check:

   Domain add -> cert upload -> cert bind [OK]

Hint: Add domain first, upload cert second, bind cert last [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Trying to bind SSL before uploading certificate
• Binding SSL before adding custom domain
• Uploading certificate after binding