Netlify SSL Fails Despite DNS

A Netlify user reports their SSL certificate is not working, even though their DNS settings have propagated correctly across the globe.

A user on Netlify's community forum reported an issue where their website was flagged as "not secure" because its SSL certificate failed to activate. The developer confirmed that their DNS settings were configured correctly and had fully propagated worldwide, a key step for certificate issuance. Despite the successful DNS update, the automated SSL provisioning process on the platform did not complete as expected. This created a situation where the site was technically live and reachable but lacked the essential HTTPS encryption, preventing secure connections for visitors. The problem highlights a potential point of failure in automated deployment pipelines.

This issue is relevant for any team using managed hosting platforms that offer automated SSL. A missing SSL certificate directly impacts user trust, as modern browsers display prominent security warnings on non-HTTPS sites. This can lead to increased bounce rates and damage a brand's credibility. For developers and IT teams, it can be a frustrating problem to diagnose because the root cause often lies within the hosting provider's infrastructure, not their own code or configuration. It forces teams to engage with support channels to resolve an issue that is typically expected to be fully automated, causing potential delays.

While automated SSL services like Let's Encrypt have streamlined web security, they are not infallible. Failures can stem from subtle DNS issues, Certificate Authority Authorization (CAA) records, or internal platform glitches. When troubleshooting, after verifying DNS propagation, the next step is often to check the platform's status page and contact support to manually refresh the certificate. This incident serves as a reminder for businesses to monitor SSL certificate status proactively and not assume automated processes will always work perfectly.

The incident highlights a common failure point in automated SSL provisioning on managed hosting platforms. Even with correct DNS configuration, certificates can fail to issue, impacting site security, user trust, and requiring manual intervention from developers.

A non-secure website can lead to lost customers, damaged brand reputation, and lower search engine rankings. This type of infrastructure issue, while seemingly small, can cause significant business disruption and requires developer time to resolve, diverting resources from other tasks.