---
title: Use mTLS with Cloudflare protected resources · Cloudflare Learning Paths
description: In this implementation guide we will be focusing on the L7 /
  Application Layer security for HTTP/S requests targeting proxied hostnames,
  including the first connection between client and Cloudflare.
lastUpdated: 2025-07-21T16:17:45.000Z
chatbotDeprioritize: false
source_url:
  html: https://developers.cloudflare.com/learning-paths/mtls/concepts/mtls-cloudflare/
  md: https://developers.cloudflare.com/learning-paths/mtls/concepts/mtls-cloudflare/index.md
---

In this implementation guide we will be focusing on the L7 / Application Layer security for HTTP/S requests targeting [proxied](https://developers.cloudflare.com/dns/proxy-status/) hostnames, including the [first connection](https://developers.cloudflare.com/ssl/origin-configuration/ssl-modes/) between client and Cloudflare.

Some common mTLS use cases are:

* Protect and verify legitimate API traffic by verifying Client Certificates provided during TLS/SSL handshakes.
* Check IoT devices' identity by verifying Client Certificates they provide during TLS/SSL handshakes.

There are two main ways to use mTLS at Cloudflare, either by using the Application Security offering (optionally including [API Shield](https://developers.cloudflare.com/api-shield/)) or [Cloudflare Access](https://developers.cloudflare.com/cloudflare-one/policies/access/). Below is a non-exhaustive overview table of their differences:

| Feature | Application Security (Client Certificate + WAF) | Cloudflare Access (mTLS) |
| - | - | - |
| Mainly used for | External Authentication (that is, APIs) | Internal Authentication (that is, employees) |
| Availability | By default, 100 Client Certificates per Zone are included for free. For more certificates or [API Shield features](https://developers.cloudflare.com/api-shield/), contact your account team. | Zero Trust Enterprise only feature. |
| [Certificate Authority (CA)](https://developers.cloudflare.com/ssl/concepts/#certificate-authority-ca) | Cloudflare-managed or customer-uploaded (BYO CA). There's a soft-limit of up to [five customer-uploaded CAs](https://developers.cloudflare.com/ssl/client-certificates/byo-ca/#availability). | Customer-uploaded only (BYO CA). There's a soft-limit of up to [50 CAs](https://developers.cloudflare.com/cloudflare-one/account-limits/#access). |
| Client Certificate Details | Forwarded to the origin server via [Cloudflare API](https://developers.cloudflare.com/ssl/client-certificates/forward-a-client-certificate/#cloudflare-api), [Cloudflare Workers](https://developers.cloudflare.com/ssl/client-certificates/forward-a-client-certificate/#cloudflare-workers), and [Managed Transforms](https://developers.cloudflare.com/ssl/client-certificates/forward-a-client-certificate/#managed-transforms). | Forwarded to the origin server via [Cloudflare API](https://developers.cloudflare.com/cloudflare-one/identity/devices/access-integrations/mutual-tls-authentication/#cloudflare-api), [Cloudflare Workers](https://developers.cloudflare.com/cloudflare-one/identity/devices/access-integrations/mutual-tls-authentication/#cloudflare-workers), and [Managed Transforms](https://developers.cloudflare.com/cloudflare-one/identity/devices/access-integrations/mutual-tls-authentication/#managed-transforms). Client Certificate headers and [Cf-Access-Jwt-Assertion](https://developers.cloudflare.com/cloudflare-one/identity/authorization-cookie/validating-json/) JWT header can be forwarded to the origin server. |
| Client Certificates Revocation | Use the WAF [Custom Rules](https://developers.cloudflare.com/waf/custom-rules/) to check for [*cf.tls\_client\_auth.cert\_revoked*](https://developers.cloudflare.com/ssl/client-certificates/revoke-client-certificate/), which only applies to Cloudflare-managed CA. For BYO CAs, it would be the same approach as with Cloudflare Access. | Generate a [Certificate Revocation List (CRL)](https://developers.cloudflare.com/cloudflare-one/identity/devices/access-integrations/mutual-tls-authentication/#create-a-crl) and enforce the revocation in a Cloudflare Worker. |
