# Ensure Always Online is disabled

- Source: https://support.icompaas.com/support/solutions/articles/a_1790787219842772-ensure-always-online-is-disabled
- Section: [Solutions](https://support.icompaas.com/support/solutions) › [Cloudflare](https://support.icompaas.com/support/solutions/c_1790786902273285) › [Checks](https://support.icompaas.com/support/solutions/folders/f_1790786912003423)
- Last updated: 2026-09-30
- Publisher: iCompaas, Inc. (https://www.icompaas.com)

**Description**

Ensure Always Online is turned off, so that Cloudflare does not serve archived copies of your pages from the Internet Archive when your origin server is unavailable.

**Rationale**

Always Online can show old copies of pages that were saved by the Internet Archive. These pages may contain outdated, incorrect, or sensitive information that you have since removed, and they are served without your application's current controls. Turning it off makes sure only live content is shown.

**Impact**

-   Visitors do not see old archived pages
    
-   Removed or sensitive content is not served from archives
    
-   Visitors see an error page when the origin is down
    

**Default Value**

Always Online may be turned on for some zones.

**Pre-Requisites**

-   Cloudflare account with Administrator or Cache permissions for the zone
    

**Test Plan**

1.  Sign in to the Cloudflare dashboard at [https://dash.cloudflare.com](https://dash.cloudflare.com/).
    
2.  Select your account and the domain (zone) you want to review.
    
3.  Go to Caching > Configuration.
    
4.  Verify that Always Online is turned off.
    
5.  If it is on, follow the implementation steps.
    

**Implementation Steps**

1.  Sign in to the Cloudflare dashboard at [https://dash.cloudflare.com](https://dash.cloudflare.com/).
    
2.  Select your account and the domain (zone) you want to review.
    
3.  Go to Caching > Configuration.
    
4.  Turn off Always Online.
    

**Backout Plan**

1.  Sign in to the Cloudflare dashboard at [https://dash.cloudflare.com](https://dash.cloudflare.com/).
    
2.  Select your account and the domain (zone) you want to review.
    
3.  Go to Caching > Configuration.
    
4.  Turn on Always Online.
    

**Reference**

-   [https://developers.cloudflare.com/cache/how-to/always-online/](https://developers.cloudflare.com/cache/how-to/always-online/)

## Related compliance guidance

- [SOC 2 compliance: a practical implementation guide for cloud-native SaaS teams](https://support.icompaas.com/compliance/soc-2-trust-services-criteria): Configuration checks like this one are the technical half of a SOC 2 / ISO 27001 programme — the guide shows where they fit, what else an auditor expects, and how to evidence them.
- [ISO/IEC 27001:2022 compliance: a practical implementation guide](https://support.icompaas.com/compliance/iso-27001-2022): ISO 27001 Annex A.8 (technological controls) is where cloud hardening evidence lands; the guide shows how to run the ISMS around it.