Records nobody else backs up.
WHY THIS MATTERS
No hosting backup includes DNS records held at Cloudflare.
If you lose access to the Cloudflare account, or a zone is deleted, the records are gone and must be reconstructed from memory.
HOW TO EXPORT
Cloudflare DNS panel offers an export, producing a zone file.
Download it and store it with your site documentation.
HOW OFTEN
After any change, and at least annually.
The records change rarely, so this is not a burden.
WHAT THE FILE CONTAINS
Every record with its type, name, value and TTL.
It can be imported into Cloudflare or another provider to recreate the zone.
WHAT IT DOES NOT CONTAIN
Proxy states, page rules, firewall rules or any other Cloudflare configuration.
Note those separately if you have configured anything significant.
WHERE TO KEEP IT
Not on the hosting account. With your recovery documentation, in storage you control.
THE SCENARIO IT COVERS
Losing the Cloudflare account, a zone deleted in error, or moving DNS elsewhere in a hurry.
