The custom access URL feature allows customers to use a different URL (for branding purposes) to access the web interface and other Egnyte apps instead of the default Egnyte URL. For example, users can use the URL fileshare.acme.com instead of acme.egnyte.com. The new website address will be displayed while accessing the Web UI, and all the Egnyte Share Links. In addition, Egnyte provides a self-service management feature to utilize custom access URLs, allowing domain admins to upload their own SSL certificates directly from the Web UI.
Apart from the initial configuration of the custom access URL, administrators can handle certificate renewals themselves by downloading the CSR file to purchase a certificate and then uploading the complete certificate chain once it has been issued. This ensures secure, uninterrupted access for users and external collaborators, while giving organizations more control over their domain configuration.
Use Cases
- The company has rebranded and wants the Egnyte URL to reflect the new name.
- URL needs to follow a standard naming convention used across company systems.
- Simpler, branded URL preferred for easier access by employees and partners.
- Internal systems or workflows require a specific domain format for integration.
- Consistent domain branding needed across external-facing tools and resources.
Custom Branding is available by default for all of our Platform plans.
Self-Service For Custom Access URL (Limited Availability)
Download CSR and Generate SSL certificates
Custom Help & FAQ URL
Redirect Sign Out
Self-Service For Custom Access URL (Limited Availability)
The Self Service mode is currently available to a limited number of customers (excluding Trial accounts). Please contact Egnyte Support team to enable this feature.
Enabling Custom Access URLs
- Navigate to Settings -> Branding.
- Click on the Custom URL tab and enable the Custom access URL toggle.
- Enter the basic details, such as domain, country code, state, city, and organization. Users can also enter the optional fields as email and organizational unit. Click Next.
- Read through the instructions on uploading SSL certifications and domain configuration. Click Save.
Configuration Process
Once the user enables the Custom access URL, they will be required to download the CSR and purchase the certificate, following which they can upload the SSL certificate and configure the domain to complete the setup.
- If the data has already been used to generate the CSR file for issuing the SSL certificate, any changes made afterward will not apply to the existing certificate. In that case, new SSL certificates will be required.
- Once the certificates are uploaded, the access URL will become read-only and cannot be changed from the UI. Contact Egnyte support to change the access URL in this case.
Download CSR and Generate SSL certificates
- Download the CSR file by clicking on the Download CSR button.
- Contact a domain hosting service provider to purchase a SSL certificate using the downloaded CSR file. The domain service provider will provide CRT files for the custom domain name (e.g. fileshare.acme.com.crt).
Egnyte certifies GoDaddy or Digicert and does not guarantee successful implementation from other certificate providers. Please use Apache as the server type when purchasing the SSL certificate.
Upload SSL Certificate
- Click on the Add Certificates button to proceed with uploading the certificates.
- Upload the SSL certificate and SSL Intermediate Certificate Chain by clicking on the button for the respective certificates. Select the file from the system to upload.
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SSL Certificate (.crt file/content): This is the primary certificate for the custom Egnyte URL (for example, files.yourcompany.com). It uniquely identifies the domain and enables secure HTTPS connections.
The certificate content is a single block of text that begins with -----BEGIN CERTIFICATE----- and ends with -----END CERTIFICATE-----. Egnyte uses this certificate to establish a secure connection between users and the platform. -
SSL Intermediate Certificate: This file contains an intermediate SSL certificate, which is issued by a certificate authority (CA). This certificate acts as a bridge between the root certificate and the end-entity SSL certificate. This certificate plays a crucial role in establishing a chain of trust, ensuring that browsers and systems recognise the SSL certificate as valid. When setting up SSL certificates, it is usually necessary to extract the intermediate certificate from the CA-provided file.
This is typically the second section, beginning with -----BEGIN CERTIFICATE----- and ending with -----END CERTIFICATE-----. This ensures proper authentication and avoids trust issues when users visit the site.
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SSL Certificate (.crt file/content): This is the primary certificate for the custom Egnyte URL (for example, files.yourcompany.com). It uniquely identifies the domain and enables secure HTTPS connections.
- Users can click on the edit icon to select a different file or cancel icon to remove the uploaded file. Click on Save after uploading the desired certificates.
Verification of the uploaded certificates occurs immediately and errors, if any, are returned. However, it can take up to 1 hour for the status to change to Valid. This signifies that the certificates have been installed for the domain.
- Once the valid certificates are uploaded, there will be a green icon displayed corresponding to each certificate. In case of an invalid upload, the user will be notified of the error.
- The status will change to In Progress and then to Valid on the Custom URL screen.
SSL certificates can be edited only until valid certificates are uploaded and successfully validated. Once validation is complete, any further changes require assistance from the Support team.
Domain Configuration
A CNAME record is provided as a suggested configuration for setting up the custom domain. This is typically used when the customer doesn’t have a custom DNS setup in place. The CNAME points the custom URL (e.g., files.company.com) to Egnyte’s servers. Customers can copy this record and add it to their DNS settings through their domain provider to complete the setup.
If there is configuration available under the DNS settings, the customer can use that value for the CNAME record.
Once the CNAME has been set up correctly, the status for domain configuration will change to Configured Correctly.
For configured correctly status, there can be a wait time of up to 48 hours (this is the maximum amount of time that most domain providers mention when customers make changes to their DNS records). In practice, however, it usually takes approximately 2–4 hours.
Once the SSL certificates are validated and the domain configuration is complete, the respective statuses will appear as shown below.
Renewing the Certificates
Users can renew their certificates if the certificates are expiring soon or have expired. Click on the Add certificates button and upload SSL certificates.
Only applicable to domains having configured the Customer Access URL using the Self Serve feature. Customers without the self-serve feature should reach out to the Support team to update the certificate.
The users will not be able to add new certificates unless renewal is due.
If SSO is configured, certain elements of the SSO configuration might need to be changed, such as Identifier URL, Reply URL and Sign On URL (for example, in this Azure AD SSO article). For further assistance contact the Egnyte support team.
Custom Help & FAQ URL
For resellers or companies who prefer to have their own IT department handle employee support, the Help & FAQ URL link can be customized to direct to custom links instead of the Egnyte Helpdesk by default.
- Navigate to Settings -> Branding -> General Branding. Enter the URL in Help & FAQ URL.
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Click on Save Changes.
The settings will be updated.
Redirect Sign Out
After employees and clients sign out of their Egnyte account, they can be redirected back to their company website, blog, or any other page that the customer may wish to feature.
Unlike other branding features, this option is not located in the Branding section.
- Navigate to the Security & Authentication tab of the Configuration settings.
- Click on Restore default to restore the redirect sign out to the default URL. Enter the new URL, if required, and save the changes.