Definition
Sites and Domains is a Setup page for managing all custom domains and site configurations for the org, including Experience Cloud site URLs, Salesforce Sites, and custom domain mappings. Administrators can configure branded URLs, SSL certificates, and DNS settings for all web properties.
Real-World Example
The admin at Summit Retail opens Sites and Domains to configure a custom domain for their Experience Cloud customer portal. She maps support.summitretail.com to the portal's Salesforce URL, uploads an SSL certificate, and updates the DNS records. Customers now access the portal at a branded, professional URL instead of a generic Salesforce domain.
Why Sites and Domains Matters
Sites and Domains is a centralized Setup page in Salesforce where administrators manage all custom domains, site URLs, and DNS configurations for their org's web properties. It solves the problem of scattered domain management by providing a single view of Experience Cloud portals, Salesforce Sites, and custom domain mappings. Administrators can configure branded URLs, upload SSL certificates, and manage DNS settings so that all external-facing Salesforce pages use professional, company-branded addresses instead of generic Salesforce URLs. This consolidation simplifies what was previously a fragmented set of configuration screens.
As organizations deploy multiple external-facing properties like a customer portal, partner community, and public marketing site, domain management becomes increasingly complex. Sites and Domains provides the governance layer that prevents conflicts between different site URLs and ensures consistent SSL certificate management. Without centralized domain management, organizations risk expired SSL certificates that display security warnings to visitors, broken DNS mappings after Salesforce updates, and inconsistent branding across web properties. A well-managed Sites and Domains configuration is essential for maintaining professional credibility and customer trust in all external-facing Salesforce pages.
How Organizations Use Sites and Domains
- Summit Retail Group — Summit Retail Group uses Sites and Domains to map support.summitretail.com to their Experience Cloud customer portal and shop.summitretail.com to their commerce site. A single administrator manages both domain configurations, SSL certificates, and DNS records from one Setup page, ensuring both properties maintain valid HTTPS encryption.
- NorthStar Insurance — NorthStar Insurance configures Sites and Domains to manage three portals: agents.northstarins.com for their agent community, claims.northstarins.com for policyholder claims filing, and careers.northstarins.com for their job application site. Centralized management ensures all three domains renew SSL certificates on the same schedule.
- Sapphire University — Sapphire University uses Sites and Domains to configure alumni.sapphireu.edu for their alumni community, giving.sapphireu.edu for their donation portal, and admissions.sapphireu.edu for prospective students. The IT team uses the centralized view to quickly identify which Salesforce site each subdomain points to when troubleshooting access issues.