Knowledge Base
How to Complete Domain Control Validation (DCV) in SCM Pro
Overview
By the end of this guide, you will have completed Domain Control Validation (DCV) for a domain in your Sectigo Certificate Manager (SCM) Pro account, confirming you control the domain so that certificates can be issued for it. DCV must be completed after a domain is added and before any certificate request. This guide covers the prerequisites, the steps to start validation, and how to complete each validation method — email, Domain Name System (DNS) using a Canonical Name (CNAME) record, and HTTP/HTTPS file validation — and explains how validation works for wildcard domains.
Prerequisite
Before you begin, make sure you have:
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Access to your Sectigo Certificate Manager (SCM) Pro account
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The domain already added under Manage Domains
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The ability to complete at least one validation method (email, DNS (CNAME), or HTTP/HTTPS file validation)
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For wildcard domains, the base domain validated first
Steps to start validation
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Log in to your SCM Pro account.
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Go to Manage Domains.
Figure 1. SCM Pro dashboard – Manage Domains page
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Locate the domain you want to validate and click Manage.In the Actions section, click Start Validation.
Figure 2. Start Validation option under Actions
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Choose your preferred validation method: email, CNAME (DNS), or HTTP/HTTPS.
Figure 3. Select validation method screen
Complete your chosen validation method
Follow the subsection that matches the method you selected.
Email validation
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Select an approved email address (for example, admin@ or webmaster@).
Figure 4. Email validation – select approved email
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Open the validation email you receive.
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Click the approval link to complete validation.
Figure 5. Email validation confirmation screen
DNS (CNAME) validation
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Copy the provided Canonical Name (CNAME) record.
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Add it to your Domain Name System (DNS) provider.
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Wait for DNS propagation.
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Return to SCM Pro for automatic verification.
Figure 6 and 7. DNS CNAME validation – record details
Figure 8. DNS validation success screen
HTTP/HTTPS file validation
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Download the validation file.
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Upload it to the specified directory on your web server.
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Ensure the file is publicly accessible.
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Allow SCM Pro to verify the file.
Figure 9 and 10. HTTP validation – file download and URL Figure 11. HTTP validation file upload example
Verify validation status
After completing a method, confirm the domain status shows Validated in SCM Pro.
Wildcard domains
Wildcard domains (for example, *.example.com) cannot be validated directly. To validate one:
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Validate the base domain first (for example, example.com).
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Add the wildcard domain.
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The wildcard domain automatically inherits the base domain's validation.
Need assistance?
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