Infrastructure

· 9 checks — DNS, redirects, IPv6, crawlability, URL variants, and domain intelligence rolled into one auditable list.

SCORE

GRADE

FIX

REVIEW

PASS

INFO

Probed from Madrid, Spain

301 Moved Permanently

Checks

5 PASS 3 REVIEW 1 FIX

CDN & Delivery

Action

No CDN detected

FIX

No CDN detected

A CDN can significantly improve load times for users around the world by caching content at edge nodes closer to them.

No CDN detected

Consider using a CDN to improve global delivery speed and reduce origin load.

Redirect Chain

2 redirect(s), 274 ms total

REVIEW

2 redirect(s), 274 ms total

2 redirects before reaching final URL

Each redirect adds latency. Try to minimize the chain to 1 hop.

HTTP to HTTPS redirect present

WWW normalization redirect

2-hop chain could be reduced to 1 hop

Redirect directly from https://reading.ac.uk to https://www.reading.ac.uk/

https://reading.ac.uk

87 ms · HTTP/1.1

301

http://www.reading.ac.uk/

92 ms · HTTP/1.1

301

https://www.reading.ac.uk/

94 ms · HTTP/1.1 FINAL

#	URL	Status	Time	Protocol	Server
1	https://reading.ac.uk	301	87 ms	HTTP/1.1	Apache/2.4.52 (Ubuntu)
2	http://www.reading.ac.uk/	301	92 ms	HTTP/1.1
3	https://www.reading.ac.uk/	200	94 ms	HTTP/1.1	Apache/2.4.52 (Ubuntu)

See the visual redirect chain in the HTTP Probe tab →

Each redirect adds latency. Try to minimize the chain to 1 hop.

Why this matters

Redirect chain — each hop adds latency; combine into one redirect where possible.

Source: Google Search Central / web.dev

Redirect directly from https://reading.ac.uk to https://www.reading.ac.uk/

Why this matters

Redirect chain could be flattened to one hop — server config tweak removes intermediate latency.

Source: web.dev

URL Variants

www/non-www, trailing slash, HTTP→HTTPS

REVIEW

www/non-www, trailing slash, HTTP→HTTPS

Both www and non-www versions serve content

Got: Both variants return 200 Expected: One variant 301-redirects to the other

HTTP correctly 301-redirects to HTTPS

www / non-www

200https://www.reading.ac.uk/

200https://reading.ac.uk/

Inconsistent — duplicate content risk

HTTP → HTTPS

301http://reading.ac.uk/ → https://www.reading.ac.uk/

Consistent

TLS Certificate Expiry & Recommendations

170 days until leaf cert expires — 3 issues to address

REVIEW

Certificate validity

170

days left

0d 30d 60d 90d+

Recommended actions

Extend HSTS max-age to at least 31536000 (1 year) to meet the preload list criteria
Enable DNSSEC on your domain for DNS spoofing protection
Enable OCSP stapling on your TLS server to remove a CA roundtrip and protect user privacy

A+

DNS Records

1 A records, 31 ms lookup

PASS

1 A records, 31 ms lookup

Resolves to 1 IPv4 address(es)

Got: 134.225.0.151

Single A record — no DNS redundancy

Multiple A records provide failover if one server goes down.

Has 1 IPv6 (AAAA) record(s)

Got: 2001:630:53:101::97

3 nameserver(s) configured

Got: ns11.ja.net, ns12.ja.net, ns10.ja.net

1 mail exchanger(s) configured

CAA records not checked

CAA record lookup requires a specialized DNS resolver. This check will be available in a future update.

SPF record present in TXT

DNS resolution time: 31 ms

Got: 31 ms

A	134.225.0.151
AAAA	2001:630:53:101::97
CNAME	—
NS	ns11.ja.net, ns12.ja.net, ns10.ja.net
MX	0 reading-ac-uk.mail.protection.outlook.com
TXT	apple-domain-verification=1q2cnGiadrQK2A37 d365mktkey=bU2nerBr3W41RPO1U3YOFb28PxDTk8XxSxrJ3sdaxgwx d365mktkey=U4FmoDPKGXY5qa6l7WGyBR3H8FTLv3JJEMvGwgoi6xcx access-domain-verification=b4242066c61600ecbfbb166b858345e1010015b70a04983542bf1... The University of Reading, UK google-site-verification=3JMvmLGosu8p6wGE_Hck2eRX6dQtLl-YqJ4rzLJgqDM docusign=39157132-e638-4f94-b722-ad4f16c36ef7 SPF v=spf1 include:_spf-trusted.reading.ac.uk include:_spf-delegated-flat-1.reading.... vn9t44pxmhvcsd24173smmhf91xh1nlt D2DDF3B3-D274-46A9-82AA-07600178AD1D kzvv36tclzcn70sstqm58yq6xfj8n16c atlassian-domain-verification=liruBIUda+VuH8QTeUsmM8EbEZ/md/p0+I6/wXtnkMPLAueUUf... hdaHBY6PuAK4iAi/DjxMsNtXVsG6bPUWwaP+RlIZsVmsWquoosM0zaMlLjEcKztTLlLAKBVGaI9jSAvl...
CAA	Lookup not available with standard resolver

Resolved in 31 ms

Multiple A records provide failover if one server goes down.

Why this matters

Single A record means a single point of failure — if that IP goes down, your site is unreachable until DNS TTL expires.

Learn more ▾

Add multiple A records for round-robin failover, or use a managed DNS provider with health-checked failover (Route 53, Cloudflare, NS1). Short TTL (60-300s) lets clients recover faster on outages.

Source: SRE practice / DNS architecture

CAA record lookup requires a specialized DNS resolver. This check will be available in a future update.

Why this matters

Informational: CAA (Certification Authority Authorization) records weren't checked in this scan.

A+

IPv6 Readiness

IPv6 reachable (28 ms)

PASS

IPv6 reachable (28 ms)

IPv6 is configured and reachable at 2001:630:53:101::97

Got: 28 ms connect

IPv6 Ready

AAAA Records 2001:630:53:101::97 Connection Reachable (28 ms)

A+

Crawlability

robots.txt present, sitemap with 52 URLs

PASS

robots.txt present, sitemap with 52 URLs

robots.txt is present

Got: 7511 bytes

sitemap.xml is present

sitemap.xml is valid XML

sitemap.xml contains 52 entries

robots.txt references sitemap

robots.txt 200 OK

Size 7511 B Sitemaps referenced 109 User-agents * Blocking No — crawling allowed

 
# Ignore FrontPage files
User-agent: *
Disallow: /_borders
Disallow: /_derived
Disallow: /_fpclass
Disallow: /_overlay
Disallow: /_private
Disallow: /_themes
Disallow: /_vti_bin
Disallow: /_vti_cnf
Disallow: /_vti_log
Disallow: /_vti_map
Disallow: /_vti_pvt
Disallow: /_vti_txt
Disallow: /Adlib
# Dissallow list
Disallow: http://www.rdg.ac.uk/WebStats
Disallow: http://www.reading.ac.uk/WebStats
Disallow: /UnivRead/vr/dotl/bb_publish/
#see ticket 305095 regarding exclusions below
Disallow: /AcaDepts/lk/
Disallow: /AcaDepts/lh/
Disallow: /AcaDepts/le/
Disallow: /AcaDepts/cl/
Disallow: /AcaDepts/kl/
Disallow: /AcaDepts/lg/
Disallow: /AcaDepts/lf/
#url below for attention of media agencies only
Disallow: /research/media/res-markgasson-19537.asp
#see ticket 428842
Disallow: /slas/
#see ticket I-1411-5089
Disallow: /search/search-departmental-staff.aspx?id=1185
#I-1608-1790
Disallow: /search/search-staff.aspx
#S&D
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/agri-food-economics-marketing/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/apd/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/animal-sciences/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/art/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/archaeology/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/architecture/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/biomedical-engineering/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/biological-sciences/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/chemistry/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/classics/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cme/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/computer-science/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/crbt/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/crop-science/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/doctoral-researcher-college/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/ecology/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/economics/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/education/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/english-literature/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/elal/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/film-theatre-television/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/food/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/ges/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/global-academy/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/history/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/international-development/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/iwlp/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/languages-cultures/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/law/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/maths-and-stats/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/meteorology/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/pcls/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/pharmacy/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/philosophy/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/politics-international-relations/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/typography/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/sustainable-land-management/sitemap.xml
#Schools
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/acd/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/biological-sciences/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/humanities/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/literature-languages/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/sages/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/sbe/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/scfp/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/smpcs/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/speir/sitemap.xml
#Function
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/admissions/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/ame/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/atoz/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/blackbox/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/business-continuity/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/campus-card/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cetl-aurs/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/chaplaincy/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/charter-reform/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cps/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/digital-technology-services/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/disability/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/diversity/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/escop/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/estates/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/exams/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/finance/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/health-innovation-partnership/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/health-safety-services/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/human-resources/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/imps/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/internal-audit/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/inform/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/ktc/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/legal-services/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/library/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/lrc/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/parent-carers-together/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/planning/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/procurement/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/research-innovation-hub/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/resourcing-information/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/risis/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/global-study-lounge/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/staff-common-room/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/technical-services/sitemap.xml
#StudentJourney
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/essentials/essentials_sitemap
#Campaign
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/planet/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/shinfield-community/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/business-management/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/lgbtq-plus-history-month/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/community-festival/sitemap.xml
#Research
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/afit/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/asset/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/caf/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cluster-for-hellenic-studies/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/east-german-studies-archive/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/fiscal-history/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/food-processing-centre/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/gcms/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/herbarium/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/hsuhn/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/infrared/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/languages-at-war/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/language-text-power/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/ltrk/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/people-and-wildlife/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/quest/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/rsbn/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/soil-research-centre/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/urop/sitemap.xml
Sitemap: https://www.reading.ac.uk/womens-history-month/sitemap.xml

sitemap.xml 200 OK

Type URL Set URLs 52 entries Valid XML Yes

Sample URLs:

A+

Domain Intelligence

reading.ac.uk — via No registrar listed. This domain is directly registered with Nominet.

PASS

reading.ac.uk — via No registrar listed. This domain is directly registered with Nominet.

Registrar: No registrar listed. This domain is directly registered with Nominet.

Registrar lock is NOT enabled

The domain can be transferred without an unlock step. Enable registrar lock (clientTransferProhibited) in your registrar's control panel to protect against unauthorized or accidental transfers.

Domain expiry

Unknown

SSL certificate

170 days

Issued by Sectigo Limited

Domain age

Unknown

DNSSEC

Status unknown

Protects against DNS spoofing

Hosting

Unknown

2001:630:53:101::97

Registrar

No registrar listed. This domain is directly registered with Nominet.

Unlocked 7 NS records

Expiry timeline

Today

+1 year

SSL expiry Danger zone (≤30 days)

Recommended actions

Enable registrar lock (clientTransferProhibited) to block unauthorized domain transfers

Registrar No registrar listed. This domain is directly registered with Nominet.

Name Servers ns0.ja.net, ns2.ja.net, ns3.ja.net, ns4.ja.net, auth03.ns.uu.net, ns1.surfnet.nl, dns-3.dfn.de

Registrant The JNT Association

Hosting

IP Address 2001:630:53:101::97

Data source: whois (0.6s)

The domain can be transferred without an unlock step. Enable registrar lock (clientTransferProhibited) in your registrar's control panel to protect against unauthorized or accidental transfers.

Why this matters

Without registrar lock, an attacker who phishes your registrar credentials can transfer the domain in minutes — total brand hijack.

Learn more ▾

Registrar lock (clientTransferProhibited, clientUpdateProhibited, clientDeleteProhibited) requires extra verification before any transfer/update/delete. Every major registrar offers it free. Combined with 2FA on your registrar account, it's the strongest defense against domain hijacking.

Source: ICANN / domain-security best practice

A+

HTTP Probe Timing

Total 110 ms — DNS, TCP, TLS, TTFB, content transfer breakdown

PASS

DNS Lookup

21 ms

TCP Connect

27 ms

TLS Handshake

35 ms

Time to First Byte

111 ms

Total Time

111 ms

Connection waterfall

DNS Lookup 21 ms TCP Connect 27 ms TLS Handshake 35 ms Server Processing 27 ms Content Transfer 0 ms

All checks on this page are automated. Results are estimates - run targeted manual reviews when the score affects a release decision.