Installing an SSL certificate is an essential step in securing your website and enabling encrypted communication with your visitors.
A Third-party SSL certificate is one that is not purchased from N6 Cloud. N6 Cloud has an automated option for most certificates but if you are using a third party, please follow the steps below.
Step 1-Obtain the SSL Certificate:
You need to acquire an SLL certificate from a trusted Certificate Authority (CA). This involves generating a Certificate Signing Request (CSR) and submitting it to the CA. The CA will then verify your domain ownership and issue the SSL certificate.
Click Here to Order an SSL Certificate with N6 Cloud!
Step 2-Prepare the Server Before Installation: This involves checking that the server software, such as Apache or Nginx, is correctly configured to support SSL. Additionally, ensure that you have access to the server's control panel or command line interface.
Learn How to choose an SSL Certificate!
Step 3-Install the SSL Certificate:
The process of installing the SSL certificate varies depending on your server software. However, the general steps involve the following:
- Access the server control panel or command line interface.
- Locate the SSL/TLS configuration settings.
- Upload the SSL certificate files provided by the CA. These files typically include the certificate itself, the CA bundle, and the private key.
- Update the server configuration to reference the SSL certificate files.
- Restart the server to apply the changes.
Learn How to use .htaccess to Force SSL on your Website!
Step 4-Verify SSL Installation:
After installing the SSL certificate, it's crucial to verify its installation to ensure that everything is functioning correctly. You can use online SSL checker tools or browser-based tools to validate the certificate installation. These tools will verify the certificate chain, expiration date, and overall SSL configuration.
Step 5-Configure Redirects:
To ensure that visitors always access your website securely, configure redirects from HTTP to HTTPS. This will automatically redirect any incoming HTTP requests to the HTTPS version of your site.
Step 6-Test and Monitor:
Once your SSL certificate is installed and redirects are set up, thoroughly test your website to ensure that all pages load securely over HTTPS. Check for any mixed content warnings or issues with resources not loading over HTTPS. Regularly monitor your SSL certificate expiration dates and renew them before they expire to maintain uninterrupted secure communication.
If you have any questions or need assistance, we are here 24/7 to help! You can submit a ticket, chat live with us, or give us a call at 1-604-265-0333 or 1-866-886-NSIX (Toll-Free).
Visit our support page, N6 cloud hosting knowledgebase: N6 Cloud!