How to Order a Free SSL Certificate

Securing your website with an SSL certificate is essential for protecting user data and enhancing trust. Many hosting providers and services offer free SSL certificates, making it easy for website owners to enable HTTPS. This guide will walk you through the steps to order and install a free SSL certificate using Let’s Encrypt, a popular option for free SSL.

1. Understanding SSL Certificates

An SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate encrypts data transmitted between the user’s browser and your web server, ensuring privacy and security. Having an SSL certificate not only protects user data but also improves your website’s SEO ranking, as search engines prefer secure sites.

2. Choosing Let’s Encrypt for Free SSL

Let’s Encrypt is a widely used certificate authority that provides free SSL certificates. It is automated and designed to make the process of obtaining and installing SSL easy. Many web hosting providers offer built-in support for Let’s Encrypt.

3. Checking Hosting Support

Before ordering an SSL certificate, check if your hosting provider supports Let’s Encrypt or offers free SSL certificates. Most modern hosting services include this feature.

1. Log into Your Hosting Control Panel: Access your account on your hosting provider’s website.
2. Look for SSL/TLS Section: Navigate to the SSL/TLS settings or security features to see if Let’s Encrypt is available.

4. Ordering a Free SSL Certificate via Let’s Encrypt

Method 1: Using Hosting Control Panel

If your hosting provider supports Let’s Encrypt, you can usually order the certificate directly from the control panel:

1. Find SSL/TLS Settings: Look for the option to manage SSL certificates.
2. Select Let’s Encrypt: Click on the option to create or issue a new certificate using Let’s Encrypt.
3. Choose Your Domain: Select the domain for which you want to secure the SSL certificate.
4. Follow the Prompts: Complete the prompts to finalize the issuance of your certificate.

Method 2: Using Certbot

If your hosting provider does not offer an automatic way to install Let’s Encrypt, you can use Certbot, a command-line tool that simplifies obtaining and installing SSL certificates.

1. Access Your Server: Log into your server using SSH.
2. Install Certbot: Install Certbot by running the following commands based on your operating system:For Ubuntu:
   sudo apt update sudo apt install certbot

   For CentOS:

   sudo yum install epel-release sudo yum install certbot
3. Obtain and Install the Certificate: Run the following command to obtain an SSL certificate:
   sudo certbot –apache

   or for Nginx:

   sudo certbot –nginx

   Certbot will automatically detect your domain and configure your web server to use the new certificate.

4. Follow the Prompts: Certbot will guide you through the setup process. You may need to provide your email address for renewal notifications and agree to the terms of service.

5. Configuring Auto-Renewal

Let’s Encrypt certificates are valid for 90 days. To ensure your SSL certificate remains valid, set up automatic renewal:

1. Test Renewal: Run the following command to simulate a renewal process:
   sudo certbot renew –dry-run
2. Cron Job for Renewal: Certbot should automatically set up a cron job, but you can verify it by running:
   sudo crontab -e

   Ensure you have an entry similar to this to renew the certificates daily:

   0 0 * * * /usr/bin/certbot renew >> /var/log/certbot.log

6. Verifying Your SSL Certificate

After installation, verify that your SSL certificate is working correctly:

1. Visit Your Website: Open your web browser and navigate to your domain using https://.
2. Check for the Padlock Icon: Ensure that the padlock icon appears in the address bar, indicating that the connection is secure.
3. Use SSL Checker Tools: You can use online tools like SSL Labs to analyze your SSL configuration.

7. Conclusion

Ordering and installing a free SSL certificate using Let’s Encrypt is a straightforward process that enhances the security of your website. By following this guide, you can ensure that your website is protected and compliant with modern security standards, providing peace of mind to you and your users.