In today’s digital age, online security is of utmost importance. One way to ensure that your website is secure is by adding an SSL certificate to it. SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer, and it encrypts data transmitted between a website and its visitors. This ensures that the information exchanged between them is secure and protected against unauthorized access. In this blog post, we will discuss how to add an SSL certificate in cPanel.
Step 1: Purchase an SSL Certificate
Before you can add the certificate to your website, you need to purchase one. You can do this from a trusted SSL provider like Let’s Encrypt, Comodo, or DigiCert. Most providers offer different types of SSL certificates, such as single domain, wildcard, and multi-domain. Choose the one that best suits your needs.
Step 2: Generate a CSR
Once you have purchased the certificate, the next step is to generate a Certificate Signing Request (CSR). A CSR is a piece of code that contains information about your website and your certificate. To generate a CSR, follow these steps:
- Login to your cPanel account.
- Click on SSL/TLS Manager under the Security section.
- Click on Generate, view, or delete SSL certificate signing requests under the Certificate Signing Requests (CSR) section.
- Fill in the required fields, including the domain name, city, state, and country. Click Generate when you’re done.
Step 3: Install the SSL Certificate
Once you have generated a CSR, the certificate provider will send you the SSL certificate. To install the certificate in cPanel, follow these steps:
- Login to your cPanel account.
- Click on SSL/TLS Manager under the Security section.
- Click on Manage SSL sites under the Install and Manage SSL for your site (HTTPS) section.
- Scroll down to the Install an SSL Website section.
- Select the domain name you want to install the SSL certificate for.
- Copy and paste the SSL certificate code into the corresponding box.
If you have an intermediate certificate, copy and paste it into the corresponding box. Click on Install Certificate when you’re done.
Step 4: Verify the SSL Certificate
After you have installed the certificate, you need to verify it to ensure that it’s working correctly. To do this, follow these steps:
- Go to your website and check if there is a padlock icon in the address bar.
- Click on the padlock icon and verify that the SSL certificate is valid.
- Check if the website address starts with https:// instead of http://.
In conclusion, adding an encryption certificate to your website is crucial for securing your online presence. With cPanel, the process is straightforward and can be completed in just a few steps. By following the steps outlined in this blog post, you can add an SSL certificate to your website and ensure that your visitors’ data is protected.
