How to Install an SSL Certificate In cPanel?
In today’s digital landscape, ensuring the security of your website is crucial. One of the essential security measures you can take is installing an SSL certificate. In this guide, we will walk you through the process of installing an SSL certificate in cPanel, a popular web hosting control panel.
By following these step-by-step instructions, you can enhance the security of your website and provide a secure browsing experience for your visitors.
Before installing an SSL certificate in cPanel, make sure you have the following:
Your server certificate: This is the certificate you received from the Certificate Authority (CA) for your domain. You can download it from your Account Dashboard or check your email for the certificate file.
Intermediate certificates: These files help establish the trust chain between your server certificate and the CA. If your certificate came in a ZIP folder, it should contain the intermediate certificates. Otherwise, download the appropriate CA Bundle for your certificate.
Your private key: This file is either on your server or in your possession if you generated your Certificate Signing Request (CSR) using a tool. Note that some platforms, like Microsoft IIS, may not display the private key directly, but the server retains it.
Having these files ready will enable a smooth SSL certificate installation process in cPanel.
Installation Instructions:
Log in to cPanel: Access your cPanel account by visiting domain.com:2083 and entering your Username and Password.
Navigate to the SSL/TLS Manager: Scroll down to the Security section on your cPanel homepage and select the SSL/TLS button.
Select “Manage SSL Sites”: Click on the “Manage SSL Sites” link located under “Install and Manage SSL for your site (HTTPS)“.
Choose your domain: From the Domain drop-down menu, select the domain name for which you want to install the SSL certificate.
Copy and paste your certificate files: Copy and paste the individual certificate files into the respective text boxes provided on the page. (Certificate (CRT), Private Key (KEY) and Certificate Authority Bundle (CABundle)).
Click “Install Certificate”: Once you have pasted the certificate files, click the “Install Certificate” button.
Congratulations! Your SSL certificate has been successfully installed. To verify if HTTPS/SSL is working correctly, visit your website at https://yourdomain.tld and check the certificate/site information. Note that it may take some time for the changes to take effect.
How do I check my certificate was installed correctly?
One of the commonly used tools to check if an SSL certificate is installed correctly is the SSL Server Test provided by SSL Labs. Here are the steps to use this tool:
1- Visit the SSL Labs SSL Server Test website (https://www.ssllabs.com/ssltest/).
2- Enter the domain name of the website you want to check in the “Hostname” field.
3- Click on the “Submit” button to start the test.
The SSL Server Test will analyze the SSL configuration of the specified domain and provide you with a detailed report. It evaluates various aspects of the SSL certificate, such as its validity, supported protocols, encryption strength, and overall security rating.
The report generated by SSL Labs will provide you with valuable insights into the SSL setup of your website. It will give you a grade (ranging from A+ to F) based on the configuration and security measures implemented. You can review the report to ensure that your SSL certificate is installed correctly and meets the necessary security standards.
Remember to regularly check your SSL certificate’s validity and security configuration, as best practices and requirements may change over time. By using tools like SSL Labs SSL Server Test, you can ensure that your SSL certificate remains valid and provides a secure browsing experience for your website visitors.
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