How to Use Free SSL to Set Up Shared Hosting Environments
In the constantly changing field of online development, website security is crucial. Using SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificates is one of the finest ways to secure a website since it guarantees that all data sent between your web server and browser is encrypted. Thankfully, a lot of hosting companies now give away free SSL certificates, making it simple to set up a shared hosting environment with free SSL. This post will provide you a thorough overview of how to set up such an environment, including everything from the advantages of SSL to selecting a hosting company to the detailed installation procedure.
Understanding Shared Hosting
A web hosting service called shared hosting allows several websites to be housed on a single server. The CPU, RAM, and storage of the server are shared by all sites. Because of this, shared hosting is a cost-effective option for both individuals and small enterprises. It offers an affordable alternative to investing more in dedicated server resources to get online.
Benefits of SSL Certificates
Data Encryption: SSL encrypts data to prevent third parties from intercepting private information, including credit card details and login credentials.
Enhanced Trust: SSL-certified websites display a padlock icon in the address bar, reassuring users that their data is safe.
Benefits of SEO: Google has acknowledged that security affects rankings. In search results, websites with SSL certificates frequently appear higher than those without.
Improved Conversion Rates: Users are more inclined to interact with your website when they feel more trusted and in a secure setting, which raises conversion rates.
Compliance: SSL is essential for compliance since several legal frameworks need encryption for data protection.
Choosing a Hosting Provider
You should choose a hosting company that fits your demands and provides free SSL before beginning the setup. These are a few well-liked choices that are renowned for their dependability and intuitive setups:
SiteGround: Well-known for its strong performance and first-rate customer service, SiteGround includes free SSL with Let’s Encrypt in its shared hosting packages.
Bluehost: Known for hosting WordPress, Bluehost offers free SSL as part of their shared hosting options.
HostGator: HostGator is a good option for those on a budget because it offers free SSL certificates on all of its shared hosting plans.
A2 Hosting: Known for its speed optimization, A2 Hosting also offers free SSL certificates as part of its shared plans.
DreamHost: DreamHost offers a user-friendly management panel along with free SSL with its shared hosting packages.
Think on things other than SSL when choosing your hosting provider, like bandwidth, storage, customer service, and uptime.
Getting Started with Your Shared Hosting Environment
After selecting your hosting company, you must create your shared hosting account and register your domain name, if you haven’t already. The majority of vendors include simple registration in their offerings.
Your domain name, such as www.yourwebsite.com, is the address of your website on the internet. The steps to register a domain are as follows:
You can create your hosting account after registering your domain:
To manage your hosting environment, the majority of shared hosting companies supply cPanel or a comparable control panel. To access it, follow these steps:
Files, databases, email accounts, and SSL certificates are all simple to administer with cPanel.
Installing Free SSL Certificates
Installing your free SSL certificate is the next important step. The majority of hosting companies enable this through automatic installations, especially if they make use of Let’s Encrypt, a free, open, and automated certificate authority. This is how to begin:
Here’s how to install the certificate if Let’s Encrypt is supported by your hosting company:
You might notice an option called Manage SSL sites for servers that don’t have SSL installed automatically:
To guarantee that all data is transferred securely, all HTTP traffic must be redirected to HTTPS after your SSL is enabled. Here’s how to accomplish it:
Find the File Manager tool in cPanel.
Go to your website’s root directory, which is typically the public_html folder.
Find the file called “.htaccess.” You can make a new file called.htaccess if it doesn’t already exist.
Add the following lines to the top of the file after editing it:
Save your modifications.
Testing Your SSL Installation
It’s essential to test your SSL certificate after installation and HTTPS redirection setup to make sure everything is operating as it should.
Using Online Tools: You can test your SSL certificate on websites such as SSL Labs. After entering your domain, press “Submit.” Your certificate and any possible problems will be thoroughly described in the results.
Go to Your Website: Launch a web browser and go to your domain using HTTPS (https://www.yourwebsite.com, for example). In the address bar, look for the padlock icon, which signifies that your website is secure.
Verify Mixed Content Issues: Make sure that every piece of content on your pages—scripts, graphics, etc.—is also delivered over HTTPS. You can use the developer tools in your browser to examine this.
Maintaining Your SSL Certificate
Even though Let’s Encrypt offers free SSL certificates that are automatically renewed, it’s still crucial to keep an eye on and maintain your SSL certificate configuration. Here are some pointers for upkeep:
Frequent Checkups: Use internet tools to periodically examine your SSL installation and confirm that there are no setup or expiration problems.
Update Internal Links: To prevent mixed content problems, make sure that all internal links on your website are using HTTPS.
Keep an eye on Your CSP: To further improve site security, add a Content Security Policy (CSP) to your.htaccess file. This will assist stop assaults like cross-site scripting.
Keep Up: To prevent security flaws that could jeopardize your website, update your web apps, content management system (CMS) (like WordPress), and plugins on a regular basis.
Conclusion
One of the most important steps in protecting your website is to set up a shared hosting environment with free SSL. Since many hosting companies offer automatic SSL certificate installation through user control panels, the procedure is made to be as simple as possible. After completing this tutorial, you ought to have a safe shared hosting environment with free SSL that improves the credibility of your website, increases its search engine optimization, and safeguards user information.
In today’s digital world, when security is crucial, putting SSL into practice is not only advised—it is required. Make sure you constantly maintain the security of your website and stay informed of any updates your hosting provider makes to their SSL offerings. You may successfully secure your website with the correct planning, which will help your users and your company.