In today’s digital age, having a secure website is crucial for any business or individual looking to establish an online presence. One of the ways to ensure the security of your WordPress website is to Install SSL Certificate on WordPress.
While the process may seem daunting, fear not! With the help of cPanel or Plesk, you can easily install SSL certificate on WordPress sites and enjoy the benefits of a secure online platform.
So, whether you’re a seasoned web developer or a beginner, read on to discover
Some interesting stats about WordPress and WordPress SSL usage:
- WordPress is utilized by 63.2% of all websites whose content management system we are aware of, according to data from W3Techs.
- According to Wordfence, WordPress sites experience up to 90,000 attacks per minute.
- There are only 632,911 websites that use WordPress SSL.
These stats tell us that WordPress sites are prone to attacks. To stop these attacks, WordPress SSL certificates are necessary. Let’s learn a bit more about SSL certificates.
What is SSL Certificate?
An SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate is a digital certificate that encrypts the communication between a website and its visitors’ web browsers. It ensures that any sensitive data, such as passwords or credit card information, exchanged between the website and its visitors remains secure and cannot be intercepted by hackers.
SSL certificates also authenticate the identity of the website, ensuring that visitors are accessing the legitimate site and not a fraudulent one. In essence, an SSL certificate provides an added layer of security to a website and is essential for any website that collects sensitive information from its visitors.
When confidential information is transmitted between a user’s web browser and their server, website, or computer, the connection is encrypted using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) technology.
Organizations can apply for different types of SSL certificates to suit their needs.
Each certificate type uses the same encryption level, but there are two key distinctions:
- Vetting and verification processes.
- The location bar in your browser after you’ve installed a digital certificate.
Why is a WordPress SSL Certificate important for your site?
Having a WordPress SSL certificate installed on your site is important for several reasons:
- Secure data transmission: An SSL certificate ensures that any data transmitted between your website and its visitors is encrypted, making it difficult for hackers to intercept and steal sensitive information such as login credentials, credit card information, and personal details.
- Authentication: An SSL certificate verifies the identity of your website, providing assurance to visitors that they are on the legitimate site and not on a fake or malicious one.
- Search engine ranking: Google has stated that having an SSL certificate is a ranking factor in its search algorithm, meaning that websites with SSL certificates are likely to rank higher in search results than those without.
- Trust and credibility: Visitors are more likely to trust a website with an SSL certificate, as it demonstrates that the site owner takes security seriously and cares about their users’ privacy.
How to Install SSL Certificate on WordPress Website using cPanel?
Follow these steps to successfully install SSL certificate on WordPress website using cPanel:
Step 1: To get a free SSL Crtificate, Start by logging in your WHM account.
- Log in to your WHM account
- Click ‘Manage Auto SSL’ option
- Now, go to ‘Manage Users’ tab, Select the user you want and Click on ‘Enable Auto SSL’
Step 2: Switch to HTTPS for your WordPress site’s URL.
Your website’s URL should be modified from “http” to “https” once an SSL certificate has been installed.
Your website will not have the added security of an SSL certificate unless you change the URL.
To implement these modifications, access your WordPress, navigate to Settings, and then select ‘General’. The default preferences screen will load.
Change the WordPress Address (URL) and Site Address (URL) here, and instead of using HTTP, start your site’s Address with HTTPS.
To save your changes, click the “Save Changes” button.
Your website has now been converted to HTTPS and has a Let’s Encrypt SSL certificate installed.
A free SSL certificate has been installed on your WordPress website if you see https and a green padlock in the address bar.
So far, we’ve learnt to install SSL certificate on wordPress website using cPanel. Now let’s understand the same using Plesk.
How to Install SSL Certificate on WordPress Website using Plesk?
Follow these steps to successfully install SSL certificate on WordPress website using Plesk:
Step 1: Access Plesk Panel and getting the free SSL Certificate Installed
- Log into Plesk.
- Click “Let’s Encrypt”.
- Click the Install tab, then select the option to “Include a “www” subdomain for the domain and each chosen alias.”
- The Let’s Encrypt SSL installation notice is now available for viewing.
- The SSL must be assigned to the domain under “Hosting Options” before it can be used.
- To activate Let’s Encrypt SSL, navigate to Certificates > Let’s Encrypt SSL > Save.
- SSL has been set up.
Step 2: Switch to HTTPS for Your WordPress URL
To proceed, replace HTTP with the more secure https protocol on all of your website’s pages.
You’ll need to access your WordPress administration panel in order to make these changes. Choose “General” in the menu.
Here you can modify the WordPress URL as well as the site URL,
To permanently commit your edits, click the “Save Changes” button.
The address bar in your browser should now display https and a green padlock. This indicates that you have successfully installed SSL on your WordPress site.
Wrapping Up
You can be wise now that you know how you can install SSL certificate WordPress site, there’s nothing that should stop you from securing your business and your customers.
Installing an SSL certificate on a WordPress website is a critical step to secure your website and build trust with your users. Both Plesk and cPanel offer easy ways to install SSL certificates on WordPress websites.
We’ve listed all the necessary steps to install SSL certificate on the WordPress website using cPanel or Plesk.
Regardless of which control panel you use, it’s essential to install SSL certificate on WordPress websites to ensure your users’ safety and build trust. With a few simple steps, you can secure your website and protect your users’ sensitive information.
