How To Install a Free SSL Certificate On Your Website

A correctly implemented security certificate, like an SSL or TLS certificate is what makes your website secure. It will protect the data that is transmitted from your visitor’s computer to your website and back. We’re explaining the best way to implement HTTPS security on your website.

Step 1: Host With Dedicated IP Address

To use an SSL certificate on your website, your site needs a dedicated IP address. Depending on your hosting provider, you may share an IP address with many websites. An SSL/TLS certificate will secure the traffic to your IP address, so your site needs to have a unique IP address.

There are a number of affordable hosting providers that offer dedicated IP addresses for under six or seven dollars per month. If you are satisfied with your current hosting, you can typically upgrade your plan to get a dedicated IP address.

Read More: What is Your IP Address? How To Keep It Private

Step 2: Buy a Certificate

You can use a free and open Certificate Authority, like Let’s Encrypt, or you can purchase a certificate from a site like NameCheap or GeoTrust Quick SSL. A certificate is basically a long series of letters and numbers that only your site knows. This certificate works…