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Security & Compliance

Set Up SSL Certificates for Your Website

Enable HTTPS on your website to protect customer data and improve trust. Get a free SSL certificate and configure it in minutes.

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Why Your Website Needs HTTPS

SSL certificates encrypt data between your website and visitors, protecting sensitive information like passwords, payment details, and form submissions. Modern browsers mark HTTP sites as 'Not Secure,' which scares away customers and hurts your credibility. Google also ranks HTTPS sites higher in search results. If you handle sensitive data such as medical or financial information, HTTPS is required — but it is only one part of a complete security and compliance program.

↓Step-by-Step Guide
  1. 1

    Check Your Current SSL Status

    Visit your website and look at the URL bar. If it shows https:// with a lock icon, you already have SSL enabled. If it shows http:// or a 'Not Secure' warning, continue with this guide.
  2. 2

    Identify Your Hosting Provider

    Determine where your website is hosted: Shopify, Squarespace, WordPress.com (automatic SSL), Bluehost, SiteGround, GoDaddy (manual setup), or custom hosting like AWS or DigitalOcean.
  3. 3

    Get a Free SSL Certificate

    Most hosting providers offer free SSL certificates through Let's Encrypt. These certificates use industry-standard encryption and are trusted by all major browsers. What matters most for security is not the brand of certificate, but how your server is configured.
  4. 4

    Install SSL via Your Hosting Panel

    In most hosting dashboards, click SSL/TLS or Security, select your domain, and click Install Free SSL Certificate or Enable AutoSSL. Many hosts (like Bluehost and SiteGround) install free SSL automatically for new sites.
  5. 5

    Verify SSL Installation

    Visit https://yoursite.com. You should see a lock icon in the browser bar. Click it to confirm the certificate is valid, up-to-date, and issued to your domain.
  6. 6

    Force HTTPS Redirect

    Enable automatic redirection so all visitors use HTTPS. In cPanel, go to Domains → Force HTTPS Redirect. For WordPress, use Really Simple SSL. This prevents users from accidentally landing on the insecure version of your site.
  7. 7

    Update Internal Links

    Update any hardcoded http:// links to https://. In WordPress, use Better Search Replace to update URLs site-wide. This eliminates mixed content warnings that break the lock icon.
  8. 8

    Update Google Search Console

    If you use Google Search Console, add your HTTPS domain as a new property and submit your updated sitemap (https://yoursite.com/sitemap.xml).
  9. 9

    Test for Mixed Content Errors

    Open your site, then open browser developer tools. Check the Console tab for mixed content warnings (HTTP resources loaded on an HTTPS page). Update those links to HTTPS or use relative URLs.
  10. 10

    Set Up Automatic Renewal

    Let's Encrypt certificates last 90 days and renew automatically if your hosting panel has AutoSSL enabled. Confirm auto-renew is active under SSL Settings. Set a quarterly reminder to double-check your SSL status.

Tips & Best Practices

  • •Don't buy a basic SSL certificate unless you specifically need Extended Validation or legal verification. Free domain-validated certificates (like Let's Encrypt) provide modern encryption for nearly all small businesses.
  • •SSL protects data in transit only. You still need secure hosting, access controls, backups, updates, and safe storage of any sensitive information entered on your site.
  • •If you handle PHI or other regulated data: Let’s Encrypt is allowed, but compliance depends on your entire environment — not the certificate alone. Your TLS configuration must be strong (no TLS 1.0, no weak ciphers, no insecure fallback), your hosting provider must sign a Business Associate Agreement (BAA), and you must maintain encryption at rest, audit logs, access controls, and documented risk assessments. HIPAA treats encryption as 'addressable,' meaning you must either implement it or justify an equivalent alternative.
  • •Use SSL Labs (ssllabs.com/ssltest) to verify your server uses modern protocols and ciphers. Aim for an A or higher.
  • •Enable HSTS once you're certain HTTPS works everywhere. This forces browsers to always use the secure version of your site.
  • •Monitor expiration with a service like UptimeRobot so you're alerted before your certificate expires.

Need Technical Website Support?

If you need help with SSL setup, website security, or compliance-sensitive configurations, we're here to help.

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