Security & Optimization

How to Set Up an SSL Certificate for Your Website (Free & Paid)

How to Set Up an SSL Certificate for Your Website (Free & Paid)

In today’s internet landscape, SSL certificates are no longer optional — they are a must-have. Whether you’re running a blog, an online store, or a business portfolio, having an SSL certificate protects your visitors’ data and builds trust in your brand.

In this post, we’ll walk you through what SSL is, why it’s important, and step-by-step instructions on setting up both free and paid SSL certificates for your website.

What Is an SSL Certificate?

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) encrypts data exchanged between your website and its visitors. It ensures sensitive information like passwords, credit card numbers, and personal details can’t be intercepted.

When your website has SSL installed:

  • Your URL changes from http:// to https://
  • A padlock icon appears in the browser address bar
  • Your site is marked as “Secure” by search engines and browsers

Why You Need SSL

  • Security: Protects data from hackers and eavesdroppers
  • Trust: Visitors feel safer on a secure website
  • SEO Boost: Google ranks HTTPS sites higher
  • Browser Compliance: Modern browsers flag non-SSL sites as “Not Secure”

Free vs.  Paid SSL Certificates

Feature Free SSL (e.g. Let’s Encrypt) Paid SSL (e.g. Sectigo, DigiCert)
Cost Free Annual Fee ($10 – $300+)
Validation Type Domain Validation (DV) only DV, Organization (OV), or Extended (EV)
Warranty None or Limited Yes, up to $1 million
Support Community or host-based Full vendor support
Validity Period 90 days (auto-renewable) 1–2 years

 How to Install a Free SSL Certificate with Let’s Encrypt (On Linux)

Step 1: Install Certbot

Certbot is a free tool for installing Let’s Encrypt certificates.

For Ubuntu/Debian:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install certbot python3-certbot-apache  # For Apache
# or
sudo apt install certbot python3-certbot-nginx   # For NGINX

Step 2: Generate & Install the SSL Certificate

For Apache:

sudo certbot --apache

For NGINX:

sudo certbot --nginx

Step 3: Auto-Renewal (Let’s Encrypt expires every 90 days)

Add to cron:

sudo crontab -e

Add:

0 0 * * * /usr/bin/certbot renew >> /var/log/ssl-renew.log

Or test manually:

sudo certbot renew --dry-run

How to Install a Paid SSL Certificate (Manual Method)

If you’ve purchased an SSL certificate from a provider (e.g. GoDaddy, Namecheap, DigiCert), here’s how to install it:

Step 1: Generate a CSR (Certificate Signing Request)

openssl req -new -newkey rsa:2048 -nodes -keyout yourdomain.key -out yourdomain.csr

Submit the .csr file to your SSL provider.

Step 2: Receive Your Certificate Files

You’ll typically receive:

  • yourdomain.crt (your certificate)
  • ca-bundle.crt (intermediate chain)

Step 3: Configure Web Server

For Apache:

<VirtualHost *:443>
  ServerName www.yourdomain.com
  SSLEngine on
  SSLCertificateFile /etc/ssl/certs/yourdomain.crt
  SSLCertificateKeyFile /etc/ssl/private/yourdomain.key
  SSLCertificateChainFile /etc/ssl/certs/ca-bundle.crt
</VirtualHost>

For NGINX:

server {
  listen 443 ssl;
  server_name yourdomain.com;

  ssl_certificate /etc/ssl/certs/yourdomain.crt;
  ssl_certificate_key /etc/ssl/private/yourdomain.key;
  ssl_trusted_certificate /etc/ssl/certs/ca-bundle.crt;
}

Restart your server:

sudo systemctl restart apache2
# or
sudo systemctl restart nginx

How to Verify Your SSL Installation

Use online tools:

  • 🔗 SSL Labs Test
  • 🔗 Why No Padlock

These tools will confirm:

  • The certificate is valid
  • The chain of trust is correct
  • There are no mixed-content issues

 SSL in cPanel (Free & Paid)

Most shared hosting accounts (like on Vicservers) offer 1-click SSL setup from cPanel:

Steps:

  1. Log in to cPanel
  2. Go to SSL/TLS > Manage SSL Sites
  3. Use AutoSSL for Let’s Encrypt or upload a certificate manually
  4. Save and verify HTTPS redirection

Pro Tips from Vicservers

  • Always redirect HTTP to HTTPS
  • Back up your key and cert files
  • Use strong SSL protocols (disable TLS 1.0 & 1.1)
  • Set reminders to renew paid certificates
  • Consider HSTS headers for better security

Conclusion

Installing an SSL certificate — whether free or paid — is a crucial step toward securing your website, improving SEO, and building trust with your users.

At Vicservers, we offer:

  • Free SSL with all shared hosting plans
  • One-click AutoSSL on cPanel
  • Paid SSL certificates for advanced needs
  • Professional installation for VPS and dedicated servers

Need Help Setting Up SSL?

We’ve got your back. Our experts will set up your SSL, redirect traffic to HTTPS, and secure your entire website — no stress.

🌐 www.vicservers.com
📧 support@vicservers.com

By Vicservers | Trusted Hosting & Web Security Solutions

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