Installing an SSL certificate on your website is indeed necessary nowadays. Furthermore, it became a ranking factor in Google and search engines. We’re reviewing how to use DreamHost Let’s Encrypt for SSL certificate.
This article explains a way to set up a free Let’s Encrypt SSL certificates on your DreamHost website. DreamHost is providing its customers with a free SSL certificate using the Let’s Encrypt authority.
While you can easily run your website without SSL, it’s very important! the SSL will keep the information transmitted between your website and visitors encrypted and secured.
In this article, we’re going through the exact technical steps to follow to install a free SSL certificate on your DreamHost website. Read along and let us know your experience in the comments section below.
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What is Let’s Encrypt?
Let’s Encrypt is a brand new Certificate Authority (CA) that offers FREE steady SSL certificates to your website. These issued certificates are simply as steady as contemporary paid certificates.
They provide the same HTTPS protection for your website. The assignment becomes pioneered to make encrypted connections the default standard at some point on the internet.
Let’s Encrypt SSL Benefits:
As explained, the SSL certificate will keep the information transmitted to and from your website secured. The certificate basically encrypts the passway of information and secure it from hackers.
Here’re a few key advantages to using the Let’s Encrypt SSL:
- Available & Free of Charge
- Automatic Setup & Renewals
- Simple with No Validation Emails
- Stable & Highly Secured
Install DreamHost Let’s Encrypt?
Before installing DreamHost Let’s Encrypt SSL, you need to make sure that your domain name is pointing to DreamHost’s nameservers. If it’s not, the certificate will not be issued or activated.
If you’ve already purchased the domain along with your web hosting plan from DreamHost, you can skip this step. Both services should be already connected together and synced.
Let’s Encrypt basically creates a folder (Well_known) on your website. This helps to authenticate the certificate on your website. In case your domain is not pointed to DreamHost, the SSL will not be authenticated!
Here’re the steps to install Let’s Encrypt SSL:
- Login to DreamHost Panel
- Navigate to SSL/TLS Certificates
- On the preferred domain, click “Add“
- On the next page click “Select this Certificate“
The certificate now should have been installed on your website. It’s time now to check and verify the successful installation. Go to your website and make sure it has been verified with HTTPS and a green padlock in the browser’s address bar.
Note: You may need to wait a few hours to get the certificate fully activated on your website.
Force Using HTTPS:
Even after you have added the SSL certificate to your site, visitors will not be able to use it unless they manually type in ‘https’ before your domain name.
The next step is to force your website to use the HTTPS protocol by default. So if someone visits (http://domain.com), it will automatically redirect to (https://domain.com). You can force HTTPS in two different ways.
Via (.htaccess) file: You’ll need to add the following
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTPS} !=on
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI} [L,R=301,NE]
Via WordPress Plugin: You can use Really Simple SSL
In both methods, you need to make sure that you’ve successfully installed the SSL certificate on your website. If it has not been properly installed, you will not be able to force HTTPS on your website.
Free Let’s Encrypt Vs Paid SSLs:
Certificates created through Let’s Encrypt are functionally identical to any certificates you’d spend money for elsewhere. They’re diagnosed as steady across all major browsers with no additional paintings or configuration required via users.
These certificates are valid for 90 days. DreamHost will auto-renew any certificates generated. You will only need to install it for the first time and it will automatically renew afterward.
If your website is an enterprise that is processing credit cards or transmitting sensitive information, you have to only use the paid certificates. This helps your users make certain the relationship is valid, steady, and secure.
Simple web sites that need the identical degree of encryption without the absolute assurance of possession can continue to apply a ‘Let’s Encrypt’ certificates.
DreamHost Free SSL:
Installing an SSL certificate on your website became a necessity nowadays. DreamHost is offering free SSL certificates along with your web hosting plan using Let’s Encrypt.
You can easily install DreamHost Let’s Encrypt Free SSL on your website using the steps mentioned above. Let us know your experience in the comments section below.
