Category: Security & SSL • Est. reading time: 2 minutes
An SSL certificate is what puts the padlock in the browser and turns http into https. It encrypts the connection between your visitors and your site, and Google treats it as a ranking signal. The good news: for most sites you can get one free through Let’s Encrypt, right inside cPanel.
The Steps
- Log in to cPanel and, in the Security section, open SSL/TLS Status. If your host provides a dedicated Let’s Encrypt SSL tile, you can use that instead.
- You will see your domains and whether each is already covered.
- Select the domains that need a certificate and click Run AutoSSL, or issue a Let’s Encrypt certificate for them.
- Give it a few minutes. When it finishes, your domains show as secured.
Then Force HTTPS
A certificate alone does not force anyone to use it. Until you redirect, a visitor typing your address without https can still load the unsecured version. To close that gap, turn on the redirect after the certificate is active.
In cPanel’s Domains interface, switch on Force HTTPS Redirect for the domain, which sends every http visit to the secure https version. If you run WordPress, also confirm that both the WordPress Address and Site Address under Settings > General begin with https.
Most sites are already covered. On modern hosting, AutoSSL issues and renews free certificates automatically, so you may find there is nothing to do. If a domain is not secured, this is the page to check.
Seeing a “not secure” warning on your site? We will get it sorted quickly. Reach us at support@allydrez.com or 1-321-209-2004.