Keeping your website secure is essential in today’s digital world. One of the simplest yet most effective ways to do that is by having an SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate. This certificate ensures that the data transferred between your website and visitors is encrypted and protected from hackers.
However, SSL certificates don’t last forever – they expire. If you don’t renew it on time, your website might be flagged as “Not Secure,” which can lead to a loss of trust among visitors and even a drop in search engine rankings.
Fortunately, renewing your SSL certificate is a straightforward process that you can complete in just a few steps. In this article, we’ll walk you through how to renew your SSL certificate in three simple steps.
Step 1: Check Your SSL Certificate’s Expiration Date
The first step in renewing your SSL certificate is knowing when it’s set to expire. Most SSL certificates are valid for one or two years, and it’s important to renew them before they expire to avoid any disruptions to your website’s security.
To check your SSL certificate’s expiration date, follow these steps:
- You can easily check your SSL certificate’s expiration by clicking on the padlock icon next to your website’s URL in the browser. A small pop-up will appear, and you can click on “Certificate” or “View Certificate” to see the details, including the expiration date.
- There are many free SSL checker tools available online. You simply enter your website’s URL, and the tool will show you the certificate’s expiration date along with other important details.
Once you know the expiration date, it’s a good idea to set a reminder to renew it well in advance – ideally 30 days before the expiration.
Step 2: Purchase or Renew Your SSL Certificate
After determining your expiration date, it’s time to either purchase a new SSL certificate or renew your current one.
The process may vary slightly depending on where you originally purchased the SSL certificate (such as through your web hosting provider, a Certificate Authority (CA), or a third-party vendor).
Here are some common renewal steps:
- Contact Your SSL Provider: If you purchased your SSL certificate through a provider, log into your account and navigate to the SSL certificate section. You’ll typically see an option to renew your certificate. Click that and follow the steps.
- Choose the Right SSL Certificate: When renewing, ensure you select the same type of certificate as before (e.g., Domain Validated (DV), Organization Validated (OV), or Extended Validation (EV)) unless you want to upgrade or downgrade. If your needs have changed, you can choose a certificate that better fits your website.
- Submit Required Information: Depending on the type of SSL certificate, you may need to provide some information, such as verifying your domain ownership or organization details. For DV certificates, this usually involves verifying your email address, while OV and EV certificates require more thorough validation, including company documentation.
- Make the Payment: Complete the purchase by paying for the SSL certificate. The price varies depending on the type of certificate and the issuing provider. Some providers offer multi-year options, which can save you from renewing annually.
Step 3: Install the Renewed SSL Certificate
Once you’ve renewed or purchased a new SSL certificate, the final step is to install it on your web server. The process of installing the SSL certificate varies based on your web hosting environment (shared hosting, VPS, dedicated server, etc.) and your hosting provider.
Here’s a general guide on how to install the renewed certificate:
- Automatic Installation (Managed Hosting): Many hosting providers handle SSL installation for you. If your provider offers automatic SSL installation, you may not need to do anything. The renewed certificate will be installed, and your site will remain secure. It’s always good to double-check with your provider if the installation is complete.
- Manual Installation (Self-Managed Hosting): If you manage your own server, you’ll need to download the renewed SSL certificate files from your SSL provider and manually upload them to your server. Depending on your server type (e.g., Apache, Nginx, Microsoft IIS), the installation steps will differ. Typically, you’ll need to upload the certificate files to the appropriate directory and update the server configuration file to point to the new certificate.
- Verify the Installation: After installing the SSL certificate, it’s important to check that everything is working correctly. You can use an online SSL checker tool to ensure the certificate is properly installed and your website is secure. Additionally, visit your website to make sure there are no errors or warnings about security.
Why You Shouldn’t Delay SSL Renewal
Delaying your SSL certificate renewal can have some serious consequences for your website:
- Security Warnings: If your SSL certificate expires, visitors will see a security warning in their browsers, which could deter them from visiting your site.
- Search Engine Rankings: SSL certificates are a ranking factor for search engines like Google. An expired SSL could negatively impact your site’s ranking, reducing visibility and traffic.
- Data Breaches: Without SSL encryption, data transferred between your website and visitors is vulnerable to interception by hackers, putting sensitive information at risk.
Conclusion
Renewing your SSL certificate is an essential task for keeping your website secure and maintaining trust with your visitors. By staying on top of the expiration date and following the steps outlined above, you can smoothly renew your SSL certificate without any disruptions.
Regular SSL renewal is a small but crucial part of website management that helps protect both your data and your reputation online.