How to Purchase and Install an SSL Certificate for a Website
Introduction
An SSL certificate encrypts the data that goes from a user's computer to the target website and back. Every time a user enters information into your site, the SSL makes sure that it can securely travel for their browser to your web server.
This guide lists the steps on how to purchase and install an SSL for a website as follows:
- Place an SSL order
- Generate a CSR(Certificate Signing Request)
- Configure the certificate in the Billing system
- Approve the Certificate Authority for validation
- Download the issued SSL certificate file
- Complete the certificate request (Windows-based Server Only)
- Apply the SSL to website
1 Place an SSL order
Database Mart provides four kinds of certificates. You can choose one based on the level of the security needs of your website.
2 Generate a CSR
Generating a certificate signing request (CSR) is the first step towards getting your own SSL Certificate. Generated on the same server you plan to install the certificate on, the CSR contains information (e.g. common name, organization, country) the Certificate Authority (CA) will use to create your certificate.
3 Configure the certificate in the Billing system
Here is a sample about configuration email:
4 Approve the Certificate Authority for validation
The certificate authorities (CA) need to ensure that your business is legitimate, and hence, they validate your business authenticity before issuing an SSL certificate for your website. The required information for the validation depends on the type of the SSL certificate selected.
There are 3 options to approve Certificate Authority while you configure it in the Billing system:
- HTTP
- DNS TXT Record
- Email
5 Download the issued SSL certificate file
After approving certificate request, the certificate will be issued shortly. There are two options to download the issued SSL file:
- Download the SSL file provided in technical contact email
- Downloading the SSL file from the Billing system.
6 Complete the certificate request (Windows-based Server Only)
Please skip this step if you generate a CSR on a Linux-based server.
Note: Please complete the certificate request on the same server you generated CSR on step 2 Generate CSR.
7 Apply the SSL to website
7.1 Apply the SSL on Windows IIS
Apply the SSL on Windows IIS requires a .pfx SSL file and its import password, both of which will be given upon finishing the Step 6.
7.2 Apply the SSL on Apache or Nginx
Apply the SSL on Apache or Nginx requires a .crt file and a .key file. The .crt file can be downloaded via the step 5 Download SSL certificate. The .key file will be generated when you generate the CSR.
When get the .crt file and .key file, you are ready to install the certificate.
7.3 Related Links
For guidance on applying certificates to other web services, please refer to the links below: