--- title: "SSL Certificates Guide" source: "https://docs.nexcess.com/hosting/security/ssl/" description: "Secure your site with SSL. Our guides explain what SSL certificates are, how to install them, and how to build trust by encrypting user data." vertical: "Hosting" date: "2025-07-11" last_modified: "2026-07-02" --- # SSL Certificates Guide Welcome to your **Digital Certificate Handbook**. An **SSL (Secure Sockets Layer)** certificate creates an encrypted tunnel between your web server and your visitors’ browsers. This ensures that sensitive data—like passwords and credit card numbers—remains private and that your website is authenticated as genuine. Today, security is mandatory. Modern browsers display “Not Secure” warnings for sites without encryption, and search engines prioritize secure sites in their rankings. This guide serves as your central hub for the entire SSL lifecycle: - **Getting Started:** Learn the basics of **[What an SSL Certificate Is](https://docs.nexcess.com/hosting/security/ssl/what-is-an-ssl-certificate/)** and how to **[Order a Standard or Premium SSL](https://docs.nexcess.com/hosting/security/ssl/ordering-an-ssl-certificate/)**. - **Setup:** Before installation, you must **[Generate a CSR](https://docs.nexcess.com/hosting/security/ssl/generating-an-ssl-certificate-signing-request-csr/)** and **[Verify Ownership](https://www.liquidweb.com/help-docs/security/ssl/verifying-an-ssl-certificate/)** of your domain. - **Installation:** We provide step-by-step guides to install certificates on **[Linux Command Line](https://docs.nexcess.com/hosting/security/ssl/installing-an-ssl-certificate-in-linux-command-line/)**, **[WHM / cPanel](https://docs.nexcess.com/hosting/control-panel/whm/cpanel/security/installing-an-ssl-certificate-in-cpanel/)**, **[Plesk](https://docs.nexcess.com/hosting/control-panel/plesk/security/installing-an-ssl-certificate-in-plesk/)**, or [**InterWorx (SiteWorx)**](https://docs.nexcess.com/hosting/control-panel/interworx/siteworx/security/installing-an-ssl-certificate-in-interworx-web-panel/). - **Maintenance:** Keep your site secure by learning how to **[Renew your SSL](https://docs.nexcess.com/hosting/security/ssl/how-to-renew-ssl-certificate/)** or **[Troubleshoot Common Errors](https://docs.nexcess.com/hosting/security/ssl/troubleshooting-your-connection-is-not-private-secure-trusted/)** like “Connection Not Private.” --- SSL Certificate Articles 29 results This SSL Certificates Guide is a collection of articles that will guide you through understanding, installing, and managing SSL certificates for your website. - ## [AutoRenew for SSL Certificates](https://docs.nexcess.com/hosting/security/ssl/autorenew-for-ssl-certificates/) Maintaining website security includes renewing SSL certificates regularly to encrypt server-customer communications. Liquid Web streamlines this process with AutoRenew for SSL certificates, ensuring timely updates. [Read more: AutoRenew for SSL Certificates](https://docs.nexcess.com/hosting/security/ssl/autorenew-for-ssl-certificates/) - ## [Enable Let’s Encrypt for Sites and Stores](https://docs.nexcess.com/hosting/security/ssl/nexcess/enable-lets-encrypt/) Learn how to enable and manage free, automated Let’s Encrypt SSL certificates for your site and pointer domains via the Liquid Web portal dashboard. [Read more: Enable Let’s Encrypt for Sites and Stores](https://docs.nexcess.com/hosting/security/ssl/nexcess/enable-lets-encrypt/) - ## [Forcing SSL Connections Using .htaccess](https://docs.nexcess.com/hosting/security/ssl/forcing-ssl-connections-using-htaccess/) For a secure connection, use .htaccess rules to redirect insecure traffic from http://mysite.com to https://mysite.com, assuming you have an SSL installed. Familiarity with .htaccess files and file management is assumed. [Read more: Forcing SSL Connections Using .htaccess](https://docs.nexcess.com/hosting/security/ssl/forcing-ssl-connections-using-htaccess/) - ## [Generating an SSL Certificate Signing Request (CSR)](https://docs.nexcess.com/hosting/security/ssl/generating-an-ssl-certificate-signing-request-csr/) Generate a Certificate Signing Request (CSR) for your SSL. Find step-by-step guides for cPanel, Plesk, InterWorx, Cloud Sites, and command line. [Read more: Generating an SSL Certificate Signing Request (CSR)](https://docs.nexcess.com/hosting/security/ssl/generating-an-ssl-certificate-signing-request-csr/) - ## [Generating an SSL Certificate Signing Request (CSR) from Command Line](https://docs.nexcess.com/hosting/security/ssl/generating-an-ssl-certificate-signing-request-csr-from-command-line/) Generating a CSR for your SSL order in cPanel is straightforward. For Core-Managed or Self-Managed servers, we provide Command Line instructions. [Read more: Generating an SSL Certificate Signing Request (CSR) from Command Line](https://docs.nexcess.com/hosting/security/ssl/generating-an-ssl-certificate-signing-request-csr-from-command-line/) - ## [How existing customers order SSL certificates in the Nexcess Client Portal](https://docs.nexcess.com/sites-stores/security/ssl/nexcess/order-an-ssl-certificate/) Are you an existing customer of a Nexcess hosting product? If so, are you looking to order an SSL certificate through the Nexcess Client Portal? Here is your guide with the installation steps. [Read more: How existing customers order SSL certificates in the Nexcess Client Portal](https://docs.nexcess.com/sites-stores/security/ssl/nexcess/order-an-ssl-certificate/) - ## [How to buy wildcard SSL certificate in SiteWorx](https://docs.nexcess.com/sites-stores/security/ssl/nexcess/wildcard-ssl-certificates/) Learn how to buy wildcard SSL certificate in SiteWorx. [Read more: How to buy wildcard SSL certificate in SiteWorx](https://docs.nexcess.com/sites-stores/security/ssl/nexcess/wildcard-ssl-certificates/) - ## [How to cancel a SSL certificate](https://docs.nexcess.com/sites-stores/security/ssl/nexcess/cancel-an-ssl-certificate-order/) This guide shows you how to cancel or delete an SSL certificate for your hosting service directly within the Nexcess Client Portal (sites-portal.nexcess.com). [Read more: How to cancel a SSL certificate](https://docs.nexcess.com/sites-stores/security/ssl/nexcess/cancel-an-ssl-certificate-order/) 1[2](?query-0-page=2)[3](?query-0-page=3)[4](?query-0-page=4) [Next Page](/hosting/security/ssl?query-0-page=2)