Lesson 2.2 – SSL Installation and Renewal

Estimated duration: 10–12 minutes Focus: Implementation, Maintenance, Uptime. Short description (LMS): Security isn’t a “set it and forget it” task. This lesson guides you through the practical steps of generating a CSR, installing your certificate, and crucial strategies for renewal to prevent downtime.

Lesson Objectives

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

• Outline the standard installation process: CSR generation, validation, and server configuration.

• Execute the necessary redirects to ensure all HTTP traffic is forced to HTTPS.

• Diagnose common installation errors like missing intermediate certificates or mixed content.

• Implement automation and monitoring strategies to prevent expired certificates.

   

Introduction: The Lifecycle of a Certificate

Installing an SSL certificate is like getting a driver’s license: there is an application process (CSR), a verification phase, and an expiration date. If you fail to renew it, you get pulled over (browser warnings).

Proper implementation ensures secure connections are seamless for your users, while neglect leads to “Not Secure” warnings that can kill your traffic overnight.

1. The Installation Process Overview

While every hosting platform (cPanel, AWS, Apache) looks different, the core logic remains the same:

1. Generate CSR (Certificate Signing Request): You create a file on your server containing your domain and organization info. You submit this to the Certificate Authority (CA).

    

2. Validation: The CA confirms you are who you say you are (via email, DNS, or business records).

3. Issuance: The CA sends you the certificate files (Certificate, Private Key, and Intermediate Bundle).

4. Installation: You upload these files to your server or hosting panel.

5. Redirect: You configure the server to force all visitors to the secure https:// version.

6. Verify: Use tools like SSL Labs to confirm the chain is complete.

    

Platform Note:

• Shared Hosting: Often has “One-Click” installers or AutoSSL.

• Cloud/VPS: Requires manual configuration of Nginx/Apache files.

• CMS (WordPress): Plugins help with redirects, but they do not issue the certificate itself.

2. Renewal and Expiration Risks

Certificates are not permanent. They typically expire in 90 days (Let’s Encrypt) or 1 year (Commercial CAs).

The Renewal Process:

• Re-validate ownership.

• Re-issue a new certificate.

• Replace the old file on the server.

• Crucial Step: Restart the web server/service to load the new file.

The Risk: Failure to renew results in immediate browser blocking. Users will see a full-screen warning, and search engines may drop your rankings.

3. Automation and Monitoring

Manual renewal is prone to human error. Automation is the industry standard.

• Automated Tools: Use tools like Certbot to automatically renew and install certificates before they expire.

• Monitoring: Set up dashboard alerts (via your hosting provider or external monitors) to notify you 30 days before expiration.

• Validation Checks: Periodically check that the automation is actually working.

   

4. Common Installation Errors

Even with automation, things can go wrong. Watch out for these common issues:

• Missing Intermediate Certificates: Causes “Trust Chain” failures on mobile devices. Fix: Install the full CA Bundle.

• Mixed Content: The page is HTTPS, but an image loads over HTTP. Fix: Update image URLs or use “Upgrade-Insecure-Requests” headers.

• Incorrect Hostname: The certificate is for www.site.com but the server is loading site.com. Fix: Ensure the certificate covers both variants.

   

Mini Exercise: Check Your Expiration

Task:

1. Go to your website.

2. Click the Padlock icon in the browser bar.

3. Click “Connection is secure” > “Certificate is valid”.

4. Look for the “Valid To” or “Expires On” date.

5. Question: Do you have a calendar reminder set for 30 days before that date?

Summary and Key Takeaways

• Installation starts with a CSR and ends with a server restart and verification.

• Redirects are mandatory; installing the cert doesn’t automatically force users to use it.

• Renewal is critical; expired certs break trust immediately.

• Automation via tools like Certbot is the best defense against human error and downtime.