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Set Up SSL Certificates

With Plesk's own extension SSL It!, used by Servercow, you can easily secure your domains with free or paid SSL/TLS certificates. This guide shows how to set up a free Let's Encrypt certificate and how to purchase a paid certificate through Plesk if needed.

Installing a Free Let's Encrypt Certificate

  1. Navigate to Websites & Domains and select the desired domain.
  2. Click on SSL/TLS Certificates.
  3. Under More Options, select Install a free basic certificate from Let's Encrypt.
  4. Enter your email address for notifications.
  5. Choose the desired options:
    • Protect the main domain
    • Protect the www subdomain
    • Protect the wildcard domain (requires DNS validation)
  6. Click on Use for free.

Plesk will automatically issue and install the certificate.

Good to know

Certificates are automatically renewed every 90 days.

Purchasing a Paid SSL Certificate

  1. Go to Websites & Domains > Your Domain > SSL/TLS Certificates.
  2. Select a desired certificate issuer from the list.
  3. Click on Buy.
  4. Decide whether you need a wildcard certificate or not; the price will vary accordingly.
  5. Fill in the required information and follow the purchase process.

Warning

Note: Paid certificates are handled by third-party providers and are not sold or supported directly by Servercow.

Manually Uploading and Installing a Certificate

If you have purchased a certificate from an external certification authority:

  1. Navigate to Websites & Domains > Your Domain > SSL/TLS Certificates.
  2. Click on Add SSL/TLS Certificate.
  3. Select Upload a purchased certificate.
  4. Upload the certificate files as a .pem file (how to convert individual files like .crt and .key into a .pem file can be found here).
  5. Click on Upload Certificate.
  6. Go to your domain's Hosting Settings.
  7. Enable SSL/TLS Support.
  8. Select the uploaded certificate from the list.
  9. Click OK to save the changes.

Redirecting HTTP to HTTPS

To ensure your website is always accessible via a secure connection:

  1. Go to Websites & Domains > Your Domain > Hosting Settings.
  2. Enable the option Permanent, SEO-safe 301 redirect from HTTP to HTTPS and check if the correct certificate is selected under Certificate. If not, adjust it accordingly.
  3. Click OK to save the settings.

Additional Security Settings

With SSL It!, you can enable additional security features:

  • HSTS (HTTP Strict Transport Security): Enforces the use of HTTPS.
  • OCSP Stapling: Speeds up the SSL connection and improves security.

Please contact our support team for assistance!

Notes

  • Let's Encrypt certificates are free but only domain-validated and without additional insurance coverage.
  • Paid certificates offer extended validation options (e.g., Organization or Extended Validation) and additional security features.
  • The management and renewal of paid certificates are not automated through Plesk and must be done manually.

For more information on managing SSL certificates in Plesk, visit the official documentation: Plesk SSL It! Extension

Did you know?

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