An SSL certificate is critically important for protecting data between your website and the server.
To encourage a safer internet and help our customers do so more easily, HostGator’s website services now offers free SSL certificates on all hosted websites.
Check out this video on how to force SSL on your WordPress website with a plugin. Using another CMS? Check out this link on how to install SSL.
Do I need an SSL, and why is it important?
SSL certificates are critically required for eCommerce because SSL certificates protect the exchange of data between your website and the server.
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If your website is set up to accept payment and a customer enters a credit card or other sensitive data, you want to be sure you can secure that information. An SSL certificate will protect that data between the user’s computer and the server. No one can intercept the data traffic in the middle, not even anyone at HostGator.
An added benefit? Customers will have more confidence in the professionality of your website if it is encrypted with an SSL certificate.
Over time, we do expect Google to consider an SSL certificate for SEO ranking.
Do all HostGator website accounts qualify for a free SSL certificate?
Free SSLs are available, in some form, for every domain that hosts with HostGator.
On our shared, cloud, and optimized WordPress servers, every domain pointed to a HostGator server is eligible for the free SSL. The video demonstrates where to find SSL in your account.
On our reseller servers, we have enabled the SSL functionality in WHM so resellers can choose how to manage their own SSL, grant access for their customers, and make changes through WHM.
For our dedicated servers and VPS customers, you can enable your Let’s Encrypt SSL through WHM and your server interface.
Do I need to manage or renew the SSL certificate?
All HostGator sites have SSL enabled by default. You don’t need to turn on the SSL itself. However, to leverage the SSL, you do need to configure the SSL based on the type of content management system you are using.
Click to read instructions on how to enable your SSL certificate in your content management system.
Follow the steps in the video to activate SSL on your WordPress website.
HostGator will automatically renew your SSL certificate every 3 months. Updating the SSL every 3 months will keep the certificate strong and activate. The renewal process is seamless, and you shouldn’t notice that it has been renewed.
If you have any more questions about SSL, check out our SSL guide for customers.