How to Install SSL Certificate on Microsoft IIS

One of the fundamental matters in the contemporary digital sphere is site security. Installing an SSL (Secure Socket Layer) certificate is among the most significant measures to ensure the same. It encrypts shared data between a web server and a user's browser. This results in a secure connection.

If your site is hosted on Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS), you can install an SSL certificate easily. Let's look at the process step by step.

Step 1: Obtain an SSL Certificate

Acquire an SSL certificate from a trusted Certificate Authority (CA). You may need to pay a specific amount for it or you can acquire it for free from a vendor.

Step 2: Certificate Signing Request (CSR) Issue

Create a CSR. It is a file that contains your orginzation's information and why a certificate is issued on a specific domain. You need the Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager for that.

Step 3: Submit the CSR to the CA

The next step is to submit the CSR and additional information to the CA. The CA will use the information to generate your SSL certificate. Depending on the CA, you must follow the prescribed protocol for submitting the CSR.

Step 4: Install the SSL Certificate

After CA has issued the SSL certificate, install it on your Microsoft IIS server.

Open Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager

Search the IIS Manager on the start menu or type "inetmgr" in the Run dialog box and launch it.

Select the Server

Choose your server. It can be found in the Connections pane on the left-hand side.

Click on "Server Certificates

In the Features View, double-click on the "Server Certificates".

Import the SSL Certificate

On the Actions pane on the right-hand side, click "Complete Certificate Request." 

In a browser window, a dialog box will pop up, where you can enter the path to the SSL certificate file (. undefined p.7b) that CA generated. 

Enter a name for the certificate and then hit "OK" to install it.

Assign the SSL Certificate to the Website

Once the certificate is imported successfully, go to the Sites folder in the Connections pane. 

Select the website to which you want to assign the SSL certificate. In the Actions pane, click on "Bindings." 

In the Site Bindings dialog box, click on "Add." 

Select "https" as the type, choose the SSL certificate you imported from the drop-down menu, and click "OK."

Restart the Website

Finally, restart the website to apply the changes.

Select the website in the Connections pane.

Click on "Restart" in the Actions pane.

Step 5: Test the SSL Certificate

The next step is to test the SSL certificate to ensure it functions properly. 

Web browsers and online checker tools can be used. They ensure that your site protocol is HTTPS and that the certificate is valid and properly configured.

To Sum it Up!

Installing an SSL certificate on Microsoft IIS is a critical measure in ensuring the data security of your site’s users. Applying these instructions will prove that your website is HTTPS-enabled and reviewed from the perspective of a typical web user aware of security standards. Remember that the time to renew your SSL certificate arrival before its expiration is essential to provide your website visitors with a secure connection.