Securing your website by installing SSL on Ubuntu with Certbot is crucial for data protection and search engine ranking. Follow this step-by-step guide to install SSL on your Ubuntu server efficiently.

Step 1: Update Your System

Before installing SSL, ensure your system is up to date:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Step 2: Install Certbot on Ubuntu for SSL Installation

Certbot is the recommended tool to obtain and install SSL certificates. Install Certbot and its web server plugin:

• For Nginx:

sudo apt install certbot python3-certbot-nginx -y

• For Apache:

sudo apt install certbot python3-certbot-apache -y

Step 3: Configure Your Web Server

Ensure your web server (Nginx or Apache) is running and that your domain name points to your server's IP address. Certbot will automatically detect your web server's configuration during the SSL installation process.

Step 4: Install SSL on Ubuntu with Certbot for Nginx or Apache

Run Certbot to automatically obtain and install your SSL certificate:

• For Nginx:

sudo certbot --nginx

• For Apache:

sudo certbot --apache

Certbot will:

• Detect your domain names from the server configuration.
• Ask you to confirm which domains to secure.
• Prompt to redirect HTTP traffic to HTTPS (recommended for SEO and security).

Step 5: Verify the SSL Installation

Once installation is complete:

• Visit your website using [invalid URL removed].
• Look for the secure padlock icon in your browser’s address bar.

Step 6: Test SSL Renewal

Let's Encrypt automatically renews your SSL certificates. Verify the renewal process is working correctly:

sudo certbot renew --dry-run

This simulates a renewal without making actual changes, ensuring everything is set up properly.

Why SSL is Important for Your Website

• Boosts SEO Rankings: Google prioritizes HTTPS websites in search results.
• Protects User Data: Encrypts communication between your server and users.
• Builds Trust: Visitors trust websites with SSL certificates.

Learn more about Let’s Encrypt and SSL certificates from Let’s Encrypt’s official website.

Quick Commands

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
sudo apt install certbot python3-certbot-nginx -y
sudo certbot --nginx 

Learn how to Setup SSL/ HTTPS on NGINX on CentOS 8/ AlmaLinux 8/ RockyLinux 8.