Understanding SSL Certificates and HTTPS
An SSL certificate encrypts the connection between your website and its visitors, keeping sensitive information like passwords, personal details, and payment data secure. This guide explains what SSL is, why it matters, and how it works with your Zeniar hosting.
What is SSL?
SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is a security technology that creates an encrypted link between a web server and a browser. When your website has an active SSL certificate, it loads using HTTPS instead of HTTP, and a padlock icon appears in the browser's address bar.
Why is SSL Important?
- Protects your visitors — Encrypts data so it can't be intercepted by third parties
- Builds trust — Visitors are more likely to trust a website that shows the padlock icon
- Improves SEO — Google uses HTTPS as a ranking signal, so secured sites can rank higher in search results
- Required for online payments — If you accept payments on your site, SSL is essential for compliance with payment security standards
SSL with Zeniar
Every Zeniar hosting plan includes free SSL certificates powered by Let's Encrypt. In most cases, your SSL certificate will be installed automatically when your domain is added to Plesk. If you need to install or renew it manually, you can do so from the SSL/TLS Certificates section under your website in Plesk.
SSL certificates are renewed automatically, so you generally don't need to worry about them expiring. If you do receive a warning about an expiring certificate, check that your domain's DNS is pointing to Zeniar's nameservers, as this is required for automatic renewal.