How Do I Set Up an SSL Certificate?

Applies to: Infosaic web hosting · e-commerce packages · VPS and dedicated hosting

An SSL certificate is what puts the padlock in the address bar and encrypts what visitors send you. If your site takes payments, logins, or anything a customer would rather not send in plain text, you need one.

There are two routes: buy it from us and we handle everything, or bring your own and we install it. Both end in the same place.

Buying the certificate from us

If you purchase through us we assign a dedicated IP address and install the certificate. There are three options:

1. RapidSSL — a dedicated certificate with up to 256-bit encryption and a $10K warranty. A site seal is included, but organisation details are not displayed. Included at no cost with our e-commerce packages.
2. Comodo SSL — up to 256-bit encryption and a $10K warranty, with the site seal included as part of the certificate.
3. Comodo Essential Wildcard — up to 256-bit encryption and a $10K warranty, organisation details not displayed, and unlimited subdomains secured.

The wildcard is the one to choose if you have subdomains — shop, members, mail and so on — because a single certificate covers all of them rather than needing one each. There is more detail on our SSL certificates page.

Using your own certificate

• Buying elsewhere. Let us know you will be using your own certificate, and we create a certificate request. You use that request to purchase the certificate, and we install it for you.
• Already have one. Ask your previous provider to export the certificate with its private key, and we import it.

Either way you will need to purchase a dedicated IP address from us, which is $12/year.

The private key is the part that trips people up on a transfer. A certificate exported without it cannot be installed anywhere, and the old provider is the only one who has it — so ask for it explicitly before you close the account.

Getting it installed

1. Open a support ticket from controlpanel.infosaic.com and say which route you are taking.
2. We assign the dedicated IP address.
3. We generate the certificate request, if you are buying elsewhere.
4. We install the certificate.
5. Test the site over https and check the padlock appears.

Once it is live, remember that pages have to load over https for the padlock to show. A secure page pulling an image or a script from an insecure address will show a warning instead — that is a change to your own pages, not to the certificate.

Questions and answers

What SSL certificates does Infosaic offer?

RapidSSL, Comodo SSL and the Comodo Essential Wildcard.

Is an SSL certificate included with any package?

RapidSSL is included at no cost with our e-commerce packages.

Which certificate covers subdomains?

The Comodo Essential Wildcard, which secures unlimited subdomains.

Do I need a dedicated IP address for SSL?

Yes. A dedicated certificate requires one. It is included if you buy the certificate from us, and $12/year if you bring your own.

Can I use a certificate I bought elsewhere?

Yes. Tell us, and we create a certificate request for you to purchase against, then install the result.

Can I move an existing certificate to Infosaic?

Yes, if your previous provider exports it with its private key. Ask for the private key explicitly.

How do I get the certificate installed?

Open a support ticket from your control panel and tell us which route you are taking.

My site has a certificate but still shows a warning. Why?

A secure page is loading an image or script from an insecure address. That is fixed in your pages, not in the certificate.

Related articles

• SSL certificate site seal graphics
• Do I need a dedicated IP address?
• Home folder, redirects and site security settings
• How do I move my site to Infosaic?
• How do I manage my account and access my control panel?
• How do I contact tech support?