Maintaining a WooCommerce store or site is quite challenging, as you must always improve its security. In this situation, an SSL certificate is a blessing in disguise, as it helps WooCommerce store and site owners secure their customer data and enhance credibility significantly.
This exclusive guide will help install SSL on WooCommerce stores and sites without difficulty.
What Do You Know About SSL?
The Secure Sockets Layer, or SSL, is a notable security protocol that encrypts all communication between a web server and a web browser.
Its key function is safeguarding data, like credit card numbers and addresses, from cyber terrorists and other unwanted people online. SSL uses public and private keys to validate website access.
You can see an SSL-enabled site in the browser containing https:// rather than http://. Furthermore, a padlock or other security symbol appears in the browser bar.
Why Does Your WooCommerce Store Require SSL?
You must protect your WooCommerce store with an SSL certificate to bypass numerous security risks and issues comprehensively. Otherwise, your existing or potential WooCommerce store will look like a place without security guards or cameras.
Therefore, you need an SSL certificate to safeguard your WooCommerce store and customers’ sensitive data. Moreover, an SSL certificate can enhance customers’ trust because ‘HTTPS’ in the address bar offers them security by protecting their information.
Most importantly, Google, a leading search engine, prioritizes WooCommerce stores and sites that incorporate SSL certificates into their address bars.
How to Install SSL on WooCommerce Stores?
When installing SSL certificates on WooCommerce stores, users can take advantage of multiple options. These options include:
- Through a CDN Provider
- Using a Hosting Service Provider’s SSL
- Through an Exclusive Plugin
- Purchasing SSL Certificate
Through a CDN Provider
The CDN (Content Delivery Network) method lets e-commerce businesses of various sizes acquire an SSL certificate. As a result, they can easily optimize and protect their WooCommerce websites.
In reality, CDNs store multiple copies of websites’ files worldwide.
Hence, website visitors can easily and quickly access various sites depending on location.
Here is the list that consists of several famous CDNs:
- Cloudflare
- KeyCDN
- CacheFly
- Stackpath
For instance, you can use the popular CDN Cloudflare. To access the SSL option, use your login credentials. The SSL/TLS options are on the left side of your admin dashboard.
Once you access the settings, you will see four options: off, flexible, full, and full (strict). You can select your preferred mode, but the full mode usually works fine.
Your website’s communication will now be encrypted through the website’s SSL version.
Through Cloudflare, you can check the data regarding the website traffic you receive over SSL. Moreover, you can activate the ‘Force HTTPS’ option using the edge certificates settings.
Once you activate the Force HTTPS option, all HTTP traffic will be switched to the HTTPS version. Likewise, you can enable the ‘HTTPS rewrites’ option by scrolling down further. This option will allow you to bypass the mixed content error appropriately.
When your WordPress website tends to serve secure (HTTPS) and non-secure (HTTP) content, users may experience mixed content errors.
Using a Hosting Service Provider’s SSL
Fortunately, you can use free SSL certificates provided you buy a web service hosting package from a renowned provider. It means you do not have to pay for an SSL certificate.
Here are a few reputable web hosting companies that provide users with free SSL certificates:
- SiteGround
- Bluehost
- GreenGeeks
- DreamHost
- HostGator
- Hostinger
- A2 Hosting
Moreover, you should not forget to update your domain’s records with the hosting’s IP addresses and nameservers. Once you complete this step, a free SSL certificate will be incorporated into your domain.
Similarly, you can open your website’s cPanel to check the SSL settings accordingly.
In this scenario, we used the hostinger’s hPanel as a reference.
Through an Exclusive Plugin
When installing an SSL certificate on your WooCommerce store or website, a notable plugin, Really Simple SSL, can help.
Once you install the Really Simple SSL plugin, you will see a warning indicating an SSL certificate has not been activated on your domain.
In this situation, you must activate the plugin, so click the ‘Activate’ button. Furthermore, select your web hosting provider and enable the SSL certificate accordingly.
Purchasing SSL Certificate
You can also purchase SSL certificates from your desired SSL certificate providers, including Digicert, GeoTrust, Comodo, and more.
However, the cost of SSL certificates depends on various crucial factors, such as the number of domains or sites covered, the validation process, the certificate type, Domain Validation (DV), etc.
Other Ways of Installing SSL Certificates on WooCommerce Stores
Fortunately, you can go with other ways to help you appropriately configure SSL certificates on your WooCommerce stores. These different ways are:
- Edit the WordPress Settings
- SSL Certificate Manual Generation
How can we force WooCommerce SSL Certificates?
When you force a WooCommerce SSL certificate, your website visitors will be redirected to the SSL version automatically, even if they use the HTTP protocol.
For that reason, you can take advantage of your CDN (Content Delivery Network). You can activate this option through the CDN settings to force the WooCommerce SSL certificate.
Additionally, you can install and configure the impactful plugin WP Force SSL on your site. Using the WordPress settings, you can check the plugin’s settings to activate the force HTTPS option.
Hence, you can force a WooCommerce SSL certificate on your website.
What Do You Know About A WooCommerce SSL Certificate?
SSL certificate for a WooCommerce store, also called a WooCommerce SSL certificate, helps e-commerce store owners safeguard communication between their online stores and customers’ web browsers.
SSL Certificate Market Size (Current and Future Scenario)
The international SSL certificate market reached US$187 million in 2023 and will reach US$413.5 million by 2030 at a reasonable compound annual growth rate of 12%.
Do You Need Professional Help?
WPExperts is a seasoned WordPress development agency that offers various impactful services to small, medium-sized, and large businesses worldwide.
If you are experiencing issues maintaining the security of your WooCommerce website and store and want to configure the Really Simple SSL plugin and other desired security tools, WPExperts can help.
You can consider getting WordPress website maintenance services. As a result, you can improve your WooCommerce site’ security to the next level.
Wrapping Up
We hope you liked our guide, allowing you to install SSL on WooCommerce sites and stores. Configuring an SSL certificate is a core responsibility of any WooCommerce site or store owner.
An SSL certificate enables you to safeguard your stores’ crucial data, including sensitive customer details. Additionally, you can retain and expand your customer base by building customer trust in the right direction.
More importantly, installing an SSL certificate helps store owners boost user experiences. Search engines prefer secure stores and websites that prioritize users’ security. Therefore, SSL comes in handy when WooCommerce sites and stores are willing to enhance their SEO activities.
