SSL Certificates for Web Developers

Learn how to secure your sites with HTTPS using SSL certificates.

Introduction

• Why SSL certificates are essential for every website
• What you need

1. SSL and HTTPS

• What are SSL certificates?
• Handshakes and cryptography
• The urgent need for HTTPS

2. Choose a Certificate

• Certificate authorities (CAs)
• Free certificates with Let's Encrypt
• Self-signed certificates
• Certificate types

3. Install a Certificate with Let's Encrypt

• Certbot
• Install using Certbot
• Install using a hosting provider

4. Install a Purchased Certificate

• Certificate signing request (CSR)
• Sign up for an SSL certificate
• Install on Apache
• Install on NGINX
• Install on hosted web servers

5. Configure a Web Server to Require HTTPS

• Redirect requests to HTTPS
• HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS)
• HSTS preloading

6. Manage Certificates

• Expiration dates
• Renew Let's Encrypt certificates

Conclusion

• Next steps