It is no doubt that on paper, it sounds easy to install a Standard SSL certificate. However, there are many simple mistakes that can be made during installation that can result in a warning from the browser, mixed content errors, or even complete SSL certificate failures that can compromise the trust and security the certificate was designed to provide. Many site owners rush the installation, don’t understand what they’re doing, and end up with problems when customers begin to complain about security warnings.
By avoiding these common pitfalls, businesses can save a lot of time troubleshooting and avoid any damage to the trust of their visitors in the first few days after installation. The most common mistakes businesses make when setting up Standard SSL are listed below, and there’s a solution to avoid them.
Let us dive in and reveal such mistakes that you can as well not repeat or happens at your side.
- The first mistake is to forget to update internal links.
A frequent mistake is not updating internal links from HTTP to HTTPS when installing the certificate. This results in mixed content warnings, which is when secure and insecure elements are served on the same page, thus undermining the padlock icon that visitors are looking for to give them a sense of security.
- To install an Incomplete Certificate Chain:
The most common installation problems are when the intermediate certificate chain is not installed with the primary certificate. Some browsers may show trust errors even if the certificate is valid, making it difficult for visitors to the site and the site owner to determine the problem.
- Not redirecting HTTP to HTTPS.
Just placing an SSL certificate on the site is not sufficient if the site does not automatically redirect visitors from the unsecure version (HTTP) to the secure version (HTTPS). If this is not done, search engines and visitors can still access the unencrypted version, and forgo the security and ranking benefits that SSL offers.
- Viewing Certificate Expiration Dates
Most of the SSL certificates are valid for a limited time and when they expire, the browser will display a warning that will deter visitors from using the site. Avoiding this altogether avoidable error is possible by setting up reminders for renewals or automated renewal processes.
- Not Testing After Installation
If the post-installation testing is not performed, then potential issues will not be identified until a customer complains about a problem. These errors can be identified by using free online SSL checker tools to ensure that SSL is installed correctly, the SSL chain is complete, and the SSL redirect is working properly, without impacting actual visitors.
Conclusion
The installation of Standard SSL is usually simple, but there are potential pitfalls in setting up the certificate that can compromise the security and trust that the certificate is designed to deliver. The most common pitfalls are avoided by taking the time to update internal links, install the full certificate chain, set up proper redirects, track renewal dates and test thoroughly after installation. Just a bit more effort during set up will make a huge difference in protecting and establishing the credibility a business is banking on with Standard SSL.
