In today’s digital age, cybersecurity is of utmost importance, and SSL certificates are integral to securing online communications. SSL (Secure Socket Layer) is a protocol that establishes a secure connection between a web server and a user’s device.
An SSL certificate, therefore, is a digital certificate that authenticates the identity of a website and encrypts data transmitted between the web server and the user’s browser. It encrypts the information sent between the web server and the user’s device, making it unreadable to anyone who might intercept it.
This ensures that sensitive information such as login credentials, credit card details, and personal information remain secure. According to Statista, cyber-attacks have increased significantly in recent years.
In 2022 over 442 million individuals were affected in the USA alone. This highlights the need for website owners to take cybersecurity seriously and take proactive measures to secure their online presence.
When it comes to SSL certificates, it is essential to purchase genuine certificates from trusted Certificate Authorities (CA) and have them installed correctly. A genuine SSL certificate guarantees the authenticity of your website and provides a secure connection for your visitors.
Failure to do so puts your visitors at risk. It also exposes your website to security vulnerabilities, which could lead to reputational damage and financial loss.
In this guide, we will walk you through the entire process of getting an SSL certificate, generating a CSR, importing and exporting the certificate, and verifying the installation. So, if you are looking to buy an SSL certificate and learn how to install SSL certificate on Azure, keep reading this piece of information.
Steps to Install SSL Certificate on Azure
To initiate the SSL certificate process, you need to start with generating a Certificate Signing Request (CSR). Once the CSR is ready, the next step is to get your organization or business verified by a certificate authority (CA) before they issue you SSL certificates.
This way, the CA can ensure your organization or business’s legitimacy and authenticity before providing the SSL certificates. It is important to note that generating a CSR in Microsoft Azure is a complex process that requires careful attention to detail.
Ideally, while installing an SSL certificate through the Azure console is possible, the CSR generation process must be completed through Internet Information Services on your computer.
- Start IIS Manager
- On the left ‘Connection’ pan, click on server and double click on ‘Server certificate’ icon showing in the middle of the window.
- Now, click create Certificate Request on the right side of the screen under ‘Action’ tab.
- You will have to fill required details shown as below.
- Common Name: The domain name, which will be used in SSL certificate.
- Organization: An organization’s legal name
- City: A city name where the company is located.
- State: A state name where the company is located.
- Country: two-character abbreviation of the country.
- Once you fill the details, click Next button.
- Now, select ‘Cryptographic service provider’ as “Microsoft RSA SChannel Cryptographic Provider”. In addition, select private key length to 2048-bit. Click Next button.
- Create a file name of the CSR and click on ‘Finish’ button.
Your CSR is ready and copy the text in a notepad and save it as on the desktop. You need to submit the CSR to the SSL provider.
Once you have generated the CSR, you will need to import an SSL certificate from the bundle provided by the certificate authority. From there, you will need to export the certificate file in the PFX extension to install it on the Azure portal.
It is critical to fully understand each step of the installation process to ensure that your certificate is installed correctly. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of the process:
- Step 1: First, generate a CSR to obtain the certificate you need. Once the certificate is issued, proceed to import it onto your local machine and export the corresponding PFX file. To do this, open IIS on your computer and search for the PFX file.
- Step 2: Scroll down and select the option for server certificate from within the IIS window.
- Step 3: To begin the import process, select the “import” option, then specify the file format by indicating the file path for the PFX format.
After successfully importing the file, it will be available in the server certificates window, and you can easily export it from there. If you prefer using the OpenSSL command line to export the PFX file, install it on your computer first.
To convert a PEM certificate file to a PFX extension, you can use the following command:
openssl pkcs12 -export -out certificate.pfx -inkey privatekey.key -in certificate.crt -certfile bundle.crtPlease note that “typo. crt” is the name of the bundle supplied by your Certificate Authority (CA).
Also, it is possible to transform PKCS#7 into PFX or PKCS#12 format. To do this, use this method:
Execute the command: “openssl pkcs12 -export -out certificate.pfx -inkey privatekey.key -in certificate.crt -certfile typo.crt” to generate the PFX file.
Upon successfully generating the PFX file, the next step will be installing it on the Azure portal.
Steps for Installing SSL Certificate on Azure Portal
The Azure Portal is an all-in-one platform offering advanced features for managing web and other applications. If you have the PFX file, installing an SSL certificate on the Azure Portal is easy. Here’s a simplified step-by-step process to guide you with the process:
- Step 1: Using your credentials, log in to the Azure portal
- Step 2: Click on the website tab on the portal and select “Configure.”
- Step 3: Under the “Certificates” option, select the “Subject” to upload your certificate.
- Step 4: You will see the “Browse Files” option. Click on it and choose the certificate file from your local machine.
- Step 5: After selecting the certificate file to upload, choose the type of SSL configuration, you want to use.
- The first option is IPL-based SSL, which maps your domain name with the IP address.
- The second option is SNI SSL, which allows multiple domain names to share a single IP address, each with its SSL certificate.
- Step 6: After specifying your preferred SSL configuration, click on “Finish.” This will complete the installation process.
In Closing
And that’s it! Follow the simple steps outlined above to learn how to install SSL certificate on the Azure portal and ensure your web applications are secure and protected.
The importance of having an SSL certificate installed cannot be overstated. It not only secures your website but also helps to build trust with your audience.
Without an SSL certificate, your website is vulnerable to attacks, and your users’ data could be compromised. And there are several options available when you want to buy SSL certificate.
From domain validation, to organization validation, and extended validation, you have several options to choose from. The type of SSL certificate you choose will depend on your website requirements and the level of validation you require.
It’s worth noting that while Azure doesn’t allow direct installation of SSL certificates on the server, this isn’t an excuse to leave your site open to attacks. By following the right steps depending on your CA, SSL certificate type, and website requirements, you should be able to install the SSL certificate successfully. With the right SSL certificate and proper installation, you can protect your website and build trust with your audience.