How to Install A Ssl Certificate on Windows Server 2016

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SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer, a protocol that provides a secure connection between web servers and browsers. If you own a website, purchasing an SSL certificate can help you secure your website’s data and that of your users by encrypting data transmitted over the internet. It can help you build trust with your clients and help you avoid the penalties levied on sites without SSL certification by search engines like Google. In this post, we will look at how to install an SSL certificate on Windows Server 2016.

Video Tutorial:

Why You Need to Install an SSL Certificate on Windows Server 2016

Without SSL certification, any information transmitted between your website and clients online is susceptible to snooping and cyber-attacks. An SSL certificate assures clients that their data is safe, that the site is authentic, and helps improve your site’s ranking on search engines. Installing an SSL certificate on Windows Server 2016 helps to improve trust with clients and partners, and helps secure critical business information.

Method 1: Via Internet Information Services (IIS)

Installing an SSL certificate using IIS can be done through the following steps:

  1. Ensure the SSL certificate you wish to install is available.
  2. Log in to your Windows Server 2012.
  3. Go to the Start menu and launch of Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager.
  4. Select the server’s name.
  5. Click on the option "Server Certificates" on the middle pane.
  6. Select "Import" under the "Actions" pane on the right side.
  7. Click "Next."
  8. Enter the path of the certificate file, or you can use the option "Browse" to locate the file.
  9. Enter the password which you used while generating the certificate request and click “Next”.
  10. Choose the certificate store location.
  11. Click "Next" to confirm the selected options.
  12. Finally, click on the "Finish" button to complete.

Pros:

  • Most of the configurations are done on IIS which is easy to operate.
  • You don’t have to use code to install SSL certification.

Cons:

  • You may encounter issues with untrusted root errors or other problems if the web server is not properly configured.

Method 2: Via Certificate Snap-in

  1. Log in to your Windows server.
  2. Click on the Start menu and select the Run command.
  3. Type in MMC, then press Enter.
  4. From the “File” list, select “Add-Remove Snap-in” option.
  5. From the “Availble snap-ins” click on the Certificates. Click the Add button then select “Computer Account”, click Next.
  6. Also, select “Local Computer”, click on Finish to add the snap-in.
  7. Click OK to close the “Add or Remove Snap-ins” window.
  8. After that, right-click on the “Personal” folder located in “Certificates (Local Computer)”
  9. Click on the “All Tasks” option then select “Import”.
  10. On the Certificate Import Wizard next screen, click on “Next” several times to accept the default settings.
  11. Select the certificate you wish to use from your certificate store and click “Next”.
  12. Enter the password for your private key, then click on “Next” to complete the import process.

Pros:

  • You don’t need code to install the SSL certificate.
  • The method is safer and secure.

Cons:

  • The process may be tedious and cumbersome.
  • You need to have Windows administrative rights to access the MMC and Certificate snap-in.

Method 3: Via Command-Line Tools

The command-line tool is more suitable when you know the proper way of using the Command Prompt. Here are the steps for this method:

  1. Open the Command Prompt with administrative privilege.
  2. Type “mmc” then hit Enter.
  3. Get the “Add or Remove Snap-ins”.
  4. Double click on the Certificates option that exists on the screen.
  5. Select the Computer account and click on Next.
  6. Choose Local Computer and click Finish.
  7. Click OK.
  8. Right-click on “Personal” and select "All Tasks" from the dropdown menu, then choose Import.
  9. Select the file you generated from the issuing authority.
  10. Enter the password and click next.
  11. Select the certificate store location and ensure you chose “Personal” to import the certificate.
  12. Click on the finish button to close the wizard.

Pros:

  • You can easily copy and script the tools as required.
  • It’s almost the same for other versions of Windows.

Cons:

  • You might need some knowledge about the command prompt to use this method.
  • It may be challenging for first-time users.

Method 4: Via PowerShell

The PowerShell installation of SSL certificate needs one’s familiarity with cmdlets. Here are the steps to be followed:

  1. Log in to Windows with administrative rights.
  2. Open PowerShell by clicking the “start button” then scroll down the menu to windows power shell.
  3. Type “Import-Module WebAdministration” and press enter.
  4. Type the following code: $cert= New-Item -Path Cert:\LocalMachine\My -Subject "C=Country , S=State/Province, L=Locality, O=Organization, CN=yourdomain.com” –DnsName yourdomain.com.
  5. Generate the certificate request and submit to the issuing authority.
  6. Install the certificate from the issuing authority on the computer.
  7. Associate the certificate with web sites using PowerShell.
  8. Add a host entry in the host file of the server to refer to the website.
  9. Type “Net Stop WAS /y” and “Net Start W3SVC” on the command prompt.
  10. Open the IIS server and scroll down the center pane to see “Browse *.xxx” on the services.
  11. Select “View Site” to load your SSL secured website.

Pros:

  • PowerShell helps automate the configuration of SSL in Windows environments.
  • It provides more granular control over the settings you apply.

Cons:

  • You must be familiar in using commands in PowerShell.
  • Incorrectly applying the configuration may lead to serious problems.

What to Do If You Can’t Install an SSL Certificate on Windows Server 2016

Here are some fixes to try if you run into issues installing the SSL certification:

  • The SSL certificate is available on the computer. You may have saved it with a different name.
  • The SSL certificate issue may arise due to compatibility issues with the server, operating system, or application.
  • Ensure you are set up with proper admin rights, and the issuer files are not password-protected or corrupted.
  • You should verify the SSL certificate trail and ensure none of the intermediaries are expired.
  • If you’re using Windows Server 2016 Standard Edition or Datacenter Edition running the Desktop Experience interface, try copying the certificate file to your server.

Bonus Tips

  1. Use strong passwords and encryption to further strengthen cybersecurity.
  2. Consider using SSL certificate renewal services to extend the life of your certificate.
  3. Use industry-leading SSL certificate authorities like Comodo, Symantec, and GeoTrust SSL when purchasing SSL certification.

5 FAQs

Q1: Where can I find SSL certificates on Windows Server 2016?

A: You can find SSL certificates in the Local Computer certificate store.

Q2: Is it possible to install an SSL certificate in Windows Server 2016 without an internet connection?

A: Yes, it is possible to install an SSL certificate if you generated the certificate request on the same server.

Q3: What is a CRS file?

A: A certificate signing request is a document used to request a digital SSL certificate from a Certificate Authority (CA).

Q4: Can I install more than one SSL certificate on a web server at a time?

A: Yes, you can install multiple SSL certificates if you have multiple domain names.

Q5: What happens if my SSL certificate expires?

A: If your SSL certificate expires, the encryption keys will be invalid, and communication will fail, putting sensitive data at risk.

Final Thoughts

Installing an SSL certificate on your server goes a long way to improving client trust and enhancing cybersecurity. There are different ways to install the SSL certificate that best suits your preference, depending on your level of comfort with the installation methods presented. Adopting SSL technology will help to protect user data and reputation by encrypting sensitive information transmitted across the internet.

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