What is AutoSSL from the cPanel?

cPanel includes a plethora of features. It includes website backup and more. One of the prominent features includes AutoSSL. It is a feature that is available within the cPanel that automatically issues and renews SSL certificates for websites hosted on cPanel servers. SSL certificates encrypt the sensitive data between the website and its visitors. 

Hence, there is no room for cyber threats or security loopholes, ensuring secure communication and protecting sensitive information such as passwords, credit card numbers, and personal data. AutoSSL simplifies this process by automating the SSL certificate installation and renewal, eliminating the need for manual intervention from website owners.

Why is SSL Important?

Let’s first understand why SSL is essential before we decode the AutoSSL. An SSL certificate ensures that the connection between a user’s browser and the web server. This prevents malicious actors from intercepting data and helps establish trust with website visitors. Websites with SSL certificates display a padlock icon next to the URL in the browser and use the “HTTPS” protocol instead of “HTTP.” Google also uses HTTPS as a ranking factor, so having SSL certificates can improve a website’s SEO performance.

How Does AutoSSL Work?

AutoSSL is built to ensure cPanel clients have an easy time managing their SSL certificates. It, for instance, fits a new SSL certificate without the user’s attention whenever there is an SSL certificate that is due for installation, is missing, or expired. The following is the operation.

• Automatic detection and installation: AutoSSL when a new domain or subdomain is added to a cPanel account, recognizes the domain and automatically generates an SSL certificate for it. This guarantees security on all domains within the account as soon as they are provisioned.
• Automated renewal: Expiration dates are normal for many SSL certificates, generally 90 days of validity. AutoSSL ensures renewing the certificates before the expiry so that the website remains secure at all times without any downtime or action required from the user.
• Wildcard certificates: Autossl is capable of providing wild cards in that it covers all the subdomains of the primary domain using one certificate. This facility comes in handy, especially for a site having many subdomains as there is no need to have a separate SSL for each of the subdomains.
• Free SSL certificates: AutoSSL uses the free SSL certificate provided by certificate authorities like Let’s Encrypt or cPanel’s provider, Comodo. It means that users don’t have to pay for SSL certificates, making security more accessible to website owners of all sizes.
• Integration with WHM: AutoSSL can be configured and managed through Web Host Manager (WHM), which allows server administrators to control AutoSSL settings for all cPanel accounts on their server. This is useful for web hosting providers who want to offer SSL as part of their hosting packages without requiring manual certificate management.

Benefits of Using AutoSSL

• Time saving: AutoSSL eliminates the requirement to manually install and renew SSL certificates. Website owners can focus on running their websites rather than worrying about SSL management.
• Cost efficiency: The owner’s total cost of ownership in securing their websites is reduced to zero because AutoSSL deploys and manages free SSL certificates.

• Advanced security: In the case of AutoSSL, its service guarantees that websites are secured with the most current SSL certificates at all times. With the renewal process turned into a programmable process, there is no danger of certificates reaching expiration and exposing the sites to the risk of attacks.
• Improved SEO: In addition to this, Google favors sites that rank in its search engines with HTTPS. AutoSSL helps websites achieve search engine optimization (SEO) and at the same time assures visitors who may be concerned with the padlock icon that they are protected.