How to enable HTTPS on your server – best 2025 tips

HTTPS is the standard protocol for website security. It encrypts communication between a user’s browser and your server, protecting sensitive data like login credentials, payment details, and personal information.

In 2025, browsers, search engines, and security regulations will continue to push for HTTPS adoption. Websites without HTTPS are flagged as “not secure”, which can deter visitors and impact trust. Without HTTPS, your website may also suffer lower search rankings and compatibility issues with modern web technologies.

If your site is still using HTTP, switching to HTTPS is a necessary step to maintain security, compliance, and performance. This guide explains why HTTPS matters in 2025 and how to enable it on your server properly.

Why you need HTTPS in 2025

HTTPS has been around for years, but its importance keeps growing. Here’s why switching to HTTPS is a must in 2025:

• Security risks are increasing: Cyberattacks like man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks exploit unencrypted HTTP connections to steal sensitive data. HTTPS encrypts traffic, making it harder for attackers to intercept or manipulate information.
• Google and other search engines prioritize HTTPS sites: Google has confirmed that HTTPS is a ranking factor. Websites with HTTPS are more likely to appear higher in search results. HTTP sites may see reduced visibility in search rankings, affecting traffic and engagement.
• Web browsers enforce HTTPS by default: Major browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Edge now mark HTTP sites as “not secure”. Some browser features, like geolocation and service workers, also only work on HTTPS sites.
• Regulatory compliance requirements: Regulations such as GDPR, PCI DSS, and HIPAA require secure data transmission. Running an HTTP site may put you at risk of non-compliance penalties.
• Faster website performance with HTTP/2 and HTTP/3: Modern protocols like HTTP/2 and HTTP/3 improve page load speeds, but they require HTTPS to function. HTTPS sites also benefit from better caching, multiplexing, and resource prioritization.

Without HTTPS, your website is not only vulnerable but also outdated in terms of performance and usability.

How to properly enable HTTPS on your server

Switching to HTTPS requires more than just installing a certificate. You need to configure your server correctly and update your website to avoid security issues. Follow these steps to set up HTTPS properly:

1. Get an SSL/TLS certificate

An SSL/TLS certificate authenticates your website and encrypts data. Here’s how to get one:

• Choose a certificate type:
  • Single-domain certificate – Secures one website (e.g., example.com).
  • Wildcard certificate – Covers a domain and its subdomains (e.g., careers.example.com).
  • Multi-domain (SAN) certificate – Protects multiple domains and their subdomains under one certificate.
• Choose a level of validation:
  • DV certificate: Suitable for personal websites that do not process any sensitive data, such as personal information, usernames, passwords, and payment information.
  • OV certificate: Suitable for websites of small to medium-sized businesses that process sensitive data.
  • EV certificate: Suitable for enterprise companies and financial institutions, offering the highest level of security.
• Select a Certificate Authority (CA):
  • Paid options: Sectigo, DigiCert, GlobalSign, etc.
  • Free option: Let’s Encrypt (this is only a suitable option if your website does not process any kind of personal data or payment information).
• Generate a Certificate Signing Request (CSR):
  • If using a hosting provider, they may generate this for you.
  • If self-hosting, use OpenSSL to generate a CSR.
• Install the certificate:
  • The process varies depending on your web server (Apache, Nginx, IIS).
  • If using cPanel, Plesk, or another control panel, installation is simplified through the interface.

If you need more information on choosing your certificate type or Certificate Authority, take a look at our SSL guide!

2. Configure your web server for HTTPS

After installing the certificate, update your server settings:

• Enable HTTPS in your web server configuration:
  • Apache: Update the VirtualHost file with SSL directives.
  • Nginx: Add the SSL certificate path to the server block.
• Enable HTTP/2 or HTTP/3 for better performance:
  • Most modern browsers support HTTP/2 and HTTP/3, improving speed and efficiency.
• Use strong SSL/TLS settings:
  • Disable outdated protocols (TLS 1.0, TLS 1.1).
  • Use recommended cipher suites for stronger encryption.

3. Redirect HTTP traffic to HTTPS

To make sure all visitors use HTTPS:

• Set up 301 redirects in your server configuration:
  • Apache: Add a redirect rule in .htaccess.
  • Nginx: Add a redirect rule in the configuration file.
• Update links and resources:
  • Change all internal links from http:// to https://.
  • Ensure all external scripts, images, and stylesheets load over HTTPS.

4. Enable security features

Improving security after enabling HTTPS helps prevent attacks and misconfigurations:

• Enable HSTS (HTTP Strict Transport Security):
  • Forces browsers to always load your site over HTTPS.
  • Prevents downgrade attacks where attackers force HTTP connections.
• Configure Content Security Policy (CSP):
  Restricts which scripts and resources can be loaded on your site.
  • Helps prevent cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks.
• Set up automatic SSL certificate renewal:
  • Let’s Encrypt certificates expire every 90 days. Use Certbot to automate renewal.
  • For paid certificates, set a reminder to renew before expiration.
  • Consider registering paid certificates for multiple years in advance for added security.

5. Test your HTTPS setup

Before launching your site with HTTPS, test the setup:

• Check SSL/TLS security settings:
  • Use SSL Labs’ SSL Test to analyze your certificate and encryption strength.
  • Look for an A+ rating, which indicates strong security settings.
• Scan for mixed content issues:
  • Mixed content occurs when some site resources still load over HTTP, triggering browser warnings.
  • Use Chrome DevTools (F12 → Console) to find and fix insecure elements.
• Verify redirects:
  • Test redirections from HTTP to HTTPS to confirm everything loads securely.

Conclusion

Switching to HTTPS is an important step when it comes to security, performance, compliance, and user trust. Without HTTPS, your website may lose visitors, rank lower in search results, and be vulnerable to attacks.

Setting up HTTPS involves choosing the right SSL certificate, configuring your web server, forcing HTTPS with redirects, enabling security features, and testing the setup. Following these steps ensures that your site is secure, fast, and future-proof for 2025 and beyond.

If you manage multiple domains and need SSL certificates in bulk, Openprovider is your best choice. With competitive pricing, automation tools, and a wide range of SSL options from Sectigo, Openprovider makes it easy to secure your websites at scale.