The following describes how to add an SSL certificate to your domain.

However, adding a certificate is only the first step in the process of making your site secure. In order to see a secure padlock in your browser’s address bar, you must also complete each of the following steps:

There are two types of SSL certificates you can add to your domain within the DreamHost panel:

If you have previously purchased your own certificate, you can install it manually in the panel:

• How do I install a third-party SSL certificate?

1. Navigate to the Secure Certificates page. A list of your domains display.
2. Click the Add button to the right of the domain you wish to add the SSL cert.
3. On the next page you can select a free Let's Encrypt or paid Sectigo certificate.

The first option is to add a FREE 'Let's Encrypt' certificate. This is just as secure as a paid certificate. The only difference is that it does not have the same seal of trust which some users prefer to display to their visitors.

This option is recommended for simple websites such as a WordPress blog and other non-critical public content.

• Adding a free Let's Encrypt SSL certificate

The second option allows you to add a paid Sectigo SSL certificate, which costs $15/year.

The advantages of a Sectigo SSL certificate over the other options are:

• it's professionally signed by Sectigo and displays a certificate seal of trust.
• it's recommended for ecommerce sites, customer login areas, and any other critical public content.
• gives your visitors the best indication that your website is secure and the connection is safe.
• provides a certificate warranty if it fails to properly validate the information contained in a digital certificate.

View the following article for full instructions on how to add this certificate:

• How do I purchase a signed SSL certificate?

Signed SSL Certificate Seal

For the signed SSL certificates purchased in the DreamHost panel (through Sectigo), you can use this seal graphic on your site:

• https://www.positivessl.com/site_seals.php

If you have chosen not to purchase a signed SSL certificate from DreamHost, below is a list of SSL Certificate Authorities from which you may also purchase.

Please note that the specifications for all SSL certificates are NOT the same. You have to compare features as well as prices to see what's the best value.

For more details on this option, please visit the What do I need from DreamHost before purchasing a third-party SSL certificate? article.

After adding an SSL certificate, it could take a few minutes to a few hours for HTTPS to work on your domain. This depends on the certificate type you added:

• Let's Encrypt — Can take 10-30 minutes to set up
• Professionally-signed — These could potentially take several hours to set up

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