The padlock in the address bar shows that the connection between visitor and site is encrypted. Browsers mark sites without SSL as "not secure", which drives visitors away and affects search rankings. For stores and sites that collect forms, it is essential.
What is Let's Encrypt?
A free, automated SSL certificate from a non-profit organization, used by a very large share of the world's websites. Certificates are short-lived and must be renewed regularly, so automatic renewal matters.
Before you start
Your domain's DNS A record must point to your server's IP address. Captanel checks this first and tells you what to fix if it is wrong.
Setting it up with Captanel
On the SSL certificates screen, pick the domain and press "Install SSL". The certificate is issued, installed in nginx or Apache, and http is redirected to https. New sites get SSL as part of setup.
Never let it expire
Certificates renew by themselves. If anything goes wrong, the 24/7 watchdog warns your phone before a certificate expires.
Read more: Free SSL certificates with automatic renewal · Try it free for 14 days