SSL certificates: what they are and how Web60 handles them

You may have noticed that some websites show a small padlock icon in the browser's address bar. That padlock means the website has an SSL certificate and that your connection to it is secure. This page explains what that means and how Web60 handles it for you.

What is an SSL certificate?

An SSL certificate is a small piece of security technology that protects the connection between your website and your visitors. When it is in place:

• Information is protected. Anything your visitors type on your site (such as their name, email, or phone number on a contact form) is scrambled so that nobody else can read it.
• Your site shows the padlock. Visitors see a padlock icon in their browser's address bar, which tells them your site is safe to use.
• Your address starts with https. The "s" stands for secure.

Why does it matter?

An SSL certificate matters for three reasons:

1. Trust. Visitors are more likely to stay on your site and contact you if they see the padlock. Without it, browsers may show a warning that your site is "not secure", which can put people off.
2. Protection. It keeps your visitors' information safe from anyone who might try to intercept it.
3. Search results. Google and other search engines prefer secure websites. Having an SSL certificate can help your site appear higher in search results.

How Web60 handles your SSL certificate

The good news is that you do not need to do anything. Web60 provides a free SSL certificate on every website, and it is set up automatically.

Here is how it works:

• When your site is created on its temporary smartsitebuilder.ie address, an SSL certificate is already in place.
• When you connect your own domain, Web60 automatically creates a new SSL certificate for that domain.
• The certificate renews itself automatically, so you never need to worry about it expiring.

There is nothing to buy, nothing to install, and nothing to configure.

What if I see a security warning?

If you or your visitors see a browser warning saying your site is "not secure", it usually means one of two things:

• Your domain was recently connected. It can take a short time after your domain connects for the SSL certificate to be set up. Wait an hour and try again.
• Something else needs attention. If the warning persists, check our SSL troubleshooting guide for help.

For more about how Web60 keeps your site secure, see our guide on Web60 security.

Checking your SSL status

You can check the current state of your SSL certificate from the Domain tab in your Web60 dashboard. The status indicator next to your domain name tells you exactly where things stand:

• Connected with a padlock icon means your SSL certificate is active and working. Your site is fully secure and visitors will see the padlock in their browser.
• SSL Provisioning means the SSL certificate is being issued. This usually takes a few minutes after your DNS has been pointed to Web60. No action is needed on your part; just wait for the process to complete.
• Pending DNS means your domain is not yet pointing to Web60. SSL certificates cannot be issued until your DNS records are set up correctly and DNS propagation is complete. Check your DNS settings and allow up to 48 hours for propagation.

If your SSL status has been stuck on "SSL Provisioning" or "Pending DNS" for more than 24 hours, contact our support team. There may be a DNS configuration issue that needs to be resolved before the certificate can be issued.

Need help?

If you are seeing a security warning on your site or have any questions about SSL certificates, visit our support page and we will sort it out for you.