How to Install SSL Certificate on IIS

Prerequisites

Before installing an SSL certificate on IIS, ensure you have:

• IIS installed and running on Windows Server
• Administrator access to the server
• Domain name pointing to your server
• SSL certificate files:
  • Certificate file (.pfx or .p12)
  • Private key (included in .pfx)
  • Intermediate certificates (if applicable)

Obtaining SSL Certificate

You can obtain an SSL certificate through several methods:

Installing SSL Certificate

Follow these steps to install your SSL certificate:

1. Open IIS Manager:

   Start > Administrative Tools > Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager

2. Select your server in the Connections pane
3. Double-click "Server Certificates" in the Features View
4. Click "Import..." in the Actions pane
5. Browse to your .pfx file and enter the password

Configuring IIS

Use our configuration generator to create your IIS SSL binding:

# Add SSL binding
New-WebBinding -Name "Default Web Site" -Protocol "https" -Port 443 -IPAddress "*" -HostHeader "example.com" -SslFlags 1

# Assign certificate
$cert = Get-ChildItem -Path Cert:\LocalMachine\My | Where-Object {$_.Subject -like "*example.com*"}
$binding = Get-WebBinding -Name "Default Web Site" -Protocol "https"
$binding.AddSslCertificate($cert.Thumbprint, "my")

Testing Configuration

Verify your SSL configuration:

1. Test IIS configuration:

   iisreset /status

2. Restart IIS:

   iisreset

3. Verify SSL installation:
   • Visit https://example.com
   • Check certificate details in browser
   • Use SSL testing tools (e.g., SSLLabs)

Troubleshooting

Best Practices

• Security:
  • Use modern TLS protocols (1.2+)
  • Implement strong cipher suites
  • Enable HSTS if possible
• Maintenance:
  • Regular certificate renewal
  • Keep IIS updated
  • Monitor SSL performance

SSL Module Configuration

Advanced SSL features in IIS:

# Enable SNI
Set-WebBinding -Name "Default Web Site" -BindingInformation "*:443:example.com" -PropertyName "sslFlags" -Value 1

# Configure Client Certificates
Set-WebConfigurationProperty -Filter "system.webServer/security/access" -Name "sslFlags" -Value "Ssl,SslNegotiateCert" -PSPath "IIS:\Sites\Default Web Site"