Is your WordPress site encrypted with HTTPS?
If not, migrating over to SSL should be your top priority. An insecure site puts both your business and users at risk.
But with so many options like shared hosting auto-SSL, provisioning your own certificates, or offloading to a CDN, where do you start?
In this comprehensive guide as an experienced infrastructure engineer, I’ll compare the most popular methods of implementing SSL on WordPress. I‘ll also share my recommendations and best practices to make sure you get HTTPS right.
Why Migrate to HTTPS?
Before we get into the technical details, let‘s discuss why securing WordPress with SSL certificates matters so much:
Security Against Threats
HTTPS encryption prevents man-in-the-middle attacks that spy on your user‘s browsing. On sites handling logins or financial data, it‘s downright irresponsible not to use HTTPS.
Ranking Boost from Google
Google has publicly stated that HTTPS serves as a positive ranking signal. Recent data found 75% of the top 100 Google results use full HTTPS. If you haven‘t migrated yet, you could be penalized!
User Trust and Conversions
The iconic padlock icon shows users your site is secure. Studies have shown this results in increased user trust that can boost conversion rates by over 20%!
Compliance with Regulations
Strict privacy regulations like GDPR mandate securing customer data with encryption technologies like SSL. Migrating to HTTPS helps minimize your compliance risk.
With threats only expected to accelerate in coming years, transitioning to HTTPS-only WordPress sites will soon become mandatory regardless of your size or industry.
Overview of SSL Implementation Options
Assuming I‘ve now convinced you that migrating to HTTPS is critical, let‘s explore the various methods of adding SSL support to your WordPress site:
Getting a Certificate
First, you‘ll need to obtain an SSL certificate from a trusted Certificate Authority (CA). The most common options include:
- Shared Host Auto-SSL – Many shared hosts offer single-domain certificates through cPanel. Easy to deploy, but limited control.
- Let’s Encrypt – Free and open certificate authority. Fully customizable installs, but requires more technical expertise.
- CDN Shared Cert – Free certificates included with most CDNs by default. Quick setup but potential limitations compared to dedicated certificates.
- Commercial SSL Cert – Maximum compatibility and assurance but requires annual payments starting around $50-60/year.
I generally recommend Let‘s Encrypt since it‘s free and trusted by all modern browsers. But feel free to compare CAs if the limitations of auto-SSL or shared certificates don‘t work for your use case.
Now let’s look at the various ways to install and configure these certificates:
The easiest way to activate SSL on WordPress is using auto-SSL offered by hosts like Bluehost, HostGator, and SiteGround.
With just a few clicks you can install free trusted certificates from Let‘s Encrypt and redirect all traffic to HTTPS:
Pros
- Simple automated setup through cPanel
- Host manages renewals behind the scenes
- Little impact on site performance
Cons
- Limited customization of TLS settings
- Mixed content errors possible needing fixes
- Requires host‘s cooperation to enforce HTTPS
If your shared host doesn‘t offer auto-SSL, I‘d recommend switching to one that does – it‘s that convenient.
VPS and Dedicated Servers
Self-managed WordPress instances allow installing certificates manually for full control. I prefer using the free certbot tool to automate issuing and renewing Let‘s Encrypt certificates on my Nginx and Apache servers.
Pros
- Complete flexibility over certificate types and TLS cipher configurations
- Ability to use certs across multiple domains and apps
- Automation handles renewals in background
Cons
- Requires familiarity with command line and TLS terminology
- Troubleshooting certificate issues takes more time/skill
- Mixed content problems still possible needing fixes
For developers or advanced users running their own infrastructure, I‘d generally recommend provisioning your own certificates. But there is an initial learning curve compared to shared host auto-SSL.
Content Delivery Networks
CDNs like Cloudflare offer free shared certificates using the SNI extension, providing an easy middle ground approach.
Pros
- Quick setup by changing nameservers
- Offloads HTTPS processing overhead
- Additional security and performance benefits beyond just SSL
Cons
- Limited control compared to dedicated certs
- Requires addressing mixed content for full migration
- Adds additional possible point of failure
In my experience, Cloudflare‘s universal SSL provides the best effort to benefit ratio. But review the limitations before relying solely on proxy services for security.
Managed Cloud Hosts
Tools like WP Engine and Cloudways combine the convenience of auto-SSL issuance with the flexibility of VPS cloud hosting plans.
Pros
- Automates procurement and renewal of SSL certs
- Offloads infrastructure maintenance to platform
- Often better performance than shared hosting
Cons
- Higher monthly costs than self-managed options
- Requires custom domain – can‘t bring external sites not on their platform
- Possible vendor platform lock-in
I view managed WordPress cloud hosts as an intermediate step between shared hosting limitations and complex self-managed infrastructure. Evaluate if the increased cost is justified by expected traffic growth and engineering time savings.
My Personal Recommendations
We‘ve covered a lot of ground comparing popular techniques for adding SSL to WordPress installs. Here are my personal recommendations based on use case:
Personal Blogs and Small Business Sites
For sites that don‘t need ultimate flexibility or maximum scale, use your shared host‘s auto-SSL or switch to host that offers it like Siteground GrowBig plan.
The ease of setup can‘t be overstated – Let‘s Encrypt installation happens behind the scene with no need to adjust TLS settings or mess with command lines.
Mixed content is still possible needing fixes. But hosts like SiteGround offer the SSL Insecure Content Fixer plugin with a single click install to automatically update references.
I‘d only skip auto-SSL if you explicitly need control over certificate authorities or cipher suites – extremely rare for small sites without dedicated infrastructure teams.
E-Commerce Stores and Membership Sites
If you need to maximize security for financial transactions, go with provisioning dedicated certificates yourself using Let‘s Encrypt and certbot.
Take the time to understand and configure preferred TLS protocols and encryption algorithms. Enable HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) and other security headers to achieve an A+ rating on SSL test tools.
Using a reverse proxy cache like Varnish in front of your app server is also recommended. This both offloads the encryption overhead from your application while providing an additional security boundary.
If managing all that infrastructure sounds too complex, managed cloud hosts like WP Engine or Kinsta are great alternatives. They make it easy to launch optimized secure hosting platforms that can scale with your business.
High Traffic Sites and Web Applications
Large web properties with millions of monthly visitors should consider leveraging a CDN like Cloudflare for SSL offloading.
Integrate your DNS and deploy edge certificates to significantly reduce server overhead. Adjust page rules as needed to enforce security headers while addressing mixed content issues.
You can still maintain dedicated certificates on your origin infrastructure as a secondary security boundary. Monitor the CDN‘s uptime and compliance to ensure they match your risk tolerance, budgeting additional redundancy if needed.
No matter what providers you depend on for delivery, architect your system assuming upstream failures and have backup plans ready to deploy in case of outages.
Following Best Practices for Secure HTTPS WordPress
Now that we‘ve gotten SSL properly implemented, let‘s discuss some housekeeping items to ensure your HTTPS configuration remains secure over time:
Monitor Certificate Expirations
Set calendar reminders for renewing Let‘s Encrypt certificates at least a month before expiration dates. Reputable CAs also provide notices as deadlines approach.
For services managed by vendors like CDNs and cloud hosts, confirm they handle renewals automatically in their dashboard or status pages.
Regularly Scan for Vulnerabilities
Use tools like SSL Labs or the Mozilla Observatory to analyze your HTTPS configuration monthly.
Verify you get A+ rankings on all their best practice checks, adjusting headers like HSTS as needed.
Address Mixed Content Warnings
Update any remaining scripts, images or assets still loading over HTTP. This can break pages or pose security risks.
Enable the "Fix Mixed Content" plugin if issues persist or review our tips on updating references during migration.
Always Stay Up-To-Date
When plugins or WordPress release security updates, make sure to promptly patch. Don‘t let your application layer negate all the protections provided by HTTPS!
Ready to Join the HTTPS Revolution?
Our journey securing WordPress with SSL is nearing the end my friend.
I hope mapping out the landscape of HTTPS implementation options while sharing my hands-on recommendations has you feeling equipped.
No site is too small or niche to benefit from migrating to HTTPS these days. As threats to unencrypted connections accelerate, opting to stay on old unsecured HTTP protocols poses an unnecessary risk to your business.
Take the time now to properly research and deploy encryption using one of the various methods we‘ve outlined here. Your users will thank you by placing more trust in your brand, spending more time engaging with your content, and ultimately converting more often.
What was most helpful from this guide? Are there any other concerns holding you back still from making the switch? Let me know in the comments below!
