Securing your website with an SSL certificate is crucial for protecting user data and building trust. Let’s Encrypt provides free SSL certificates, making it easier than ever to implement HTTPS. This guide will walk you through the process of obtaining and installing a Let’s Encrypt SSL certificate on Internet Information Services (IIS).
Prerequisites
- Windows Server with IIS installed
- Domain name pointing to your server
- Administrative access to the server
- Open ports 80 and 443
Method 1: Using Certbot (Recommended)
Step 1: Install Certbot
- Download the latest Certbot release for Windows from the official website.
- Run the installer and follow the installation wizard.
- Choose the option for manual certificate installation for IIS.
Step 2: Generate SSL Certificate
Open PowerShell as an administrator and run:
certbot certonly --standalone -d yourdomain.com -d www.yourdomain.com
- Replace
yourdomain.comwith your actual domain - The
--standaloneflag temporarily stops your web server to verify domain ownership
Step 3: Install Certificate in IIS
- Open IIS Manager
- Select your website
- Click on “Bindings…”
- Add a new HTTPS binding
- Choose the certificate generated by Certbot
Method 2: Using Win-Acme (Alternative)
Step 1: Install Win-Acme
- Download Win-Acme from GitHub
- Extract the zip file
- Run
wacs.exeas administrator
Step 2: Configure Certificate
- Follow the interactive wizard in Win-Acme
- Select IIS website
- Choose automatic renewal options
Automatic Renewal
Both Certbot and Win-Acme support automatic renewal:
- Certbot: Use
certbot renewin a scheduled task - Win-Acme: Supports automatic renewal out of the box
Troubleshooting
- Ensure firewall allows HTTP/HTTPS traffic
- Check domain DNS settings
- Verify port forwarding is correctly configured
Security Best Practices
- Keep your SSL tools updated
- Use strong TLS configurations
- Implement HSTS (HTTP Strict Transport Security)
Conclusion
By following these steps, you can secure your IIS website with a free Let’s Encrypt SSL certificate. Regular renewal and maintenance are key to maintaining a secure website.