How to Install Certificates on Microsoft IIS 8.x

Moving your Microsoft IIS 8.x website to HTTPS ensures a secure and trustworthy online experience for your visitors. But how do you get that lock symbol in the address bar? The key lies in installing certificates. This guide will walk you through the steps to install certificates on Microsoft IIS 8.x, Windows Server 2012 - IIS 8, and Windows Server 2012 - IIS 8.5, making your website HTTPS-enabled and boosting your SEO.

In this article, we will discuss:

• Install Certificates on Microsoft IIS 8.x
• Install Certificate Windows Server 2012
• Review

Install Certificates on Microsoft IIS 8.x

To install SSL certificates on Microsoft IIS 8.x, please follow the steps below:

1. Open the ZIP file containing your certificate. Save the file named your_domain_name.cer to the desktop of the web server you are securing.
2. From the Start screen, click or search for Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager and open it.
3. Click on the server name.
4. From the center menu, double-click the Server Certificates button in the IIS section (it is in the middle of the menu).
   
5. From the Actions menu on the right, click on Complete Certificate Request... This will open the Complete Certificate Request wizard.
   
6. Browse to your_domain_name.cer file that was provided to you. You will then be required to enter a friendly name. The friendly name is not part of the certificate itself. However, it is used by the server administrator to distinguish the certificate easily. Choose to place the new certificate in the Personal certificate store.
   
7. Clicking OK will install the certificate to the server.
8. Once the SSL Certificate has been successfully installed on the server, you must assign that certificate to the appropriate website using IIS.
9. From the Connections menu in the main Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager window, select the name of the server to which the certificate was installed.
10. Under Sites, select the site to be secured with SSL.
11. From the Actions menu on the right, click on Bindings... This will open the Site Bindings window.
    
12. In the Site Bindings window, click Add to open the Add Site Binding window.
    
13. Under Type, choose https. The IP address should be the IP address of the site or All Unassigned, and then the port over which traffic will be secured by SSL- usually 443. The SSL Certificate field should specify the certificate installed in step 7.
    
14. Click OK.

Your SSL certificate is now installed, and the website is configured to accept secure connections!

Install Certificate Windows Server 2012 - IIS 8 and Windows Server 2012 - IIS 8.5 (Multiple Certificates Using SNI)

To install the SSL certificate Windows Server 2012, please follow the steps below:

1. Open the ZIP file containing your certificate. Save the file named your_domain_name.cer to the desktop of the web server you are securing.
2. From the Start screen, click or search for Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager and open it.
3. Click on the server name.
4. From the center menu, double-click the Server Certificates button in the IIS section (it is in the middle of the menu).
   
5. From the Actions menu on the right, click on Complete Certificate Request, which will open the Complete Certificate Request wizard.
6. Browse to your_domain_name.cer file that was provided to you. You will then be required to enter a friendly name. The friendly name is not part of the certificate itself. However, it is used by the server administrator to distinguish the certificate easily. Choose to place the new certificate in the Personal certificate store.
   
7. Clicking OK will install the certificate to the server.
   Note: There is a known issue in IIS 8 that gives the following error: "Failed to remove the certificate." If this is the same server that you generated the CSR on, then, in most cases, the certificate is installed. Cancel the dialog and press "F5" to refresh the list of server certificates. If the new certificate is now on the list, it was installed on the server, but you may want to check and make sure the certificate is in the Web Hosting certificate store. If it is not on the list, you will need to reissue your certificate using a new CSR. After creating a new CSR, login to your account and click the replace button for your certificate.
8. Once the SSL Certificate has been successfully installed on the server, you must assign that certificate to the appropriate website using IIS.
9. From the Connections menu in the main Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager window, select the name of the server to which the certificate was installed.
10. Under Sites, select the site to be secured with SSL.
11. From the Actions menu on the right, click on Bindings... This will open the Site Bindings window.
12. In the Site Bindings window, click Add, which will open the Add Site Binding window.
13. Under Type, choose https. The IP address should be the site's IP address or All Unassigned, and the port over which SSL will secure traffic is usually 443. The SSL Certificate field should specify the certificate installed in step 7.
14. Click OK.
15. Your first SSL certificate is installed, and the website is configured to accept secure connections.
16. Repeat the steps for creating a CSR for your 2nd+ site.
17. Install the certificate file as mentioned above, up through step 12.
18. Under Type, choose https. The IP address should be the site's IP address or All Unassigned, and the port over which SSL will secure traffic is usually 443. Enter the hostname you will be securing and check the box that says Require Server Name Indication. This is required for all additional sites (not required on the primary site, as shown in step 13). The SSL Certificate field should specify the certificate installed in step 7 for your additional certificate.
    
19. Click OK.
20. Your second SSL certificate is installed, and the website is configured to accept secure connections.
21. Repeat steps sixteen through nineteen to set up any additional sites.

Review

After you install certificates on Microsoft IIS 8.x, Windows Server 2012 - IIS 8, and Windows Server 2012 - IIS 8.5, your website is now secure and reliable for anyone who visits. This step helps protect user data and increases credibility. To maintain this trust and keep your website running smoothly, you must check that your SSL certificate is working correctly regularly. You can easily use a free SSL checker online to do this. This check identifies potential issues before affecting your users, ensuring your website remains secure.