Let’s Encrypt provides free, automated SSL certificates trusted by all major browsers. Install Certbot: apt install certbot python3-certbot-nginx. Get a certificate: certbot --nginx -d yourdomain.com -d www.yourdomain.com. Certbot automatically configures Nginx and sets up auto-renewal via a cron job or systemd timer. Certificates renew every 90 days automatically — you set it up once and forget it. This eliminates the $50-200/year cost of commercial SSL certificates.
Let’s Encrypt: Free Automated SSL
Let’s Encrypt provides free, automated SSL certificates trusted by all major browsers. Install Certbot: apt install certbot python3-certbot-nginx. Get a certificate: certbot --nginx -d yourdomain.com -d www.yourdomain.com. Certbot automatically configures Nginx and sets up auto-renewal via a cron job or systemd timer. Certificates renew every 90 days automatically — you set it up once and forget it. This eliminates the $50-200/year cost of commercial SSL certificates.
SSL Security Hardening
A certificate alone isn’t enough — configure it properly. In Nginx, disable old protocols: ssl_protocols TLSv1.2 TLSv1.3. Use strong ciphers: ssl_ciphers 'ECDHE-ECDSA-AES256-GCM-SHA384:ECDHE-RSA-AES256-GCM-SHA384'. Enable HSTS: add_header Strict-Transport-Security "max-age=31536000; includeSubDomains" always. Enable OCSP stapling for faster TLS handshakes. Test at ssllabs.com and aim for an A+ rating.
Wildcard and Multi-Domain Certificates
For multiple subdomains, use wildcard certificates with DNS validation: certbot certonly --dns-cloudflare -d '*.yourdomain.com'. This covers all subdomains with one certificate. For multiple different domains on one VPS, use separate certificates per domain. With Velox Media’s premium managed infrastructure, TLS termination is fast and efficient, adding minimal latency to your HTTPS connections.
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