Buying and activating an SSL certificate
This guide takes you from ordering a paid Sectigo SSL certificate to having it running on your site. If you only need basic HTTPS, you may not need to buy one: every Ruachost hosting plan includes free SSL.
Step 1: Order the certificate
Section titled “Step 1: Order the certificate”- Go to ruachost.com or the client area and choose an SSL certificate:
- DV: domain validated, issued in minutes
- OV: organisation validated, issued in a few days
- EV: extended validation, issued in a few days
- Wildcard: covers
*.example.com
- Complete checkout.
See What is an SSL certificate? for help choosing.
Step 2: Generate a CSR and submit it
Section titled “Step 2: Generate a CSR and submit it”A CSR (certificate signing request) contains your domain and organisation details. Creating it also creates the private key, which stays on your server.
- In cPanel, open SSL/TLS → Certificate Signing Requests (CSR) and generate one for your domain. See Generating a CSR using cPanel. For other servers, see the CSR generation guides.
- In the client area, go to Services → My Services, select the certificate and click Configure (or Complete Configuration).
- Paste the CSR, including the
-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE REQUEST-----and-----END CERTIFICATE REQUEST-----lines. - Fill in the contact details and choose a validation method (see below).
Step 3: Validate your domain
Section titled “Step 3: Validate your domain”Sectigo must confirm you control the domain. Choose one of three methods:
| Method | What you do | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
Click the link in an email sent to an address such as admin@, administrator@, webmaster@, hostmaster@ or postmaster@ your domain |
Create that mailbox in cPanel first if it doesn’t exist | |
| DNS | Add the CNAME record you’re given to your domain’s DNS | Works even if the site isn’t live yet. See Managing DNS records |
| File upload (HTTP) | Upload a small text file to public_html/.well-known/pki-validation/ |
The domain must already point to your hosting |
DV certificates are usually issued within minutes of validation.
OV and EV certificates also need organisation validation. Sectigo checks your business registration (for Nigerian businesses, your CAC details) and may call the phone number listed for your organisation. Make sure your details match your official records to avoid delays.
Step 4: Install the certificate
Section titled “Step 4: Install the certificate”Once issued, you’ll receive the certificate by email, and you can also download it from the client area.
- In cPanel, open SSL/TLS → Manage SSL sites.
- Select your domain, paste the certificate (CRT), and click Autofill by Certificate. cPanel finds the private key and CA bundle automatically.
- Click Install Certificate.
See Installing a third-party SSL certificate for details, and How to get the intermediate CA bundle if cPanel asks for it.
Step 5: Use HTTPS
Section titled “Step 5: Use HTTPS”Make sure visitors are sent to https://. See How to force HTTPS on your website. Optionally, add the Sectigo site seal.