HTTPS, TLS & Let's Encrypt
If you run a website, HTTPS is non-negotiable. It protects your users, avoids scary browser warnings, enables modern features (HTTP/2, service workers, secure cookies) and even helps SEO. Below is a short, practical explanation of what these technologies are, why they matter, and how to get them running fast.
What HTTPS and TLS actually do
HTTPS is simply HTTP transported over a secure channel. That secure channel is provided by TLS (Transport Layer Security).
When a browser connects to your site over HTTPS it:
• verifies your site’s certificate (so users know they’re talking to the real site)
• negotiates an encrypted channel (so nobody on the network can eavesdrop or tamper with the content)
• and then speaks HTTP over that encrypted tunnel
TLS has evolved over many years. TLS 1.3, the current standard, makes the handshake faster and removes a lot of old, insecure options. The result is better security and slightly faster page loads.
Why TLS 1.3 matters
Think of TLS 1.3 as an upgraded handshake that’s both safer and quicker. It reduces the number of round trips when a browser connects, simplifies cipher choices for server admins, and defaults to forward secrecy so that past connections remain safe even if a private key is later compromised. If your server supports TLS 1.3, you’ll generally see fewer connection delays and fewer headaches from legacy vulnerabilities.
Let’s Encrypt
Let’s Encrypt is a Certificate Authority that issues free TLS certificates and supports automated issuance and renewal through the ACME protocol. For most sites this is ideal: no cost, easy automation, and wide browser trust. There are some rate limits (so you should test against the staging environment when experimenting), and if you need wildcard certificates you’ll use DNS validation — more on that later.
How to get it running
If you want a quick, reliable path, use Certbot (the popular ACME client) and let it configure your webserver. On many Linux systems the fastest way to get Certbot kept up to date is via snap. Once Certbot is installed, a single command will obtain and install a certificate for nginx:
sudo certbot --nginx -d example.com -d www.example.com
Certbot will automatically perform the domain validation, place certificates in /etc/letsencrypt/live/…, and (if you let it) update your nginx configuration to serve TLS. It also installs a systemd timer so certificates renew automatically; you should test renewal with sudo certbot renew sudo certbot renew --dry-run to be sure everything works.
If you need a wildcard certificate (for *.example.com) you’ll use DNS-01 validation — which requires adding API calls or TXT records to your DNS provider. Many DNS providers have plugins that allow you to automate this securely.
Need this set up for you? We provide VPS and web security setup: HTTPS, TLS 1.3, Let’s Encrypt, nginx/Apache hardening, and ongoing support.
Quick notes on server config and hardening
To take advantage of TLS 1.3 you need a recent OpenSSL and recent nginx/Apache. Your server block should enable TLS 1.3 and include sensible defaults: prefer modern ciphers, enable HTTP/2, turn on OCSP stapling, and add HSTS once you’re confident HTTPS works for every path. OCSP stapling speeds certificate validation for clients and protects privacy; HSTS tells browsers to always use HTTPS for your domain (be careful with the preload option — it’s effectively permanent once submitted).
A minimal nginx snippet looks like this in spirit (adapt to your distro and version):
listen 443 ssl http2;
ssl_protocols TLSv1.2 TLSv1.3;
ssl_certificate /etc/letsencrypt/live/example.com/fullchain.pem;
ssl_certificate_key /etc/letsencrypt/live/example.com/privkey.pem;
ssl_stapling on;
ssl_stapling_verify on;
add_header Strict-Transport-Security "max-age=63072000; includeSubDomains; preload" always;
If you’re not sure about cipher strings, use Mozilla’s SSL configuration generator as a baseline for “modern” settings, and test with SSL Labs.
How to verify everything works
After you enable TLS:
• Open the site in a browser and check the security panel to see the negotiated TLS version and certificate chain.
• Run openssl s_client -connect example.com:443 -tls1_3 to confirm TLS 1.3 works.
• Use SSL Labs (Qualys) for a deep public scan; it will point out protocol support, cipher issues, chain problems, HSTS and OCSP stapling status.
Common pitfalls and practical advice
Don’t rush HSTS with preload until every subdomain and redirect is correct — once you submit to the preload list it’s hard to undo. Use Let’s Encrypt’s staging environment when testing so you don’t hit rate limits. Automate renewals and monitor them: a certbot renew --dry-run in a cron or CI job gives you confidence. When using wildcard certs, keep your DNS API keys secure and rotate them if needed.
Final thought — make it part of deploys
Treat HTTPS as part of your deployment pipeline. Provision modern OpenSSL/nginx, obtain certificates automatically, test renewals, and bake verification checks into deployment. It’s a one-time small investment for a continuous payoff: secure users, fewer browser warnings, access to modern browser APIs, and a tiny speed boost thanks to TLS 1.3.
Contact us today to discuss how a properly configured HTTPS setup — with TLS 1.3 and automated Let’s Encrypt certificates — can make your website more secure, reliable, and ready for growth.
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