Learn to Redirect users to SSL connections in Plesk
Introduction
Security of websites has been very crucial. You need to ensure that visitors always use a secure (https://) connection when visiting your site. A user should be redirected to HTTPS even when he/she may mistakenly enter a non-secure (http://) URL by mistake. This process is referred to as an HTTPS redirect.
This guide will show you how to configure Plesk to automatically redirect all users to the secure version of your site.
Learning about HTTPS Redirects
An HTTPS redirect is used to redirect all incoming traffic to the secure version of your site. This secures the data of the users and establishes trust. To begin with, ensure that your domain has an installed SSL/TLS certificate.
Plesk has a permanent SEO-safe 301 redirect, which informs the search engines that the change is permanent and will maintain the search ranking.
Procedure to Redirect Users to the SSL-Enabled Connections
To enable this feature, you have to access the hosting settings of your domain in Plesk. This will ensure that the visitors never miss landing on the secure version of your site.
Setting up Automatic SSL Redirection.
Follow these steps to redirect all the HTTP traffic to use the secure HTTPS protocol.
1. Log in to Plesk
You have to enter your credentials to get access to the control panel to get the administrative rights required.
2. Go to Websites & Domains
Select the Websites and Domains in the left sidebar menu. You will have a list of all the domains you host.
3. Access Hosting Settings
Find the domain that you wish to secure and then select the Hosting Settings of that domain.
4. Allow SSL Support and Redirect.
Scroll down the Security section and check the following:
- SSL/TLS support – Select this option to enable the secure connection feature
- Permanent SEO-safe 301 redirect from HTTP to HTTPS – Automatically redirect users from the non-secure to the secure connection
5. Select the SSL Certificate
A drop-down box named Certificate will be there. Select the type of SSL certificate that you would like to use on your domain. The name of your domain should appear in the drop-down list.
6. Finalize the Configuration
Click on the OK button at the bottom of the page. For all future web page requests, it will use a secure connection.
Cantech Secure Hosting Solutions
Cantech greatly emphasises the security of the websites for all our customers. We have hosting services that are compatible with Plesk and that have free SSL features as well. Managing the SSL certificates is made easy by us, and therefore, you can trust our platform to keep your website secure and your redirects working perfectly.
Conclusion
The redirection to HTTPS is a rather simple but important measure for the security of websites. It will make sure that all information between your visitors and the server will be encrypted. These steps in Plesk help you to configure your site to use a secure connection at any given time.
FAQs
What is a “301 redirect”?
A 301 redirect means that a page has been permanently redirected to a new location. It informs the browsers and the search engines that the HTTPS address is the only correct address forever.
Is an SSL certificate required to set up the redirect?
Yes, you need to install a valid SSL certificate on the domain first. The redirect will not work correctly without an installed certificate.
Will this redirect help my website’s ranking in search engines?
Yes, security is a ranking factor for search engines like Google. The use of HTTPS and an appropriate 301 redirect is known to be a good practice and can have a positive impact on your search results.
What happens if I forget to check the permanent redirect box?
By leaving out that box, the user may still reach the secure site, but will not be redirected automatically off the old HTTP address. This may cause insecure exposure and duplicate content issues.
How can I confirm that the redirect is working correctly?
All you need to do is enter the non-secure URL, such as http://yourdomain.com, in the browser. When the address bar instantly transforms to https://yourdomain.com, then the redirect is effective.
