Enable HTTPS for Your Website

# Enable HTTPS for Your Website
Secure your website with HTTPS to protect user data and build trust. This guide shows how to enable HTTPS using a free Let's Encrypt certificate in the IllusionCloud ISPConfig panel.

## Before you start
- Ensure your domain points to your IllusionCloud web hosting server via DNS (A/AAAA records).
- Log in to the ISPConfig panel with an account that has permission to manage websites.
- Confirm that port 80 (HTTP) and port 443 (HTTPS) are open in your firewall.

## Steps
1. In the ISPConfig dashboard, go to **Sites** and select the website you want to secure.
2. Choose the **SSL** tab for that website.
3. Tick **Enable SSL** to activate HTTPS for the site.
4. Tick **Let's Encrypt SSL** to request a free certificate. Optionally tick **HTTP->HTTPS redirect** or **HSTS** if you want all traffic forced to HTTPS.
5. Click **Save**. ISPConfig will request a certificate from Let's Encrypt and install it automatically. This process can take a couple of minutes.
6. Once complete, open your site in a new browser tab and visit `https://yourdomain.example` to verify that the certificate is active.

## Expected result
The website loads over HTTPS without browser warnings. In the address bar you should see a padlock icon indicating the connection is encrypted.

## Troubleshooting
- **Certificate request failed:** Check that your domain's DNS records point to this server and that port 80 is reachable. Let's Encrypt validates via HTTP.
- **Port 443 blocked:** Ensure your server firewall allows inbound traffic on TCP 443.
- **Mixed content warnings:** Update your website or CMS configuration to use `https://` URLs for all assets (images, scripts, CSS) to avoid mixed content.
- If issues persist, review the ISPConfig log (`/var/log/ispconfig/letsencrypt.log`) or open a support ticket.