Setup Free SSL for WordPress on Google Cloud (Click-to-Deploy Version)

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In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to configure a free, auto-renewing SSL certificate for a WordPress site that is hosted on Google Cloud Compute Engine using the Google Click-to-Deploy version of WordPress.

If you’re using the Bitnami version of WordPress on GCP, then you can view that SSL certificate configuration tutorial from below link.

Suggested Reading – How To Install Free SSL Certificate For Bitnami WordPress On Google Cloud

Before we start let me tell you some interesting fact about SSL and why it’s so important for your site.

What is SSL?

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is an encryption-based Internet security protocol. It’s a block of code on a web server that facilitates encryption between a web server and a web host. It prevents your communication from being intercepted or manipulated by eavesdropping third parties.

Nowadays, SSL is essential for any kind website, even if it doesn’t handle sensitive information like your debit or credit cards details. It also helps to improve your SERP position on the search engine. That’s why having an SSL certificate can be beneficial for your website SEO.

I hope now you got an idea about SSL and its importance. Ok, Now Let’s Get started

Steps to Install and Configure Free SSL Certificate for WordPress on Google Cloud (Click-to-Deploy)

I assumed that you already had done WordPress Installation on Google Cloud platform ( Click-to-deploy ) and also completed Domain Set up and configuration for your site. Ok, Now follow my steps below to Install and Setup a free SSL Certificate for your WordPress Site.

Connect To WordPress Via SSH

Step 1: Log in to your Google Cloud Console dashboard and then go to VM Instances.

Steps to Navigate VM instances Page on Google Cloud Console
Steps to Navigate VM instances Page on GCP

Step 2: At the VM Instances page, you will see the SSH option. Now simply click on the SSH button to connect with your WordPress installation.

Connect to SSH from VM Instances on Google cloud
Connect to SSH from VM Instances on Google cloud

Check Your Operating System

Step 3: Now you’re connected with your VM instances. You need to place there following command in your terminal section to check your operating system. After running the command, note down your OS name, which is Debian 9.7 (stretch) in this example.

lsb_release -a
Check your OS by following command and don't forget to note down it.
Check your OS

Generate SSL Certificate [ instructions ]

Step 4: Now return to your web browser and then visit – https://certbot.eff.org/ to find your SSL command. You can see an option showing there ” My HTTP website is running Software on System.” You need to select Apache from the Software dropdown and after that, select the correct operating system based on the output from Step 2 – which was Debian 9.7 (stretch) in my case.

Generate SSL Certificate
Instruction of SSL certificate generation from certbot

Certbot Installation Command

Step 5: After selecting your server and operating system from the dropdowns, scroll down the page and copy the following command from the site to install Certbot.

sudo apt-get install certbot python-certbot-apache -t stretch-backports
Copy Certbot Installation Command

Step6: Next, go back to your SSH terminal section and there paste the command that you copied, and then press Enter to execute the command.

Run Certbot Installaion command on ssh

SSL Certificate Issuing Command

Step 7: After Certbot installation, the next step is to generate the SSL certificates for your site. So, return to the website – certbot.eff.org and copy the next command.

sudo certbot --apache

Step 8: Now back to again at your SSH terminal and paste the command that you copied in order to generate the SSL certificates then press Enter.

Enter Certbot Command to Generate Certificate

Step 9: Now, after entering the certificate issuing command, you will be prompted with six different questions. Read all the questions carefully and then input your answers, after that press Enter button to complete SSL Configuration.

Check the questions from below image gallery section, and fill them, as I did.

Restart Apache Server

Step 10: After making changes to the file, you need to restart your server for changes to take effect. To do this, copy and paste the following command into your SSH terminal and then press the Enter button to finish the process.

sudo service apache2 restart

Conclusion

You just successfully finished your SSL certificate setup and configuration for your WordPress site on Google Cloud (Click-to-Deploy). If you run into any issues with your SSL Certificates and want to verify that they’re appropriately configured or not then, this SSL Checker tool can help you.

I hope this tutorial helps you to solve your problem. If you face any trouble, then please let me know by commenting below.

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4 Comments
  1. Karry says

    My Certificate has an exclamation point and is not reading as fully secure… can you please tell why is this? Aside from that your tutorials are perfect! Thank you so very much.

  2. Chiranjit Bera says

    Sorry for being late to respond due to the festival season. Anyways could you please tell me on which site you facing this problem?

  3. udayakumar says

    Hi,
    My SSL working fine but after create a subdomain.

    https//www.subdomain.example.com * not working
    http//www.subdomain.example.com only working this

    1. Chiranjit Bera says

      Did you complete the setup by following my video tutorial? After running the certificate issuing command, you will be prompted with six different questions. There in the 4th stage, you have to enter your domain or subdomain details for issuing an SSL certificate for them. If you want to issue certificates for both ( root domain + subdomain ) then write them in comas as shown in the picture. Hope this information helps 🙂

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