One of the most significant advantages of hosting with SakuraHost is that every hosting plan includes free AutoSSL certificates. AutoSSL automatically provisions and renews SSL certificates for all domains and subdomains on your account, meaning your websites are protected with encryption from the moment you add them. This guide walks you through how AutoSSL works, how to verify it is active, and how to troubleshoot common issues.
What Is AutoSSL?
AutoSSL is a cPanel feature that automatically issues free Domain Validation (DV) SSL certificates for every domain, subdomain, and alias configured on your hosting account. These certificates are provided by trusted Certificate Authorities and are recognized by all major browsers. AutoSSL runs automatically, checking your domains and issuing or renewing certificates without any manual intervention required.
Prerequisites for AutoSSL
Before AutoSSL can successfully issue a certificate for your domain, the following conditions must be met:
- DNS must point to SakuraHost: Your domain's A record must resolve to your SakuraHost server IP address. AutoSSL validates domain ownership via HTTP, so the domain must load from our server.
- Domain must be added to cPanel: The domain must exist as an addon domain, subdomain, or alias in your cPanel account.
- No conflicting SSL: If you previously installed a paid SSL certificate, AutoSSL may skip that domain. Remove the old certificate first if you want AutoSSL to take over.
- No .htaccess redirects blocking validation: Certain redirect rules can prevent AutoSSL from validating your domain. Ensure the
.well-known/acme-challenge/path is accessible.
Verifying Your AutoSSL Certificate
Method 1: Check via cPanel
Method 2: Check via Browser
Simply visit your website using https://yourdomain.co.tz. Click the padlock icon in the address bar to view the certificate details. You should see information about the issuer, validity period, and the domains covered by the certificate.
Method 3: Use SSL Labs
For a thorough analysis, use the SSL Labs Server Test. Enter your domain and the tool will grade your SSL configuration from A+ to F, checking for vulnerabilities, protocol support, and cipher strength.
Troubleshooting AutoSSL Issues
Issue: AutoSSL Shows "DCV Failed"
Domain Control Validation (DCV) failure is the most common AutoSSL issue. This usually means the domain is not properly pointing to your SakuraHost server.
whatsmydns.net.
Issue: .htaccess Blocking Validation
If you have redirect rules in your .htaccess file that redirect all HTTP traffic to HTTPS before AutoSSL can validate, the process may fail.
Issue: Certificate Covers Wrong Domains
AutoSSL only covers domains that are properly configured in your cPanel. Ensure all desired domains are added as addon domains, subdomains, or aliases. Parked domains that are not properly configured may be skipped.
Issue: Too Many Subdomains
AutoSSL has a limit on the number of domains that can be included in a single certificate. If you have an exceptionally large number of subdomains, some may be excluded. Contact SakuraHost Support for assistance with high-volume subdomain configurations.
AutoSSL vs. Let's Encrypt vs. Paid SSL
You may have heard of Let's Encrypt, the popular free Certificate Authority. AutoSSL on SakuraHost works similarly — both provide free DV certificates. The key difference is that AutoSSL is fully integrated into cPanel and runs automatically without requiring any command-line tools or manual renewal scripts.
For businesses that need Organization Validation (OV) or Extended Validation (EV) certificates, paid SSL options are available through SakuraHost. These certificates provide identity verification and are recommended for e-commerce and financial websites. Visit sakurahost.co.tz for premium SSL options.
After AutoSSL Is Active
Once AutoSSL has issued your certificate, you should take the following additional steps to fully secure your website:
- Force HTTPS: Redirect all HTTP traffic to HTTPS to ensure visitors always use the encrypted connection.
- Fix Mixed Content: Ensure all resources (images, scripts, stylesheets) load over HTTPS to avoid browser warnings.
- Update Internal Links: Change any hardcoded
http://URLs in your website's code and database tohttps://. - Update Google Search Console: Add the HTTPS version of your site and submit an updated sitemap.
With AutoSSL handled automatically by SakuraHost, you can focus on building your online presence while we ensure your visitors' connections remain secure and encrypted at all times.