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Setting Up a User-Managed SSL Certificate (SSL Starter/SSL Starter Wildcard)

For customers with an IONOS domain, IONOS Virtual Private Server, IONOS Cloud Server, IONOS Dedicated Server, or IONOS SSL package

This article explains how to set up a user-managed SSL certificate. When you set up the SSL certificate, you will receive your personal private key. Further along, the certificate is requested from Sectigo and issued to the desired domain after successful validation.

Requirements

Your contract contains a user-managed SSL certificate that is not set up yet and one of the following types:

  • SSL Starter (included with your contract)

  • SSL Business/SSL Business Wildcard

  • SSL Premium

  • Log in to your IONOS account.

  • Click on the Domains & SSL tile.

  • In the Portfolio tile, click Manage in the SSL Certificates section.

  • Click the gear icon next to the SSL certificate you want to set up. Then, click Set up SSL certificate.

  • If you have requested an SSL Unlimited certificate, the IONOS SSL Certificates page for your website is then displayed. Then, click Activate now in the SSL Unlimited tile. If you are setting up an SSL Business, SSL Business Wildcard or SSL Premium type SSL certificate, skip this step and proceed to the next step.

  • In the input field, enter the domain to which the certificate should be issued.

    Alternatively: Click in the input field and select the desired domain.

  • Select the desired purpose.

  • If you set up an SSL certificate of the SSL Business, SSL Business Wildcard or SSL Premium type, IONOS will order an SSL/TLS certificate with enterprise validation from the certificate authority on your behalf. For this purpose, fill in the displayed fields in the Administrative Contact, Technical Contact and Organization Details sections.

    As part of the company validation process, the certification authority will verify both the details of your company and whether the domain name is registered under the legal name of the company. After that, a telephone verification will be carried out with your administration or a technical contact.

  • Accept the terms of use by checking the box.

  • Click Set up SSL certificate.

    The SSL certificate will now be requested and issued immediately.

Notes

  • The authentication of the applicant (which is you) required for certification is automated by default via DNS. For this purpose, a temporary subdomain is created.

  • If the domain to be secured is not in the same contract or configured with the IONOS name servers, active authentication is required. For this purpose, Sectigo sends a message to the email address of the hostmaster of your domain. You have to confirm the certificate request via the link contained in the email. Once you have confirmed the request,Sectigo will generate a certificate for you and send it to you by email.

  • Click Download Private Key and save the private key to your computer.

Please Note

You can only use the SSL certificate issued with the Private Key. For security reasons, the private key is not stored by either IONOS or Sectigo. Therefore, keep the private key in a safe place!

  • Open the SSL certificates overview and wait until the certificate is ready for use. To do so, click Go to overview.

Once the setup is complete, you can use the SSL certificate for your IONOS website or install it on your server, depending on its purpose. For more information, please see the article Installing SSL Certificates on a Server.