A visible padlock builds trust with Ghanaian customers and is a small but real ranking signal with Google. cPanel makes getting one free through AutoSSL, and Vikalink runs AutoSSL on every hosting plan by default.
1. Log in to cPanel
Access your cPanel account through the link in your Vikalink welcome email, or from your client area under My Services.
2. Open the SSL/TLS Status page
Under Security, click SSL/TLS Status. You'll see every domain and subdomain on the account, along with whether AutoSSL has already secured it.
3. Run AutoSSL manually
Tick the domain you want to secure and click Run AutoSSL. cPanel will contact the certificate authority, verify domain ownership, and install the certificate — usually within a few minutes.
4. Confirm the certificate is active
Refresh the SSL/TLS Status page and look for a green padlock icon next to your domain, confirming the certificate installed successfully.
Key takeaway: AutoSSL renews certificates automatically roughly every 90 days — you shouldn't need to repeat this process unless your domain's DNS changes or verification fails.
5. Force HTTPS redirection
Under Domains, find your domain and toggle "Force HTTPS Redirect" so visitors and search engines are always sent to the secure version automatically.
6. Clear your cache and test
Open your site in a private browser window and confirm the padlock appears. If you use a caching plugin, clear it so old HTTP links don't linger.
7. Common issues
If AutoSSL fails, check that your domain's DNS is already pointed to Vikalink's nameservers — verification can't complete if the domain resolves elsewhere. A firewall blocking outbound HTTP validation requests can also cause failures.