Small Business Server 2008 and 2011 make adding a Trusted Certificate from a third party much easier than on the full version of Windows Server 2008, which itself is a lot easier than it used to be. A Trusted Certificate installed from a third party like GoDaddy makes remote access using a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) connection a comfortable solution for small businesses.
Small Business Server 2008 and 2011 have a nifty wizard function that eases the pain if you use a third party certification authority like GoDaddy.
Digital certificates enable the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) on your web server. You install a digital certificate in your Windows server in Internet Information Services (IIS), and the installation enables encryption on your website. Encryption protects users’ data when they enter private information or use passwords on your website. The information entered in the user’s browser is encrypted, so it is protected from hackers.
To install:
- Logon to the windows Small Business Server with an administrator account.
- Open the Windows Small Business Server console
- From the Home tab, click on Add a trusted certificate
- Click on Next and Next
- Ensure the server name is the name you’d like to use (and have configured DNS for – default is remote.domainname), click on Next
- Save the Generated Trusted Certificate Request to a File on USB stick, click on Next
- Logon to certificate provider site like GoDaddy and upload the Certificate Request info to generate the certificate
- Download the certificate to the USB
- Back on the Add a Trusted Certificate dialogue box on the SBS server, with the I have a certificate from my provider option selected, click on Next
- Browse to the certificate on the USB drive, click on Next and Finish
Your certificate should now be installed providing third party certification for an SSL connection for things like Remote Access or Webmail.