In the era of digitalization, having SSL certificate became mandatory for every website owner for securing their website. This certificate is issued by the authority and it helps in establishing a secure encrypted connection between clients and web server. Many times, it happens that the SSL certificate expires without our knowledge and it can cause potentially harmful consequences to the website’s security. Therefore, it is essential to regularly check the expiration date of the SSL certificate on a Windows server to avoid any risks. In this blog, we will explain some simple methods to check the SSL certificate expiration date on Windows server.
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Why You Need to Check SSL Certificate Expiration Date on Windows Server?
SSL certificates are a substantial component of website security complement. It encrypts the connection between the server and client and establishes a secure connection. However, SSL certificates have an expiration date, and if expired, they can cause potential security concerns for websites. Checking SSL certificate on Windows Server regularly can save your website from any consequence of the certificate expiring. Here are a few reasons why you should regularly check the SSL certificate expiration date on Windows Server:
- Expired SSL certificate can expose the confidential data of your website visitors.
- It can affect the user experience as browsers will display a warning message to visitors visiting the website.
- An expired SSL certificate on your Windows Server may lead to decreased customer trust and satisfaction.
Now let’s move onto some of the methods one can use to check the SSL certificate expiration date on a Windows server.
Method 1: Using Windows PowerShell to Check SSL Certificate Expiration Date on Windows Server
PowerShell is a widely used Command-Line tool that allows users to manage, maintain and monitor the system using a script. PowerShell can be used to check the SSL certificate expiration date on Windows Server. Here’s how you can do it:
Steps to Check SSL Certificate Expiration Date on Windows Server using PowerShell:
1. Press the Windows key + X on your keyboard.
2. Click on Windows PowerShell (Admin) from the context menu.
3. Now, type the following command in the PowerShell window and press Enter:
Get-ChildItem -Recurse Cert:\Localmachine\My\
Pros:
- The PowerShell script can be used to check the SSL certificate expiration date across multiple Windows servers.
- The script is easy to remember and provides an efficient way to check SSL certificates expiration date.
Cons:
- The script might not be user-friendly for non-developer people.
Method 2: Using MMC (Microsoft Management Console) Certificates Snap-in to Check SSL Certificate Expiration Date on Windows Server
MMC Certificates Snap-in is a pre-installed Microsoft Management Console console that allows users to manage local or remote certificates and certificate stores. This tool can be used to check SSL certificates expiration date on Windows servers. Here’s how:
Steps to Check SSL Certificate Expiration Date on Windows Server using Certificate Snap-in:
1. Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard, type mmc.exe, and press Enter.
2. From the File menu, select Add/Remove Snap-in.
3. Select Certificates and click on the Add button.
4. Select Computer Account and click Next.
5. Select Local computer and click on Finish.
6. Now, click on Certificates (Local Computer), expand Personal, and select Certificates.
7. Look for the SSL certificate that you want to check the expiration date and right-click on it. Select All Tasks and then, click on Details.
8. In the certificate dialog box, go to the General tab and check out the Valid to section to see the SSL certificate expiration date.
Pros:
- Using MMC certificates Snap-in is a straightforward and user-friendly method to check SSL certificates expiration date.
- The Certificate snap-in tool can be used to view certificates both on Local and Remote servers.
Cons:
- This method can only work on Windows server operating systems
- You need to have administrative privileges to access the certificates snap-in tool in MMC
Method 3: Using IIS Manager to Check SSL Certificate Expiration Date on Windows Server
Internet Information Service (IIS) Manager is a web server creation and management tool that allows users to configure and manage web applications running on IIS. IIS Manager can also be used to check SSL certificates expiration date on Windows Server. To make this possible, follow these steps:
Steps to Check SSL Certificate Expiration Date on Windows Server using IIS Manager:
1. Open IIS Manager on Windows server.
2. Click the server name in the Connections pane.
3. In the server menu, proceed to Server Certificates.
4. Now, check the expiration date of the certificate on the right panel.
Pros:
- IIS manager is a built-in tool with Windows Server and enables users to configure SSL Certificate effectively
- The method is user-friendly and easy to perform.
Cons:
- This method is only useful for checking the SSL certificate on the IIS Server
- You have to be the administrator to access IIS Manager
Method 4: Checking SSL Certificate Expiration Date Using Command Prompt
Command prompt is a built-in utility in Windows OS with several functionalities, with the ability to check SSL certificates expiration date being one of them. This method is straightforward and only requires simple commands. Here’s how to use Command Prompt to check SSL certificates expiration date:
Steps to Check SSL Certificate Expiration Date on Windows Server using Command Prompt:
1. Open Command Prompt on your Windows server with Administrative privileges.
2. Type the following command and press Enter:
certutil.exe -store My
3. Check the details of the SSL certificate you want to check by locating it in the output.
4. In the output, check for the NotAfter attribute to determine the SSL certificate expiration date.
Pros:
- Using Command Prompt is a fast and simple method for checking SSL certificate expiration date
- This method does not require any third-party tool or installation.
Cons:
- For users who are not familiar with Command Prompt, the process might be more difficult.
- This method only works on Windows systems.
What to Do If You Can’t Check SSL Certificate Expiration Date on Windows Server?
Even though these methods presented are easy to follow, you can run into some issues and be unable to check the SSL certificate expiration date on your Windows Server. Here are some possible fixes:
- Check the server’s certificate store. You might find the certificate by browsing the store
- Check whether the certificate is valid or not by opening your browser and trying to access your website.
- You can also try to use third-party SSL certificate checker tools like SSL Shopper, SSL Checker, or SSL mate that can provide extensive information about the SSL certificate expiration date.
Bonus Tips
- Renewing SSL certificate before the expiring date is the ideal and the best approach for preventing SSL certificate expiration issues.
- Tracking the SSL certificate expiration date regularly is a useful approach to keep your website secure. Set up reminders or alarms that notify you before your SSL certificate is about to expire.
- You can choose to purchase an SSL certificate from a reliable certificate authority. Best practices like Domain Validated Organization Validated and EV SSL certificates provide longer certificate validity periods.
5 FAQs
Q1: How Often Should I Check My Windows Server SSL Certificate Expiration Date?
A: SSL certificate expiration check-ups should be done more frequently, at least at every three months, to spot any issues before it becomes a threat to the website security.
Q2: Can I Renew the SSL Certificate Before it Expiring Date?
A: Yes, you can renew the SSL certificate before its expiration date.
Q3: What Happens When My SSL Certificate Expired?
A: An expired SSL certificate could display a warning page in the visitor’s browser. This may lead to poor user experience and customer trust, which could eventually harm your business.
Q4: Can I Renew an Expired SSL Certificate?
A: Unfortunately, you cannot renew an expired SSL certificate. You will need to purchase a new one and install it on your server.
Q5: How Can I Install the SSL Certificate on My Windows Server?
A: There are many ways to install SSL on your Windows server, depending on what server and the SSL certificate type you are using. Most Certificate Authorities (CAs) will have instructions on how to install SSL certificates on your server.
Final Thoughts
SSL certificate security plays a significant role in protecting websites and ensuring user privacy. Checking the SSL certificate regularly can prevent your website from becoming vulnerable to cyber threats. In this blog post, we have explained some simple methods to check the SSL certificate expiration date on Windows Server. We’ve also offered tips on what to do if you encounter issues when checking SSL certificate expiration dates, and we provided more tips on how to keep your SSL certificate secure. We hope this blog post has helped you understand SSL certificates expiration date, and it has provided useful solutions to help you avoid potential security issues in the future.