How can I generate a CSR for a paid SSL Certificate?

When ordering a paid SSL certificate, one of the first steps is to generate a Certificate Signing Request (CSR). This request contains information about your domain and organization and is required by the Certificate Authority (CA) to issue your certificate.

You can easily generate a CSR using free and secure online tools. This article will guide you through the process.

What Is a CSR and Why Is It Important?

In short, a CSR (Certificate Signing Request) is a block of encoded text that includes your domain name, company details, and public key. SSL providers use it to verify your information and issue an SSL certificate.

You will need the CSR when applying for or renewing an SSL certificate.

How to Generate a CSR Using an Online Tool

This is the easiest and recommended method. It requires no software installation.

Open a trusted online CSR generator, such as:

• SSL.com
• SSLTools Online CSR Generator

Fill in the required fields:

• Common Name: Your domain name (e.g. example.com)
• Organization Name: Legal name of your company or entity
• Organizational Unit: (Optional) e.g. IT, Security, Web Team
• City/Locality
• State/Province
• Country Code: Two-letter code (e.g. US, BG)
• Key Size: Choose 2048-bit (recommended)

Click the button to generate the CSR

Download the generated files:

• .csr file – this is submitted to your SSL provider
• .key file – store this securely, you’ll need it to install the certificate

Important Tips

• Keep your .key file safe and private. It is your private key and must not be shared.
• Save both files in a secure location. If lost, you’ll need to regenerate the CSR and reissue the certificate.
• Double-check that your domain name (Common Name) is correct before generating the CSR.

What’s Next?

Once your .csr is generated:

1. Submit it during your SSL certificate order or renewal process.
2. After validation, the Certificate Authority will issue your SSL certificate.
3. You can then proceed with installing the certificate on your hosting environment or server.

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