How to Install an SSL Certificate on NodeJS?

Security is essential in today's internet-driven environment to safeguard users and guarantee that users trust your web apps. Using SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificates, which enable HTTPS and encrypt interactions between the server and client, is one of the fundamental security precautions. You must also utilize an SSL certificate if users from outside your network can access your application. In this manner, you can be sure that people connecting to your server are real users and not masked individuals.

These are the following topics that we are going to discuss:

What is an SSL Certificate System?

A digital certificate system known as an SSL certificate, or Secure Sockets Layer Certificate, permits encrypted communication between a web server and a web browser while processing any type of implementation. Millions of consumers and online organizations use it to reduce the possibility that hackers and identity thieves would steal or tamper with important information (such as credit card numbers, usernames, passwords, emails, etc.).

Two categories of SSL certificates exist:

• Self-signed: produced by programs and utilized in evaluation settings
• CA signed: generated and signed by Certificate Authorities, or CAs. The production uses it.

How to Install an SSL Certificate on Node.js?

• SSL certificates are among the most important things you should consider when securing your web apps. Browsers and search engines employ digital certificates called SSL certificates to verify the legitimacy of websites.
• Now see the below-mentioned easy steps and implement them to Install an SSL Certificate on Node.js.

Before beginning, make sure that:

• On your server, Node.js is installed.
• Web server hosting and a domain are available to you.
• An SSL certificate has been issued to you by a Certificate Authority (CA), such as Let's Encrypt, DigiCert, or Comodo.

Step 1: Purchase or Obtain an SSL Certificate

There are two main ways that you can get an SSL certificate:

• Paid Certificates: Get an SSL certificate from GlobalSign, Comodo, DigiCert, or any other reputable Certificate Authority (CA). Usually, a Certificate Signing Request (CSR) must be created and submitted to the CA.
• Free Certificates: Let's Encrypt and other services provide free SSL certificates. For smaller projects or applications where cost is an issue, these are perfect.

If you go with Let's Encrypt, you can automatically create and renew the certificate with programs like Certbot.

Step 2: Get Your Application Ready for Node.js

• Make sure that HTTPS connections can be handled by your Node.js application. Usually, this calls for the HTTP module to be used.
• If you haven't already set up an HTTP server, the fundamental structure of your Node.js application will be like this:

const http = require("http");
const express = require("express");
const app = express();

app.get("/", (req, res) => { res.send("Hello, HTTP!"); });

const port = 3000;
http.createServer(app).listen(port, () => {
    console.log(`App listening on port ${port}`);
});

Step 3: Install the SSL certificate

Following the acquisition of the SSL certificate, you should have the following files:

• (privatekey.pem) The private key
• Seal (certificate.pem)
• Intermediate Certificate (supplied by your CA, optional)

Put these files on your server in a safe location, like /etc/ssl/.

Step 4: Use HTTPS by updating Node.js

• Change your code to use the https module instead of the http module to set up your Node.js application to serve content over HTTPS.
• This is a modified version of your HTTPS-enabled Node.js server:

const https = require("https");
const fs = require("fs");
const express = require("express");
const app = express();

// Path to the SSL certificates
const privateKey
    = fs.readFileSync("/path/to/privatekey.pem", "utf8");
const certificate
    = fs.readFileSync("/path/to/certificate.pem", "utf8");
const ca
    = fs.readFileSync("/path/to/ca_bundle.pem", "utf8");

// Create HTTPS server options
const credentials = {
    key : privateKey,
    cert : certificate,
    ca : ca
};

// Serve the app over HTTPS
https.createServer(credentials, app).listen(443, () => {
    console.log("App listening securely on port 443");
});

app.get("/", (req, res) => { res.send("Hello, HTTPS!"); });

Step 5: Switch from HTTP to HTTPS

You should automatically reroute HTTP traffic to HTTPS to improve user experience. This can be done by setting up a basic HTTP server that listens on port 80, which is the usual HTTP port and forwards all requests to the HTTPS server.

Include the following in your application or server.js file:

const http = require("http");

// Redirect HTTP to HTTPS
http.createServer((req, res) => {
        res.writeHead(301, {
            "Location" :
                `https://${req.headers.host}${req.url}`
        });
        res.end();
    })
    .listen(80);

This configuration guarantees that all incoming traffic coming in at http:// will be automatically forwarded to https://.

Step 6: Verify the SSL setup

Test your application by using a browser to go to your domain after it has been configured to use HTTPS. Make certain that:

• The presence of a padlock icon in the address bar of the browser signifies that the connection is secure.
• Your domain and certificate details match.
• Regarding SSL, there are no issues or warnings.

To confirm that your SSL configuration is safe and adheres to the best standards, you can also use internet resources like SSL Labs' SSL Test.

Step 7: Configure Let's Encrypt Auto-Renewal (Optional)

• Let's Encrypt certificates expire after ninety-nine days if you use them. Use a cron job using Certbot to set up auto-renewal to prevent manual renewal.
• To establish a cron job, execute the following command:

crontab -e

For the cron job to automatically renew the certificates each month, add the following line:

0 0 1 * * /usr/bin/certbot renew --quiet

Every month on the first, this command will check for renewal.

Conclusion

With the correct tools and procedures, installing an SSL certificate on a Node.js server is simple. You may make sure that your application complies with current security requirements, improves user confidence, and encrypts data by following this guidance. For the protection of user data and to uphold a respectable online profile, you must secure your app using HTTPS, regardless of whether you select a commercial or free certificate from Let's Encrypt. Make sure to review your CA's documentation or any error logs from your Node.js server if you run into any problems.