Welcome!  This Setup Guide contains information about how your nsProtect^™ Secure SSL Certificate service will be validated and issued, as well as actions you may need to take to complete these steps.

How Your SSL Certificate Is Validated and Issued

You will manage the validation and installation process for your nsProtec™ Secure SSL Certificate through your Network Solutions® Account Manager. There are several steps in the process:

Step 1: Log in to Account Manager at: http://www.networksolutions.com. If you've forgotten your log-in information, please visit: https://www.networksolutions.com/manage-it/forget-login.jsp.

Step 2: Click on the nsProtect tab in the left-hand menu:

• Select "Manage SSL & Seals" to be taken to a page listing the details of your SSL Certificate.

• If you have more than one SSL Certificate in your account, please click on a package name to see the details for each SSL Certificate.

Step 3: Assign the domain with which the SSL Certificate will be associated, if you have not already done so.

• If you have more than one SSL product, you will need to select the specific SSL Certificate that you wish to configure. 

• You may select a domain name from your account or enter a domain manually. 

The Domain Name is the specific host name used for the secure section of your website, and is the specific name your SSL certificate will be issued to. 

To configure your SSL Certificate with a Sub Domain other than "www", simply type over the "www" with your desired Sub Domain.

• SSL certificates are commonly issued to the sub domains such as "www", "secure" or possibly "mail".

• If you prefer to have your SSL Certificate issued without a Sub Domain assigned to it, remove the "www" from the Sub Domain field and leave it blank.

For example, the following names would be acceptable:

www.example-name.com
secure.example-name.com
*.example-name.com (for Wildcard certificates only)

It is very important that this name be accurate. If it is not, your website visitors will receive an error indicating that your Certificate does not match the domain name. 

Please Note: Providing an inaccurate name may require that you repeat the order process.

If this SSL Certificate will be used on a Network Solutions e-commerce website, click for important information.

Step 4: Generate a Certificate Signing Request (CSR), if you have purchased an SSL Certificate and your website is hosted by a provider other than Network Solutions®.

• A Certificate Signing Request (CSR) is your website's unique identifier from which your SSL Certificate is created. A CSR is generated from the software platform used by your website.

• If Network Solutions provides hosting services for your website, a Certificate Signing Request (CSR) will be generated and submitted for you.

• If you are hosting your own website or using another hosting provider, you must contact your Web hosting network administrator and ask them to:

• Generate a CSR for you.

• Identify the software platform and version of the Web server.

For more detailed instructions on how to generate a CSR, visit our Online Support Center.

Step 5: Supply all necessary validation information and documentation. 

• We cannot begin the validation process until all information is provided. 

• Once we have received all required documents the validation process will take two to four business days with the purchase of the nsProtect^™ Secure SSL Certificate.

• We cannot issue your nsProtect™ Secure  SSL Certificate until the validation process is completed.

For more information on the validation process, visit our Online Support Center.  

For business orders

We will attempt to verify some or all of the following information online:

• WHOIS information for your domain name registration (Please note that the domain name registrant's information must match the information for the applicant to whom the Certificate is being issued.)

• Articles of Incorporation

• Dun & Bradstreet number

If we are unable to locate this information online, we will ask you to fax (866-294-0799) or e-mail (validation@networksolutions.com) it to us before we can complete your validation. We may also request additional documentation, which may include, but is not limited to:

• Bank statement, utility bills, or telephone bills in the business name

• Government-issued business license

For individual orders

You must fax (866-294-0799) or e-mail (validation@networksolutions.com) the following information to Network Solutions before we can complete your validation:

• Copy of a valid driver's license or valid passport issued to the domain name registrant.

• Copy of a recent phone bill belonging to the domain name registrant.

• Copy of a utility bill or bank statement belonging to the domain name registrant.

Step 6: Network Solutions issues your nsProtect^™ Secure SSL Certificate.*

• Upon successful validation, you will be notified via e-mail and Account Manager that your   SSL Certificate has been issued and is available for download.

• If your website is hosted on a Network Solutions Web server, your SSL Certificate will be installed automatically. 

• If your website is hosted elsewhere, you or your hosting provider will need to install the   SSL Certificate on your website -

For instructions on installing  SSL Certificates on various Web servers visit our Online Support Center.

Step 7: Generate your nsProtect^™ Secure SSL Seal
After your SSL Certificate has been issued and installed, you may generate and install a   nsProtect^™ Secure SSL Seal on your website. 

• Within Account Manager, start by selecting the Seal Design (color and layout) you desire.

• Click on Generate Code. 

• Then install the code for your seal on your Web pages. 

Additional Help

FAQs and other helpful information about nsProtect™ Secure services are available in our Online Support Center.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact a nsProtect^™ Secure  specialist 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at sslsupport@networksolutions.com or toll-free at 877-228-1023.

*NOTE: The "term" for any nsProtect^™ Secure SSL Certificate you have purchased will begin either 90 days from the purchase date (even if your Certificate has not been issued at that time) or at the date of issuance, whichever comes first.