Securing Multiple Domains & Subdomains with an Open-Source SSL Solution
One of our clients had developed a web application hosted on AWS EC2 and was operating on a tight budget while waiting for investor funding.
The application required SSL certificates for multiple domains and subdomains to ensure secure HTTPS communication. However, purchasing a commercial wildcard SSL certificate was not financially feasible at that stage.
To address this challenge, we proposed a cost-effective, open-source SSL solution using Let’s Encrypt, a trusted Certificate Authority. We implemented Certbot on the AWS EC2 server to generate, configure, and automatically renew SSL certificates.
Result: The client secured multiple domains and subdomains with zero SSL licensing costs, while maintaining automated certificate management and uninterrupted HTTPS availability.
Budget Constraint → SSL Requirement → Let’s Encrypt(Open Source) → Certbot → HTTPS Configuration → Automated Renewal
How We Investigated
Our team first reviewed the client’s application infrastructure and SSL requirements.
The investigation focused on:
- Understanding the AWS EC2 hosting environment.
- Identifying all domains and subdomains requiring SSL.
- Reviewing the existing web server configuration.
- Evaluating the cost and feasibility of commercial SSL certificates.
- Determining a secure, open-source, and budget-friendly SSL solution.
- Planning automated certificate renewal to prevent future expiration.
Since the application was hosted on AWS EC2 and required SSL coverage across multiple domains and subdomains, Let’s Encrypt with Certbot was selected as the most suitable solution.
Root Cause
The primary challenge was not a technical limitation but a budget constraint combined with a multi-domain SSL requirement.
The client needed:
- Secure HTTPS communication.
- SSL coverage for multiple domains and subdomains.
- Reliable certificate management.
- Automated renewal.
- Minimal operational overhead.
- Zero SSL licensing costs.
A commercial wildcard SSL certificate was not financially practical while the client was awaiting investment funding.
Our Solution
Our team implemented Let’s Encrypt SSL certificates using Certbot on the client’s AWS EC2 server.
1. Certbot Installation
Installed and configured Certbot on the EC2 server to manage Let’s Encrypt SSL certificates.
2. SSL Certificate Generation
Generated SSL certificates for the required domains and subdomains using Let’s Encrypt.
3. HTTPS Configuration
Configured the Apache/Nginx virtual host settings to enable HTTPS and correctly associate the SSL certificates with the respective domains and subdomains.
4. Secure Access Validation
Tested and validated HTTPS access across the required domains, subdomains, and application environments to ensure that the certificates were correctly configured.
5. Automated Certificate Renewal
Configured a cron job to automate certificate renewal and prevent SSL certificates from expiring.
This eliminated the need for repeated manual certificate renewal and helped maintain continuous HTTPS availability.
Result
Secure HTTPS Without SSL Licensing Costs
The client successfully secured all required domains and subdomains with cost-effective SSL licensing costs.
The solution also provided automated certificate management, reducing manual maintenance and helping ensure continuous HTTPS availability.
The Value We Delivered
Client Challenge: Required SSL for multiple domains and subdomains with a limited budget.
Infrastructure: Application hosted on AWS EC2.
Cost Challenge: Commercial wildcard SSL was not financially feasible.
Solution: Implemented SSL certificates using Let’s Encrypt.
SSL Management: Certbot installed and configured on the EC2 server.
Web Server: Apache/Nginx virtual host configuration updated for HTTPS.
Security: Secure HTTPS access tested and validated.
Automation: SSL certificate renewal automated using a cron job.
Business Impact: Secured the client’s web application while eliminating SSL licensing costs and reducing ongoing certificate management efforts.
