How to Enable OCSP Stapling in Windows Server for a RapidSSL certificate

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An easy-to-implement guide on how to enable OCSP stapling in Windows server for a RapidSSL certificate

The Online Certificate Status Protocol (OCSP) is an Internet protocol that helps web browsers determine the revocation status of SSL/TLS certificates. In certain situations, the certificate authority (CA) needs to revoke SSL certificates. Once the certificate has been revoked, OCSP gives ‘revoked’ status to the web browser so that it can provide a warning to the user accessing the website. This way, OCSP plays a very crucial role in protecting the privacy and integrity of users’ data. So, if you’re thinking of enabling OCSP stapling in the Windows server for your RapidSSL certificate, you’re definitely thinking in the right direction.

In this post, we’ll talk about the step-by-step procedure to enable OCSP stapling in your Windows server. But before that, let’s understand how OCSP stapling works.

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How OCSP Stapling Works

The working of OCSP can be divided into four steps of communication between the web browser, web server, and OCSP responder. Here are they:

The working of OCSP can be divided into four steps of communication between the web browser, web server, and OCSP responder. Here are they:

  1. When the browser tries to visit the website, the web server responds by sharing its SSL certificate.
  2. Upon receiving the certificate details, the browser requests the corresponding certificate authority’s OCSP responder.
  3. The OCSP responder replies to the browser about whether the certificate is in a valid state or has been revoked.
  4. If the certificate is valid, the browser visits the website. In another case, if the certificate has been revoked, the browser displays an error.

How to Enable OCSP Stapling in Windows Server for a RapidSSL Certificate

First things first. If you’re using a below 2008 Windows server, then you cannot enable OCSP stapling as pre-2008 servers don’t support it.

If you’re using a Windows Server 2008 or above, then you don’t need to enable OCSP stapling as it comes enabled by default. However, what you can do is verify your Windows server for OCSP stapling to make sure that it’s been enabled.

Here’s How You Can Verify OCSP Stapling:

  1. First, go to DigiCert SSL checker.
  2. Then type in the URL of your website and press the Check button.
  3. After a few seconds, the results would be displayed. Click on the Server Configuration tab.
  4. Click on the Advanced server Configuration tab.
  5. Check whether OCSP has been enabled or not.

Congratulations! You’ve just enabled OCSP Stapling in Windows Server on your own. Wasn’t that as easy as a pie?