DevOps

To force HTTPS in IIS on Windows, you'll need to perform a few key steps. Here's a breakdown of the process:

1. Ensure You Have an HTTPS Binding

First and foremost, your website in IIS needs to have an HTTPS binding configured. This tells IIS to listen for and handle secure connections on port 443 (the default for HTTPS). You also need a valid SSL/TLS certificate installed and associated with this binding.  

Here's how to check and add an HTTPS binding:

1. Open IIS Manager: You can do this by searching for "Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager" in the Start Menu.

2. Navigate to Your Website: In the "Connections" pane on the left, expand your server name, then "Sites," and select the website you want to secure.

3. Open Bindings: In the "Actions" pane on the right, click on "Bindings..."  

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5. Check for HTTPS: In the "Site Bindings" window, look for an entry with the "Type" as "https" and the "Port" as "443".

   • If you see this entry, ensure the correct SSL certificate is selected in the "SSL certificate" dropdown.  

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   • If you don't see it, click "Add..."

6. Add HTTPS Binding (if necessary):

   • In the "Add Site Binding" window:

     • Set the "Type" to "https".

     • Ensure the "Port" is "443" (unless you have a specific reason to use a different port).  

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     • In the "SSL certificate" dropdown, select the SSL certificate you have installed for this website.

     • Click "OK" and then "Close" in the "Site Bindings" window.

Important Note: You need to have an SSL/TLS certificate installed on your server before you can add an HTTPS binding. If you haven't done this yet, you'll need to obtain and install a certificate first.  

2. Force HTTPS Redirection Using URL Rewrite

Once you have the HTTPS binding in place, you can use the URL Rewrite module in IIS to automatically redirect any HTTP requests to the HTTPS version of your site.  

Here's how to set up the redirect rule:

1. Install URL Rewrite Module: If you don't have it already, download and install the "URL Rewrite Module" from the official IIS website.  

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3. Open IIS Manager: Navigate to your website as described earlier.

4. Open URL Rewrite: In the website's feature view (the middle pane), double-click on "URL Rewrite."  

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6. Add a New Rule: In the "Actions" pane on the right, click "Add Rule(s)..."

7. Select Blank Rule: In the "Add Inbound Rules" dialog, select "Blank rule" under the "Inbound rules" section and click "OK."

8. Configure the Rule:

   • Name: Give your rule a descriptive name, like "Force HTTPS."

   • Match URL:

     • Requested URL: Select "Matches the Pattern."

     • Using: Select "Regular Expressions."

     • Pattern: Enter (.*)

     • Check the "Ignore case" box.

   • Conditions:

     • Set the "Logical grouping" to "Match All."

     • Click "Add..."

     • In the "Add Condition" dialog:

       • Condition input: Enter {HTTPS}

       • Check if input string: Select "Matches the Pattern."

       • Pattern: Enter ^OFF$

       • Click "OK."

   • Action:

     • Action type: Select "Redirect."

     • Redirect URL: Enter https://{HTTP_HOST}{REQUEST_URI}

     • Uncheck the "Append query string" box if you don't want to carry over URL parameters.

     • Redirect type: Select "Permanent (301)" for SEO-friendly permanent redirection, or "Found (302)" for a temporary redirect. "Permanent (301)" is generally recommended.  

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9. Apply the Rule: In the "Actions" pane on the right, click "Apply."  

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3. Verify the Redirection

After setting up the rule, it's crucial to test if the redirection is working correctly. Open a web browser and try to access your website using http:// followed by your domain name. You should be automatically redirected to the https:// version.

By following these steps, you can effectively force HTTPS for your website hosted on IIS, ensuring secure communication with your visitors.