How to Secure On-Premise SharePoint with SecureNT Intranet SSL

In today's cybersecurity landscape, encrypting internal SharePoint traffic is critical to protect sensitive data from threats like traffic sniffing, spoofing, and man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks. Even within corporate LANs or VPNs, on-premise SharePoint deployments remain vulnerable without proper encryption. SecureNT Intranet SSL offers a robust, enterprise-grade solution to secure SharePoint traffic using SSL/TLS certificates backed by an internal Certificate Authority (CA).

Why Encrypt SharePoint Traffic?

Even internal SharePoint environments face risks, including:

• Insider threats: Rogue employees or compromised endpoints can intercept unencrypted data.
• Malware exploitation: Attackers can exploit vulnerabilities during VPN sessions.
• Legacy protocol risks: Misconfigured applications or outdated protocols can expose data.

Microsoft recommends using HTTPS for all SharePoint web applications to ensure secure communication over port 443, as outlined in their official documentation.

Step-by-Step: Encrypt SharePoint with SecureNT Intranet SSL

Follow these steps to secure your SharePoint 2016, 2019, or Subscription Edition deployment with SecureNT Intranet SSL.

1. Generate a Certificate Signing Request (CSR)

On your SharePoint server:

• Open IIS Manager.
• Go to Server Certificates > Create Certificate Request.
• Enter details like Common Name (e.g., sharepoint.company.local), organization, and location.
• Select a 2048-bit RSA key and SHA256 algorithm.
• Save the .req file.

2. Obtain a SecureNT Intranet SSL Certificate

• Visit intranetssl.net.
• Upload the CSR to the SecureNT control panel.
• Download the signed certificate (.cer format) and CA chain bundle.

SecureNT certificates are X.509-compliant and trusted across your domain once the SecureNT Root CA is deployed.

3. Install the Certificate in IIS

• In IIS Manager, go to Server Certificates > Complete Certificate Request.
• Upload the .cer file and assign a friendly name.
• Under your SharePoint web app, go to Bindings, add an HTTPS binding on port 443, and select the installed certificate.

4. Configure SharePoint for HTTPS

• In SharePoint Central Administration, update Alternate Access Mappings (AAMs) to use https://.
• Optionally, redirect HTTP traffic to HTTPS using IIS rewrite rules or network policies.

5. Deploy the SecureNT Root CA

• Download the SecureNT Root CA from intranetssl.net.
• Distribute it via Group Policy under Trusted Root Certification Authorities.
• Ensure all domain-joined devices trust the CA.

Why Choose SecureNT Over Self-Signed or OpenSSL Certificates?

Real-World Success Story

A financial services company with 1,200 employees secured its SharePoint 2019 deployment using SecureNT Intranet SSL. By deploying the Root CA via Active Directory, they eliminated browser warnings, mitigated MITM risks, and met stringent audit requirements—all within hours.

Key Benefits of SecureNT Intranet SSL

• Seamless Active Directory integration for easy certificate deployment.
• Cost-effective alternative to expensive public wildcard certificates.
• Compliance-ready with internal cybersecurity policies and Zero Trust principles.