Force Visitor Browser to use SSL

This article will go through the steps to force a visitor's browser to use SSL and view the site securely. That is when a customer goes to http://www.domain.com it will display and error and force the site to use the SSL version.

Windows 2008

1. Remote Desktop into the server. If you are unfamiliar with Remote Desktop.
2. Open Internet Information Services (IIS)
3. Expand the + sign next to the domain in question and locate the directory which should be viewed securely. Click the directory and in the right pane, you will see an icon under IIS named SSL Settings. You must have an SSL setup for the domain prior to clicking this and the bindings set to port 443
   

4. In the SSL Settings screen, check the checkbox for Require SSL and click Apply. Now when going to the site, you should be asked to append https:// to the URL

Windows 2003

1. Remote Desktop into the server. If you are unfamiliar with Remote Desktop.
2. Open Internet Information Services (IIS)
3. Expand the + sign next to the domain in question and locate the directory which should be viewed securely
4. Right-click this folder and select Properties. Click on the Directory Security tab and under the section entitled Secure Communications, click the Edit button
   
   5. In the Secure Communications window, check the checkbox for Require Secure Channel. Click OK to close this window. Click OK to close the previous window and now when going to the site, you should be asked to append https:// to the URL