HSTS (HTTP Strict Transport Security) is a crucial security feature that enforces secure HTTPS connections. While WPCloud doesn't directly implement HSTS for clients due to its complexity and potential risks, we can provide guidance on the process and important considerations.

Clients often ask if WPCloud can implement HSTS via the .htaccess file. However, this falls outside our scope of support due to the following reasons:

There are two primary methods to set up HSTS on a WordPress site:

This method involves editing the .htaccess file directly. While effective, it requires technical knowledge and careful consideration of the risks involved. For reference only, the basic syntax is:

Note: This code is provided for reference only. Implementation and configuration are outside WPCloud's scope of support.

While Really Simple SSL Pro offers HSTS setup as a feature, please note that:

Before enabling HSTS, it's crucial to understand the following considerations:

No HTTP Access: Once enabled, your site will be inaccessible over HTTP for the specified max-age duration.

Incorrect Configuration Risks: Misconfiguration can lead to users being locked out of your website.

Increased Overhead: HSTS adds a small amount of overhead to each request.

Mixed Content Issues: Resources loaded over HTTP may be blocked, causing display or functionality issues.

Subdomain Handling: Ensure all subdomains support HTTPS before including them in the HSTS policy.

Preload Commitment: Opting for HSTS preloading is a long-term commitment that's difficult to reverse.

Incorrect HSTS implementation can cause severe issues, including:

Complete Site Inaccessibility:

Third-Party Service Disruptions:

Content Delivery Issues:

Administrative Problems:

Real-World Example: If a developer sets max-age to one year (31536000 seconds) and makes a configuration mistake, your site could be inaccessible to users for that entire period, even if you remove the HSTS header. This could effectively take your business offline for a year.

If proceeding with implementation:

Due to these complexities and potential risks, implementing HSTS falls outside WPCloud's scope of support. We strongly recommend that clients:

WPCloud Support can assist with:

We cannot assist with:

If you encounter SSL-related issues:

For clients who wish to proceed with HSTS implementation, we recommend the following tutorials:

While HSTS offers significant security benefits, its implementation requires careful consideration and technical expertise. WPCloud provides hosting infrastructure and support, but the responsibility for implementing and managing HSTS lies with the client and their development team.