Introduction:
Deploying a secure NGINX web server on Ubuntu 24.04 is simple. Follow these steps to set up NGINX with a free SSL certificate from Let’s Encrypt.

Step 1: Update Your Server
Before starting, ensure your server is up to date. Run the following commands to update your package list and upgrade your installed packages:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Step 2: Install NGINX
Once the system is updated, install NGINX:

sudo apt install nginx -y

After installation, start and enable NGINX to run at boot:

sudo systemctl start nginx && sudo systemctl enable nginx

You can verify that NGINX is running by visiting your server’s IP address in a browser.

Step 3: Install Certbot and Obtain an SSL Certificate
Now, install Certbot and the NGINX plugin to automate the SSL certificate installation:

sudo apt install certbot python3-certbot-nginx -y

Next, obtain the SSL certificate for your domain:

sudo certbot --nginx -d yourdomain.com -d www.yourdomain.com

Follow the prompts to agree to the terms of service and select whether to redirect HTTP to HTTPS (choose ‘redirect’ to force HTTPS).

Step 4: Set Up Automatic Certificate Renewal
Let’s Encrypt certificates expire every 90 days. To ensure your SSL certificate renews automatically, set up a cron job:

sudo systemctl enable certbot.timer

This command ensures Certbot will automatically check and renew the certificate before expiration.

Done!
Congratulations! You’ve successfully deployed NGINX with a Let’s Encrypt SSL certificate on Ubuntu 24.04. Your server is now secure and ready for traffic. Regular updates and SSL certificate renewals will keep your web server safe and stable.