SSL/TLS grading tools check not just whether your certificate is valid, but how it’s configured — which protocol versions and cipher suites are still allowed, whether outdated, weaker options are still accepted alongside modern ones. A valid certificate can still score poorly if the configuration behind it hasn’t been tightened, which most hosting defaults don’t do on their own.
Check your current grade before assuming anything is wrong
Run your domain through SSL Labs’ free test (search “Qualys SSL Labs”) and look at the letter grade it returns. Anything below an A generally reflects configuration, not certificate validity, and the same tool’s detail view tells us exactly which outdated options are still being accepted.
SSL/TLS configuration grade improvement
An SSL/TLS grade below A, tightened by removing outdated protocols and weak ciphers.
- Full backup taken before we start
- If we can’t fix it, you get your money back
- We never ask for your own password
This or something else?
| Your SSL Labs grade is below an A, or you want it improved regardless of current grade | This fix covers it |
| Your certificate itself is expired, invalid, or showing browser warnings | A more urgent, different fix — describe the specific warning to us directly |
| You want broader security headers implemented, a related but distinct fix | Security headers implementation – CSP, HSTS |
| You’re not on Cloudflare and want TLS handled there specifically | Cloudflare WAF rule configuration may be relevant alongside this, depending on your setup |
What you are seeing
- An SSL Labs grade below A when testing your domain
- Outdated protocol versions or weak cipher suites still accepted by the server
- The grade possibly capped by an intermediate certificate chain issue
- No visible browser warning, since the certificate itself may still be technically valid
Common causes
- Older, weaker TLS protocol versions still enabled alongside modern ones by default
- Weak cipher suites left enabled from an outdated hosting configuration
- An incomplete or misconfigured certificate chain lowering the trust rating
- Hosting or CDN defaults that were never tightened after initial setup
- A certificate renewal that reset configuration back to defaults
What we do
- Run a full SSL Labs assessment to see the exact configuration issues
- Disable outdated, weak protocol versions and cipher suites
- Correct any certificate chain issues affecting the trust rating
- Re-test to confirm grade improvement
- Verify the site remains accessible to all reasonably current browsers after tightening
- Document the final configuration for future reference
What is included
- SSL/TLS configuration tightened to remove outdated, weak options
- Certificate chain issues corrected, if present
- A verified grade improvement, tested directly
- A written note on the configuration applied
Not included
- Purchasing or renewing the certificate itself, if that’s separately needed
- Security headers implementation, a related but separate fix
- Guaranteeing a perfect grade in every case, since some hosting environments impose their own limits
- Ongoing monitoring as grading criteria evolve over time
Questions about this fix
Does a lower grade mean my site currently isn't secure at all?
No — a valid certificate still provides real encryption even at a lower grade; the grade reflects how modern and tightly configured that encryption is, not whether it's present at all.
Will tightening this lock out visitors using very old browsers or devices?
It's possible for a very small number of genuinely outdated browsers, which is why we verify broad compatibility with current and reasonably recent browsers before finalising.
Why would my grade be low if I never changed anything myself?
Hosting defaults are often left permissive to maximise compatibility rather than security, and a certificate renewal can sometimes reset custom configuration back to those defaults without you doing anything.
Is this something my hosting provider should have handled already?
Ideally, though many hosts prioritise broad compatibility over strict security by default, leaving this kind of tightening as something the site owner has to request or configure separately.
How often should I re-check my grade after this is fixed?
Occasionally, particularly after any hosting change or certificate renewal, since either can reset configuration — otherwise a stable, unchanged setup shouldn't degrade on its own.
Related fixes
If this is the second time this year
A bad update breaking the site is a symptom of updates not being tested first. Care plans run every update on a staging clone before it reaches your live site, which is the actual fix for this happening again.
Your access, your rules
Create a separate admin account for us and delete it when we are done. For anything else, we get in touch and agree a method — never a form field on this site, never by reply to an email.
We back up first, always
Before anything is touched we take a full backup and keep it for 30 days. If a fix goes wrong, we put the site back exactly as it was.
If it is not what you bought
If the problem turns out smaller than what you ordered, we refund the difference. If it is bigger, we stop and send a quote before doing any extra work.
If we cannot fix it
You get back what we received. Diagnosis is on us — you only pay when the problem is actually solved. The payment processor takes its fee before the money reaches us, so we never hold it and it is not ours to return. That is true here as everywhere else.
If it comes back
Reply within seven days of delivery and we put it back on the bench at no cost. The fix is not finished until it holds.
What we are responsible for
If something goes wrong with a fix, our responsibility is limited to what you paid for it. We take a full backup first so mistakes can be undone, and we tell you before doing anything outside what you bought.