With the news of Google moving to secure all websites that don’t use SSL encryption this year, more and more business owners are starting to see the value in SSL encryption. With more and more internet users seeing the value of using SSL, it is important for businesses to understand what SSL certificates really are and how it actually works.
Why do you need an SSL secure certificate? Do you need SSL certificates for your domain? How do you get an SSL certificate? These are some of the most common questions that people ask when it comes to SSL certificates. If you are not sure of what you are asking, the same questions, then you are at the right place. Let us answer these questions for you; read on to learn all about SSL certificates.
Here is a comprehensive guide that will tell you everything you need to know about SSl certificates.
What are SSL Certificates?
SSL stands for Secure Socket Layers. It is a technology that enables secure communication between a web server and a browser. This technology protects the security and confidentiality of data during transmission over the internet by using cryptographic protocols to provide authentication and secure the connection. It can come in handy when it comes to protecting your sensitive information such as credit card details and passwords.
How Does it Work?
Secure socket layer uses encryption which means that it has a public and a private key. This helps you create an encrypted connection so you can securely transfer sensitive information between browser and the web server without worrying about it getting spoofed by a malicious actor during transit.
Why You Should Use SSL Certificates?
As mentioned above, the core purpose of SSL certificates is to ensure safe transfer of sensitive data between a browser and a web server. Let’s say, your business is collecting and processing payments online using a credit card, you need to be PCI (Payment Card Industry) compliant in order to get an SSL certificate.
Having an SSL certificate will also help you build trust with your customers as it provides them with assurances that their sensitive financial information won’t be compromised. This encourages them to share their credit card information with your business without worrying about its security.
What’s more, if your website is on HTTPS and have a SSL certificate, this can also give you a ranking boost on search engines like Google. Google is rewarding sites with SSL certificates by pushing them up in their search index. On the flipside, they are also cracking down on insecure websites by demoting them down its search rankings.
What are the Different Types of SSL Certificates?
There are many different types of SSL certificates. Some of them are given below.
- Domain validated SSL certificate
- Organization validated SSL certificate
- Extended validation certificate
- Single domain SSL certificate
- Wildcard SSL certificate
- Multi domain SSL certificate
- Domain validated SSL certificate
Domain validated SSL certificate is the most common type of certificate issued. This certificate shows that the domain name is registered and the administrator has the authority to approve the request. It is the duty of the web master to confirm through email or add the DNS to the list of records.
- Organization validated SSL certificate
Also known as a high validation certificate, an organization validated SSL certificate demands real agents to verify the domain ownership details along with organziation information which includes everything from name to city, state to country.
- Extended validation certificate
Extended validation certificate is not only the newest type of SSL certificate but it is one of the hardest to acquire. It’s rigorous validation process makes it tough for businesses to acquire it. Extended validation certificate confirms whether the business is legal or not. You also need to provide business information to prove your domain ownership.
Once you get the extended validation certification, users visiting your website will see a green padlock in their web browsing indicating that it is safe for browsing. This can help you build trust and improve customer confidence in your brand.
- Single domain SSL certificate
As the name suggests, a single domain SSL certificate only secures a single domain.
- Wildcard SSL certificate
Wildcard SSL certificates offer protection to an unlimited number of subdomains under a particular root domain. OV wildcard SSL certificate can come in handy when it comes to secure 4 or more domains. More importantly, it makes domain management far easier as you don’t have to worry about fiddling with a dozen different single certificates.
- Multi domain SSL certificate
Multi domain SSL certificates can offer protection for upto 210 different domains.
What are the Common Problems Associated With SSL Certificates?
There are many issues associated with SSL certificates just like electronic signatures. Some of the common ones are given below.
- Unable to Get a Local Issuer Certificate
One common issue that most businesses face is that they are unable to get a local issuer certificate. This problem usually occurs due to an error, which leads to misconfiguration. Due to this error, all the root and immediate certificates were sent directly to the web server when SSL and TLS based communication was taking place between a client and a web server.
- Self Signed Certificate In Certificate Chain
If there is a self signed certificate in the certificate chain, it will not be trusted. Here is how you can fix “self signed certificate in certificate chain error.”
- Certificate Mismatch Error
If you make an assumption about what your domain name would be and apply for SSL certificates, you might encounter a certificate mismatch error. This is also important for HTTPS based websites as it requires an exact domain match to establish an HTTPS connection.
How to Choose The Right SSL Certificate For Your Business?
Here is a step by step process you can use to choose the right SSL certificate for your business.
- Choose property types you want to secure (domain and subdomain)
- Decide whether you need to protect single or multi domain properties (wildcard or multiple domain)
- Make a decision about what level of protection do you actually need (low, medium and high)
What new things did you learn about SSLcertificates from this guide? Share it with us in the comments section below.
