As more corporations and organizations provide digital services and purchases, so web encryption becomes both a goal and a requirement to achieve. It is because web encryption guarantees that the information is safe and secure. It also ensures that all transaction information like credit card details is safe and only sent to reputable online firms. But, how to achieve this protection and encryption? It is a common question. Today, I will introduce you to the SSL certificates that will help you protect your business. You will get to know What is an SSL certificate? And all the related information.
Manufacturers and organizations must add SSL certificates to their internet sites to facilitate safe online transactions that can preserve client data secured and private.
So, let’s get started.
What is an SSL Certificate?
The SSL certificate meaning is quite simple. It is an acronym for secure sockets layer and is also called digital certificates.
It is defined as;
‘An SSL certificate is a fully digital certificate that authorizes a website’s identification’.
The SSL certificate aims at protecting the data transferred to the server using SSL technology. Encryption is the procedure of altering data into an unreadable state. So that the data can only be decrypted using the correct decryption key.
An SSL certificate is a standard method for making a web network private and protecting any confidential data communicated between different systems. This way, it prevents hackers from accessing and altering any transmitted information, including valuable private data. It is all about what is SSL; now, let’s move to its working principle.
How does an SSL certificate work?
The fundamental working principle is that when you put an SSL certificate on your website and a viewer links to it, the SSL protocol is triggered, which encrypts data exchanged between the server and the browser.
SSL sits on top of the transmissions control protocol (TCP), thereby acting as a security blanket. It permits higher protocol levels to remain untouched while still maintaining security.
As a result, the other protocol layers can function normally beneath the SSL layer. Here is a quick overview of How SSL works:
- Firstly, the user accesses a site or other SSL-enabled services.
- In return for the sake of its public key, the user’s application demands the server’s public key. This public key exchange allows both participants to encode information that the third person can only view.
- When a person sends a request to the server, the software encrypts the message using the server’s digital certificate.
- Then the server gets the user’s communication and uses its private key to decrypt it. Messages transmitted back to the website are encrypted in the same way, with the user’s application’s public key.
The SSL Working or utilizing public-key encryption is analogous to locking your door with a padlock. The public key is the padlock, whereas the secret key is the unique combination.
The service transmits a padlock that you can to lock a door or a box by almost anyone. On the other hand, the padlock cannot be unlocked alone without combination, which is only known by the server.
Types of SSL certificate
Mainly, there are three basic types of SSL certificates. But there are also some other types. Each certification has the same strong encryption measures; the screening and verification methods required to receive the certificate differ. These are as follows:
1. Certificates with Extended Validation (EV SSL)
It is the first type of SSL certificate. The Certificate Authority (CA) verifies the individual’s privilege to use a particular domain name and performs a comprehensive screening process of the organization with an EV SSL.
As the extended validation certificates are costly and need long-term verification, mostly the high-end websites use EV SSL because these websites need a lot of personal information from the viewers and have to collect payments frequently.
The CA/Browser Forum, in 2007, officially approved the EV regulations. And characterize the authorization process for EV SSL Certificates in detail. Here are all the steps a CA must take before issuing a certificate, including:
- validating the entity’s legitimate, physical, and functional presence; confirm that the entity’s identity corresponds to authorized records
- confirming that the entity has sole ownership of the domain mentioned in the EV SSL Certificate
- and confirming that the entity has properly authorized the EV SSL Certificate’s allotment
- Since its original conception, the standardized Extended Validation standards have been the most recent and potentially most meaningful development in SSL technology.
- New high-security web browsers, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer and other devices like smartphones, recognize Extended SSL Certificates and enable security features upgrades in the web browser.
It is the optimal option for customers who want to affirm the highest degree of validity.
Now, you can get the Extended Validation SSL Certificates for all types of businesses, whether it is a government entity and an incorporated or unincorporated business.
Other EV certificate regulations also specify the criteria under which a certificate authority needs to be successfully audited before issuing EV SSL Certificates. Also, the EV SSL checks the audits continuously per year to ensure the integrity of the issuance process.
2-Certificates with Organization Validation (OV SSL)
The Certificate Authority verifies the applicant’s right to use a given domain name and conduct various background checks on the company.
When the user clicks on the Secure Site Seal, it further provides the validated corporate information, offering increased visibility into who is operating the website and, as a result, increased trust.
The organization name shows in the ON field of the certificate as well. The Certificate Authority verifies the applicant’s right to use a given domain name.
No firm identifying information is validated, and no information is visible within the Secure Site Seal except encryption specifications. While you can be sure that your data is encrypted, you have no way of knowing who is receiving it.
3-Domain Validation SSL Certificates
DV SSL Certificates are entirely approved and have the same browser acknowledgement as Organization Validation SSL Certificates. Still, they have the advantage of being granted relatively instantly and without the requirement for company documentation.
As a result, Domain validation SSL is suitable for organizations that need a low-cost SSL immediately without acquiring company documentation.
4-SSL certificates with multidomain capabilities
Using a single SSL certificate, you can secure up to 100 different domains and subdomains, which helps save time and money. The Subject Alternative Name (SAN) field is controlled by businesses, which can add, change, and delete SANs as needed.
You can also upgrade the Multidomain certificates to a domain, organization, extended validation, or wildcard certifications.
5-Certificates for Unified Communications (UCC)
Multi-Domain SSL Certificates are also known as Unified Communications Certificates (UCC). It offers the same benefits. You can also create the EV SSL certificates using UCCs.
SSL Certificates with Wildcards
Wildcard SSL certificates come in two forms: OV and DV, and they can secure a single domain and an unlimited number of subdomains. One of the most significant benefits of getting a wildcard certificate is that it is less costly than getting many single-domain certificates.
The name of wildcard SSL certificates includes an asterisk. The asterisk also represents any valid subdomain with the same base domain. For instance, it may have a common name like *.example.com, allowing this certificate to be used for blog.example.com and account.example.com.
How to obtain an SSL certificate?
You can obtain an SSL certificate directly from a Certificate Authority. Millions of SSL certificates are issued each year by Certificate Authorities, also known as Certification Authorities.
They’re crucial to how the internet works. It ensures the transparent, trustworthy exchanges that take place online.
Depending on the level of security you desire, an SSL certificate might cost anywhere from free to hundreds of dollars. You can next browse for the different Certificate Issuers that offer SSL certificates precisely at the level you need once you’ve decided on the type of certificate you need.
The following are the steps to get your SSL:
You can start it by setting up your server. The next thing to do is to ensure that your WHOIS record is up to current and corresponds to the information you’ll be submitting to the CA (it needs to show the correct company name and address, etc.)
On your server, create a CSR acronym for the Certificate Signing Request. It is something that your hosting company can help you with.
This will be submitted to the Certificate Authority for validation of your domain and company information.
Once it is done, you can install the certificate they offer.
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The advantages of an SSL certificate:
- SSL establishes confidence by allowing users to interact with web services through a secure communication channel.
- Users have more confidence in web services because they believe their information is safe.
- Customers believe in a company’s ability to protect data, which means higher client retention and trustworthiness.
- Because sensitive data is not constantly at risk of being intercepted, there are fewer incidences of data theft among users and businesses.
Final verdict:
The first and foremost thing that the buyer is concerned about is his personal and transactional details for online purchases. And it is the responsibility of the online organization to protect and encrypt its website so that no one can hack it.
You can do this by adding SSL certificates to your website. In this way, it will also promote sales and increase user trust.
You can read the complete article to know all about What does an SSL certificate mean or how does an SSL certificate work.
Further, if you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comment section.
