SSL Certificate

What is SSL

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is a security protocol that is used to establish an encrypted connection between a web server and a client, such as a web browser. It is designed to protect the privacy and integrity of data transmitted over the internet by encoding the data in a way that is difficult for anyone who does not have the necessary decryption key to read or understand.

Types of SSL

1. Domain Validated (DV) SSL certificates: These certificates are issued quickly and do not require any additional verification beyond verifying that the applicant owns the domain. DV SSL certificates are suitable for small websites or blogs that do not handle sensitive information.
2. Organization Validated (OV) SSL certificates: These certificates require the applicant to provide additional verification to prove that they are a legitimate organization. OV SSL certificates provide a higher level of trust and are suitable for websites that handle sensitive information, such as online stores or financial services.
3. Extended Validation (EV) SSL certificates: These certificates provide the highest level of trust and are issued only after a thorough vetting process. In addition to verifying the applicant’s identity, EV SSL certificates also require the applicant to prove that they are a legitimate business. EV SSL certificates are indicated by a green address bar in the client’s web browser and are typically used by large, well-known organizations.
4. Wildcard SSL certificates: These certificates can be used to secure multiple subdomains of a single domain. For example, a wildcard SSL certificate for “example.com” can be used to secure “www.example.com,” “mail.example.com,” and any other subdomains of “example.com.”
5. Multi-Domain (SAN) SSL certificates: These certificates can be used to secure multiple domains with a single certificate. For example, a multi-domain SSL certificate could be used to secure “example.com,” “example.net,” and “example.org.”
6. Unified Communications Certificates (UCC): Specifically designed to secure Microsoft Exchange Server and Office Communications Server environments.

How it works

1. The client’s web browser requests access to a secure website by sending a message to the server.
2. The server responds by sending its SSL certificate, which includes the server’s public key and other information about the certificate.
3. The client’s web browser checks the certificate to verify that it is valid and issued by a trusted certificate authority (CA).
4. If the certificate is valid, the client’s web browser generates a secret key and sends it to the server encrypted with the server’s public key.
5. The server decrypts the secret key using its private key and sends a message back to the client’s web browser, indicating that a secure connection has been established.

From this point on, all data transmitted between the server and the client’s web browser is encrypted using the secret key, ensuring that it cannot be intercepted and read by third parties.

Why You should use SSL

1. Protects sensitive information: SSL helps to protect the privacy of your users by encrypting sensitive information, such as passwords, credit card numbers, and personal data, that is transmitted between your website and your users’ web browsers.
2. Builds trust: SSL helps to build trust in your website by showing visitors that you are committed to protecting their privacy and security. This can lead to higher conversion rates and more business.
3. Improves search engine rankings: Google and other search engines give higher rankings to websites that use SSL, which can lead to more organic traffic and higher search engine rankings.
4. Protects against cyber threats: SSL can help to protect your website against cyber threats such as man-in-the-middle attacks, where an attacker intercepts and reads data transmitted between your website and your users’ web browsers.