People involved in the management of websites for a variety of purposes have come across SSL. Businesses who allow credit card payments on their websites are required to have a proper SSL certificate in order to become PCI compliant. However, this does not mean that all of these businesses appreciate the vital role that SSL provides for those who use it to its fullest potential.
With modern-day threats, persons and businesses that utilize websites must tap into reliable tools that will help protect both themselves and their clients or customers. SSL is one of these tools and it is best to have a concrete knowledge of what SSL is, what it does, and how you can get it for your website.
What is SSL?
SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer. It is the standard security tool used in order to encrypt the link between a web browser and a web server. Using this secure link, any and all information that passes through are kept protected, providing privacy and security to both the web server and the visitor.
Thanks for the trustworthy security provided by SSL, users can confidently key in private personal information such as credit card numbers, social security numbers, and their login details without fear of identity theft and fraud. Without SSL, this private information will be transmitted as plain and readable text, and should there be hackers, he would be able to freely see this information and use them for his benefits. But with the help of SSL, this information are encrypted and the hacker would not be able to decipher the transmitted data.
To know whether or not the website being used has an SSL certificate, there will be green address bar, or that there is a padlock.
What are the benefits of SSL?
True enough, SSL provides reliable online security for your websites, and for those who use your website. But to what extent can SSL really benefit the website that utilizes this great security tool?
Thanks to SSL, the following benefits can be enjoyed:
- Privacy is kept intact at all times.
SSL promises to keep the transactions done through its secured connection private. Because of this, your website will be able to obtain personal information, credit card and debit card numbers, login credentials, and other sensitive information, without the users fearing that someone can get their information.
- You can get your customers’ trust.
Knowing that they are protected, your customers would feel confident in using your website for their transactions. It’s hard to trust anybody these days. But with the reassurance that they are in safe hands, where they can freely transact without worrying that someone may use their personal and other sensitive information, your customers would come back for even more transactions.
- You can build a strong client-base.
All of your efforts to secure your website for the privacy of your customers would eventually lead to them maximizing the use of your website. Now, depending on how great your goods and services are, you have a greater chance of building a strong relationship with your clients. By offering them quality products, and by providing them a wonderful user experience with no trace of fear, why won’t your clients patronize you? So do your best, get SSL, and you know the rest!
Wildcard SSL vs EV SSL
There are two special types of SSL certificates: Wildcard SSL and EV SSL. Both offers the needed security and protection, but with varying additional features.
Wildcard SSL is your standard SSL certificate which provides you with the needed security but carries with it an amazing feature. A Wildcard SSL certificates can cover all of the sub-domains of your main domain.
EV SSL provides the highest level of trust and authentication for your website. EV SSL carries a trademark green address bar which allows visitors of your website to constantly see your highlighted company name, while at the same time reassuring them that the website they are visiting is protected to the highest degree.
EV SSL is the strictest type of SSL. It cannot be acquired by any businesses without the stringent processing:
- The CA will establish the legal, physical and operational existence of the business.
- The CA will verify the business’ official records like their licensing information.
- Afterward, the CA will confirm if the business applying for the certificate is indeed the rightful owner of the domain name they are trying to apply for certification
- Now, the CA will countercheck if the business is indeed the one applying for the EV Certificate.
Where can I get an SSL Certificate?
If it’s your first time to build a website, you can avail an SSL Certificate from your own web hosting provider. Best web hosting services like HostGator, A2 Hosting, and Siteground provides SSL/TLS as an extra should you wish to purchase a domain and hosting plan.
There are hundreds or even thousands of SSL Certificate vendors worldwide. However, only purchase SSL Certificates from Certificate Authorities (CA). Here is an extensive list of CAs worldwide, in no particular order:
- Comodo
- DigiCert
- Entrust
- GeoTrust
- GlobalSign
- GoDaddy
- Let’s Encrypt – offers free SSL (except for EV SSL)
- Network Solutions
- com
- StartCom
- SwissSign
- Symantec
- Thawte
- Trustwave
Here at Hosting I Trust, we have compiled the best hosting options for Windows and Linux, along with options for WordPress hosting and Web Design. It’s currently focused on India, but we plan to move forward as we gain traction from people around the globe.
How can you get or install SSL?
First, decide on which type of SSL certificate matches your needs.
Here are two guides that you will need in installing your SSL Certificate. Do take note that you need to have root access to your website in order to do this by yourself:
- Install SSL Certificate in cPanel, via SSL/TLS Manager – here.
- Installing an SSL Certificate on NGINX, Java-based web servers, and more – here.
SSL is truly a wonder for keeping websites protected against cyber offenders. Website owners must tap into SSL now only for compliance but to enjoy to the fullest the security that it provides.