A lot of new businesses don't realize that you have to buy a secure SSL certificate for your business. This is the most important part of your website and should not be overlooked. In this article, I will show you the key factors to consider when choosing the right SSL certificate for your business. After reading this article, you will understand how SSL certificates work, what are their benefits and drawbacks, as well as know how to choose the best self-signed SSL certificate for your business.
What is an SSL Certificate?
An SSL certificate is a digital certificate that provides encrypted communication between your site and the Internet. It's a digital signature that proves that you are who you say you are, and not someone trying to impersonate you. When you buy an SSL certificate, it's like having a piece of plastic with a seal on it. The seal says: "This site is owned by XYZ Corp."
SSL certificates have been around for a while and have become the industry standard for websites since then.
An SSL certificate is what makes your website appear secure to the public — even if they can't see the underlying encryption key used to encrypt their data.
When you purchase an SSL certificate, it will be installed on your server (or servers) so that visitors can access your site securely over the Internet.
SSL certificates are used to secure websites and online transactions. They can be used to encrypt data so that it cannot be read by unauthorized people or machines. SSL certificates are also used to authenticate a website's identity and ensure users are connected to the right site.
SSL certificates are issued by certificate authorities (CAs), which are organizations that verify the authenticity of the SSL certificate and its owner before issuing it. The CA verifies that the organization requesting an SSL certificate is legitimate and has been authorized by the owner of the domain name to use it.
SSL certificates can also be issued for extra security, for example, when using public Wi-Fi in cafes or airports — where access to sensitive information may be at risk — or for connecting to internal resources behind firewall servers for business purposes.
Are All SSL Certificates the Same?
SSL certificates are different. They're not all the same, and most of the time, they're not even close to being the same.
The first thing to understand is that there's no single "best" SSL certificate. Every business needs a different one.
Here are some things that make up an effective certificate:
Cost
The cost of your certificate will vary depending on the provider and how much security you want. As with any other purchase, it's important to weigh your options carefully, taking into account how much it will cost you as well as what benefits you'll receive.
Length
Depending on who you're buying from, your SSL certificate might expire after just 1 year or until 2023 — it all depends on the company's policies and terms of service.
Size
The size of your website will also affect the price of your SSL certificate; if you have a large site with lots of traffic (and thus more potential for errors), it may be more expensive than a smaller site that gets less traffic.
The Three Main Types of SSL Certificates
There are three main types of SSL certificates. They are:
Domain Validation (DV)
This is the most common type of certificate. It's issued by a trusted authority and proves that the owner of a domain name has control over that domain. A DV certificate can be issued for either a single domain or multiple subdomains in one record.
Organization Validation (OV)
This type of certificate is issued by an organization that has been verified as trustworthy by a global authority like VeriSign or Entrust. OV certificates provide more information about the organization than DV certificates do, but there's still no way for anyone to prove their identity beyond what is contained in their business records and general reputation.
Extended Validation (EV)
EV is the most secure type of SSL certificate available and requires proof from an accredited certification body that you have been actively involved in your business since day one. You must have been using this same type of encryption technology throughout your entire website before being allowed to purchase this type of certificate.
Other things you should also know about the types of SSL certificates and their benefits.
Single Domain
This certificate is issued for one domain name and can only be used on that specific site. For example, if you have an eCommerce site and want to secure all of your pages, this would be the best choice for you. It's also the easiest to install and maintain because it doesn't require any additional setup or maintenance on your part.
Wildcard
This certificate is issued for all subdomains under a single domain name. For example, if you had a website called "example.com" and wanted to secure all of its subdomains (e.g., "example1.com", "example2.com"), then this would be a good option for you as well since it doesn't require any additional setup or maintenance on your part.
Multi-Domain
This certificate is issued for multiple domains under one organization's account (e.g., an eCommerce store). It has some limitations though — if the organization already has another type of SSL certificate issued for another domain (e.g., another website), then this will not automatically add that domain to the others.
Which Certificate is Right for My Small Business?
The certificate that you choose should be based on your business needs and policies. The following questions will help you decide which certificate is right for your small business:
- How many website users do you want to protect?
- What is the size of your organization?
- What type of e-commerce do you offer?
- Do you sell physical goods or services?
- What is the nature of your business (retail, eCommerce, software development company, etc.)?
Where Do I Buy My SSL Certificate?
It's simple! You can purchase an SSL certificate directly from a CA (certificate authority) or through a certificate provider. The two types of companies that sell certificates are CAs and resellers.
CAs issue digital identities called "digital certificates" that are used to secure a website's connection to the internet. CAs create these digital certificates and then sell them to organizations like businesses, government agencies and educational institutions in order to protect their online communications from prying eyes.
You can purchase your certificate from a variety of different sources. The main ones include:
Certificate Authorities (CAs) - These are organizations that issue SSL certificates.
Certification Bodies - These are organizations that verify the validity of the certificates they issue.
Browser Vendors - Mozilla, Microsoft, and Apple all provide tools that allow you to inspect your browser's TLS settings for any certificate chain in order to determine if it's valid.
Certificate providers are third-party vendors that offer the ability to purchase digital certificates from multiple CAs in one place. They also offer additional features like 24/7 support, email communication, automated renewals and more.
You can purchase your SSL certificate from a number of different providers. Each provider has its own unique process for creating and issuing certificates. Some companies will only create certificates for their own customers, while others will create certificates for anyone who wants one, as long as they are able to provide the necessary information and payment methods.
If you're unsure where to start, then it's always best to contact the provider directly and ask them which type of certificate they offer. They'll be able to provide you with more information about the process and the types of certificates available.
How Do I Install it on My Site?
You need to make sure that you have the right SSL certificate for your business. Here are some questions to ask yourself before buying a new SSL certificate:
How do I install it on my site? If you have no idea how to install an SSL certificate, then you should go with one that is easy to install. You can also ask your web hosting company or another company that has already installed the same type of certificate on their server.
Do I know what the expiration date of my new SSL is? The expiration date of your SSL certificate is important because it will help you determine whether it's still valid or not. If there's no expiration date, then it means that the certificate is still good and doesn't need changing anytime soon.
Does the name of this company appear in my browser address bar? If there are any issues with your current website, then having a company name appearing in your browser address bar can be very helpful when troubleshooting problems on your site. So, if you want a website with an actual address (not just an acronym), then make sure that this feature works properly before getting a new SSL certificate from any company.
If you have a WordPress blog or website, you can use the SSL installation plugin. This will ensure that your site is secure and that Google and other search engines will show your blog as secure.
If you don't have a WordPress site or if you want to install it on another platform, then there are other ways to install SSL certificates on your site. You can use Let's Encrypt to get free SSL certificates from their service. The best part of this is that it's free!
If your website is hosted on a server, you'll need to contact your web host and have them install the certificate for you. If you're using a self-hosted WordPress site, you can use the “Install SSL Certificate” plugin to automatically install it when installing a new theme or plugin.
If you're using a self-hosted WordPress site and want to install an SSL certificate yourself, follow these steps:
- Go to your hosting account and go to the “Domains” section.
- Click on the domain name that you want to secure.
- Scroll down until you see a box titled “SSL Settings” and click on it.
- Click on “Add New Domain” and enter all of the details for your new SSL certificate.
- Once finished, click on Update and then Save Changes.
Click the button below for your web-hosting
Takeaway
Long story short, if you want a secure website that doesn't get flagged as insecure by browsers and users, you'll want an SSL Certificate installed. This will protect your customer's data and make your business look more professional. Hopefully, this article has helped you learn about SSL Certificates and how to choose the right one for your business.
SSL Certificates are clearly a must for business, but if you're trying to figure out whether to choose an EV or standard SSL certificate, don't worry! You've come to the right place. We've put together this guide to help you figure out which certificate is best for your needs.
For the most part, the last thing you want to do is end up with an SSL certificate that has been revoked. It's really better to be safe than sorry. This is why it's always a good idea to take your time to research and give a little thought as to what type of certificate you're looking to purchase. And remember: If it seems too good to be true then it likely is.
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