Everything You Need to Know About the SSL Certificate

 Secure Sockets Layer or SSL are security standards used to encrypt the web connections between the client’s browser and the web server. Even though the term SSL protocol has been replaced by TLS (Transport Layer Security) protocol, it is still used.

Every website with “HTTPS” in its web address uses the SSL/TLS protocol. The web browser displays a green padlock on the immediate next of the web page address whenever it sees a valid SSL certificate. This signifies users that their connection is secure; all the communication between the web server and their browser is being conducted through an encrypted channel.



Why use SSL certificates?

It is necessary to have SSL encryption on the networks. This is because the information that you share over a network passes through a lot of other computers that are linked on a similar network so that it can reach the destined web server. This simply means that the intermediary computers can easily access the shared information. They can access sensitive information like passwords, usernames, and more. But, if the network has an SSL certification, this risk of leakage of sensitive data can be prevented by encrypting the data so that only the recipients intended to go through can access it.

Even if your website doesn’t ask the users to enter their sensitive data, it is recommended to use an SSL certification. The websites that use an SSL protocol are considered better, and also their chances of appearing higher in the search results increases.

What does an SSL certificate contain?

SSL certification is a term used for a web server data file that contains various segments of information. The public key of the website is the most critical aspect of the certificate. The certificate then includes the domain name for which the certificate got issued and the organization’s details or the individual for whom it got issued. Alongside all this, it contains the information and digital signature of the authority that issued it. The SSL certificate also has some other essential details like the issuance date and the validity and expiration date of the certificate.

Who issues the Secure Socket Layers?

Certificate Authority (CA) issues the SSL certificates. Companies such as IdenTrust, DigiCert, Let’s Encrypt, and GlobalSign are among the trusted CAs available. Microsoft, Opera, Google, Mozilla, and various other browsers trust these CAs.

Types of SSL certificates

SSL Certificates can be broadly classified into three different categories:

  1. Domain-Validated (DV) certificates: They are the basic entry-level certificates that get issued within a couple of minutes. They are used to verify the ownership of the domain name and cover the basic encryption.
  2. Organization-Validated (OV) certificates: They also authenticate the owner’s details alongside the basic encryption and verification. They might get issued within a few hours or might take up to some days.
  3. Extended Validation (EV) certificates: Since EVs also verify the physical and operational existence of the website owner, they are the most trusted. The certificate issuance can take up to several weeks as they follow a strict set of guidelines.

How to get SSL certificates?

You can get SSL certification in a few steps:

  1. You need first to determine the required certificate type. It depends on the number of domains and subdomains that are needed to be secured. The banking sectors need to follow up with many more crucial processes, as they have to rest assured that their SSL certificate meets the requirements.
  2. Then the users have to determine the cost of the SSL certificate. There are many SSL certificate providers, and the price for each of them may vary depending upon certification type and the authority issuing it. On a beginner’s level, you can get free service and all hail to Let’s Encrypt.

Final Verdict

These were the details regarding the Secure Socket Layers certificate, its types, usage, and more. We hope that the details mentioned above would have helped you in understanding about the SSL certification.

Blair Lennon is a McAfee expert and has been working in the technology industry since 2002. As a technical expert, she has written technical blogs, manuals, white papers, and reviews for many websites such as mcafee.com/activate.

Source : Everything You Need to Know About the SSL Certificate

 

 

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