Protecting your customers’ sensitive information and your website is critical to the prosperity of your business and ongoing marketing health. Keeping a secure website will ensure your customers trust you; it can also improve your website ranking. We are passionate about making sure your business succeeds at your marketing, so we caught up with our resident IT specialist. Keep reading to learn more about the role SSL plays in providing good security for our clients!
What is “SSL”? What does it stand for?
An encryption-based Internet security protocol is known as SSL or Secure Sockets Layer. Netscape initially released it in 1995 to secure data integrity, privacy, and authentication in Internet interactions. The URL of a website that uses SSL/TLS begins with “HTTPS” rather than “HTTP.”
How does it work?
SSL encrypts data sent across the web to ensure high privacy and security. As a result, anyone looking to steal this data can only make out a jumbled collection of characters. These characters are exceptionally challenging to decrypt. SSL conducts an authentication procedure across the devices known as a handshake to assure that both communicating devices are indeed who they say they are. Additionally, SSL uses digital signatures to provide data integrity, ensuring that the data hasn’t changed before it arrives at its receiver. Each new version of SSL has improved its security more than the previous one. SSL became TLS in 1999.
What is an SSL Certificate?
Websites with SSL certificates are the only ones that can utilize SSL (technically a “TLS certificate”). An SSL certificate is a form of identification, like a badge or ID card. The server hosting a website or application saves and displays SSL certificates on the Internet via the website’s server. The website’s public key is among the crucial details of an SSL certificate. The public key allows for encryption. A user’s device views the public key to create safe encryption keys in the web server. The web server also has a private key to decipher encrypted data via the public key. Certificate authorities issue SSL certificates, or Certificate Authority (CA). You can apply for them on the SSL website, which has three classes. There is extended validation, organization, and domain among the certificates for encryption and verification. For domain-specific certificates, there are single, multi-domain, and wildcard.
How do I choose between the different SSL Certificates?
Each class of SSL Certificate can look slightly different and have different uses. First, here’s a list of abbreviations to help:
- CA = Certificate Authority
- CSR = Certificate Signing Request
- DV = Domain Validation
- EV = Extended Validation
- OV = Organization Validation
- SSL = Secured Sockets Layer
1. Domain Validation (DV) SSL Certificate
A green padlock is displayed next to the URL in the address bar next to the Domain Validation (DV) certificate’s low degree of encryption. With only a few firm documents required to apply, this is the fastest certification you can get.
When you include a DNS in the CA, this verification takes place. The CA will examine the applicant’s domain ownership before issuing this certificate. (Note: DVs only secure the domain and do not secure subdomains.)
You will be unable to know who is receiving your encrypted data since, unlike the EV SSL, the CA won’t verify any identification information. However, a DV works if your budget doesn’t allow for a more advanced and costly SSL.
2. Extended Validation (EV) SSL Certificate
To avoid being misconstrued for a spam website, this certificate displays a padlock, HTTPS, your business’s name, and the country your business is in with the address bar.
Although Extended Validation SSLs are the most costly to acquire, they help demonstrate the credibility of your domain in the address bar. You must establish ownership rights to the domain you submit before installing an EV SSL. Showing ownership rights reassures visitors when you are gathering the information required to carry out specific tasks, such as a credit card number, address, or other sensitive personal data for online purchase. Any company may obtain an EV SSL certificate, and those who want identity verification should prioritize it.
3. Organization Validated (OV) SSL Certificate
You can confirm the legitimacy of your company and website domain through this certificate. Organization Validated SSL certificates are achieved in two phases and provide a medium level of encryption. The CA would first confirm the domain’s owner and ensure there is no suspicious activity.
Customers would see a tiny green padlock on the browser, followed by your business name. This certificate is best if you aren’t financially able to purchase an EV SSL but still would like a medium level of encryption.
4. Single Domain SSL Certificate
A Single Domain SSL can only safeguard a particular domain. You cannot use it to secure another domain or subdomains. For instance, you cannot use this certificate for examples.
5. Wildcard SSL Certificates
If you purchase a certificate for one domain, you can use the same certificate for subdomains, thanks to Wildcard SSLs.
If you purchased a Wildcard for example.com, you might use it for blog.example.com and mail.example.com, for instance. This alternative is more affordable than buying numerous SSL certificates for a number or domain.
6. Multi-Domain/Unified Communications (UCC) SSL Certificate
Unified Communications Certificates (UCCs), also called Multi-Domain SSL Certificates, permit using several domain names on a single certificate. The original purpose of UCCs was to make connections between a single server and browser, but they have now evolved to allow the use of numerous domain names owned by the same owner.
To verify, a UCC in the browser bar displays a padlock. They are also considered an EV SSL when they’re configured to display the green text, padlock, and home country. The number of domain names linked to this certificate is the only distinction. Multi-Domain SSL Certificates can cover up to 100 domain names.
Why is SSL so important to Google?
Google adjusted its algorithm in 2014 to favor websites that implement HTTPS (SSL). Google has decided to flag the websites that do not have an SSL/TLS Certificate placed on their website as of 2018 to provide a safer web browsing experience. All common online browsers, including Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox, will penalize violators by delivering a warning message that reads “Not Secure” in the URL bar. It is a possibility that a website’s ability to load in a browser may be prohibited soon.
Is SSL important for SEO?
While the main benefit of SSL is to secure data sent between visitors and your website, there is also an SEO benefit. SSL is a component of Google’s search ranking algorithm.
Furthermore, let’s imagine two websites have similar content, but one has SSL enabled while the other does not. The fact that the first website is encrypted can give it a ranking advantage. As a result, installing SSL on your website and across all your pages has a clear SEO benefit.
You have hopefully gained insight into SSL and how it benefits your business and your customers. Still not sure where to start? We would love to collaborate on marketing efforts for your business! Are you interested in learning more about how we can help you make the right marketing decisions for your business? Connect with us today!