What Is an SSL Certificate? A Guide to Online Security
Updated: Oct 2
Understanding SSL will play a major role in helping you make your website more secure, as it is one of the most important digital risk protection methods for improving internet security. I can assure you that you have interacted with SSL in many instances before. If you have made an online transaction, entered credit card details or provided personal information anywhere on the internet before, an SSL security protocol kept your information safe. To make this possible, websites use SSL certificates. So, what is an SSL certificate?
What Is an SSL Certificate?
SSL stands for secure sockets layer and helps create an encrypted link or connection between a browser and a web server. SSL certificates are often the difference between an HTTP and an HTTPS web address, with HTTPS being more secure. Another sign that a web server has an SSL certificate is when there is a padlock icon at the start of the browser box on top of your screen, just before the website link on the address bar.
But why the term “certificate” after SSL?
To get your website an SSL, you need to place a certificate signing request (CSR) to help you create a private key and public key, which work in tandem to keep your website safe. A certificate signing request (CSR) provides the information needed as part of the certificate-issuing process.
How SSL Certificates Work
An SSL certificate is not only important to a user browsing your site but also to web browsers that see the digital certificate as an indication that your site is secure. If you have ever visited a site and received a warning that it is not safe, it might be because the site has no valid SSL certificate.
An SSL secures the connections between the browser and the web server, helping to keep user data secure. The information is protected from an intruder or hacker trying to intercept or alter information exchanged with the website.
This security is provided by combining private and public keys. The public key is used as part of the encryption process, while the private key must be kept secure. Together, these technologies help make SSL secure and protect sensitive information and data files transferred between users and websites.
How to Obtain SSL Certificates
As mentioned above, you need to place a CSR to get an SSL certificate. The request is placed with a certificate authority (CA), also known as a certification authority, which will validate the request before the certificate issue process is completed.
You can get a free SSL certificate or one that is priced at a given value depending on the certificate and provider.
You can get the certificate using the following steps:
Ensure you have the correct website information, which is your WHOIS record as regulated by ICANN.
Choose the type of SSL certificate you want (more on types of SSL certificates later).
Generate your CSR (certificate signing request).
Submit the CSR to a certificate authority.
Await validation from your certificate authority (the validation process might take a while).
Install the SSL certificate.
Once you get your SSL certificate, it will contain the following information:
Your domain name
The certificate authority that issued the digital certificate
The issue date
Certificate authority’s digital signature
The person or organisation the certificate was issued to
Expiration date
Associated subdomains (if you are going for multi-domain SSL certificates)
The public key (the private key is kept secret)
When getting an SSL certificate, there are different types you can choose from.
What Are the Different Types of SSL Certificates
When getting an SSL, the certificate you choose will be divided into three different sections:
Root certificate- belongs to and is closely guarded by the issuing authority.
Intermediate certificate- the link between the root and server certificate.
Server certificate- issued to a specific domain.
Here are the different types of certificates you can choose depending on your domain needs.
Single domain SSL certificate- applies to only one domain and all the pages in the domain.
Multi-domain SSL certificates- Multiple domains can be linked to a single certificate.
Wildcard SSL certificates- Apply to a single domain and its subdomains.
Before getting these certificates, a domain has to be validated through a vetting process designed to verify ownership and other relevant domain or organisation information. The validation process helps certificate authorities establish that certificates are being issued to the appropriate applicant and can help prevent attackers from creating misleading certificates for domains they do not control.
Here are the different validation levels.
SSL Validation Levels
1) Extended Validation SSL Certificates
Also known as an EV SSL certificate, extended validation involves a more extensive verification process. This validation considers the legal and operational identity of the organisation requesting the certificate.
The extended validation process carries out additional checks before the SSL certificate is issued to a domain.
The EV SSL certificate is usually the most expensive to attain. Still, if you have done your security assessment, you will already be taking important steps towards improving your wider security posture.
2) Domain Validated Certificates
Also known as DV certificates, domain validated certificates specifically check an applicant’s right to use a specific domain name. This process helps to verify ownership of the domain before the certificate is issued.
3) Organisation Validated Certificates
Also known as OV SSL certificates, organisation validated certificates apply to organisations. This digital certificate is issued after information relating to the organisation has been verified as part of the validation process.
Frequently Asked Questions About SSL Certificates
a) What is the purpose of an SSL certificate?
An SSL certificate helps keep confidential user data secure from hackers and anyone with malicious intent on the internet. SSL encryption protects information sent between a browser and web server, helping to strengthen overall internet security.
SSL certificates offer protection to data, including:
Medical records
Passwords
Personal addresses
Credit card numbers
Transaction codes
Sensitive Data files transferred online
b) What is an SSL certificate, and how does it work?
An SSL certificate is a digital certificate issued to a website that helps establish an encrypted connection between the user's browser and the website's web server. The certification also helps verify information relating to the website or domain.
SSL certificates work using cryptographic keys, including a public key and private key, to help protect data exchanged between users and websites. This process helps make SSL secure and reduces the risk of information being intercepted while it is transmitted.
c) Is it necessary to have an SSL certificate?
There are two main reasons why it is important to have an SSL certificate. First, the certificate helps keep information secure while it is being transmitted. Secondly, an SSL certificate helps establish trust by showing users that a website uses an encrypted HTTPS connection.
For organisations handling personal details, account information or credit card data, SSL is an important part of maintaining internet security
d) How do you get an SSL certificate?
SSL certificates are issued by a certificate authority (CA) that validates the domain or organisation before completing the certificate issue process.
Once you generate a certificate signing request (CSR), you can submit it to a certificate authority, which will validate the required information before issuing the SSL certificate.
Final Thoughts
All websites should use an SSL certificate and HTTPS to protect information transmitted between users and the web server. SSL, or secure sockets layer, is closely associated with TLS, or Transport Layer Security, which provides the modern encryption used to protect web connections.
Using SSL/TLS helps keep user data secure, protect sensitive information and strengthen overall internet security. Whether you use single-domain, multi-domain or wildcard SSL certificates, getting the right certificate should form part of your wider security improvement plan.
