What is an SSL certificate, and why is it important for your website?

SSL certificate is a software tool that protects the private and financial information of website users. SSL stands for a cryptographic protocol that helps to establish a secure connection between the client and the server. The SSL protocol was developed by Netscape Communication.

Why is it so essential? To understand, imagine a fairly simple situation. You pay for an order in an online store. At the same time, you are asked for your bank card number and other details. The browser transmits the information to the server, where special programs verify the authenticity of the information and authorize the bank to withdraw money from the buyer’s bank account.

Previously, this information was transmitted in the clear. It can be intercepted by fraudsters. This will only be noticeable when money suddenly disappears from the card. An SSL certificate helps to avoid such situations. With its help, the site switches to a secure connection, which makes it much more difficult to hack and intercept payment data. SSL certificates can be installed on the hosting in the client panel.

By the way! Be sure to read the article to the end. There will be an interesting offer for readers of my blog on Medium :)

Data encryption on the Internet: how does it work and what types are there?
After filling out a form on a website that works with the SSL protocol, the information is converted into a chaotic set of characters. In this form, the information is transmitted to the server. There, it is decrypted and processed again.

To encrypt and decrypt a message, you need a key. This is a part of the program code that defines the logic and rules of encryption. An SSL certificate is based on the most difficult keys to crack.

How to check the SSL certificate on a website?

It is quite easy to check if an SSL certificate is working on a website. Just look at the address in your browser, if the certificate is working, you will see a lock icon next to the website address.

You can additionally check the reliability of the certificate using services:

• SSL Shopper,
• Wormly,
• ImmuniWeb.

All of them work on the same principle and are free of charge. You just need to copy the website address into a special field and scan it. The service will give you a report in a minute.

Types of SSL certificates: which one is right for you?

In order to choose the best security tool, it is important to understand what types of SSL certificates are available. Depending on the cost:

• Free. They are provided by the non-profit organization Letsencript. They provide a minimum level of protection sufficient for small and medium-sized websites.
• Paid. They provide more reliable encryption and are suitable for large websites with high traffic and a large volume of online payments.

Depending on the type of distribution:

• Single domain certificate. Issued for one domain only.
• Multi-domain. An SSL certificate issued for several domains belonging to the same company at once. This is a very convenient solution for businesses that have several websites at once.
• Wildcard. A certificate that protects a domain, existing subdomains, and those that will be created in the future.
• Obviously, the second and third options will be more expensive, but at the same time, they will be beneficial for businesses with large websites or multiple sites.

SSL certificates also differ in the type of verification:

• SSL certificates with domain validation (DV). In this case, only the domain belonging to a certain owner is checked. This is the simplest, cheapest type of certificate. At the same time, it has the lowest level of protection.
• Certificates with company verification (OV). In this case, the domain, the owner’s registration, and his right to engage in business activities related to the subject matter of the website are checked. Therefore, to obtain such a certificate, you must provide documents on the registration of a business with the relevant line of business. The certificate will be issued within about three days, but its reliability is much higher.
• Certificates with extended verification (EV). This certificate can only be issued to a legal entity. This type of certificate is used for websites of banks, marketplaces, and other large financial and trading businesses.

We would like to remind you that these classifications are based on different criteria. That is, your SSL can be multi-domain with company verification and an increased level of encryption.

How to install an SSL certificate on hosting?

Most often, SSL certificates are connected in the hosting panel. Let’s show you how it works with the hosting provider Host4Biz. We will start the explanation after you have paid for the hosting service and activated it.

First, go to the client panel and find the section Website Hosting or WordPress Hosting.

After that, select the SSL management tab.

Then, select a domain and add an SSL certificate.

After that, you will only need to set up a redirect from the http version of the site to the https version with a secure connection. I will tell you how to do this in a separate article. Or you can apply for services to customize and finalize your website. To do this, write to me on Facebook or Linkedin.

Hosting and servers for your websites

If you want to launch a website, order convenient and reliable hosting on European servers from Host4Biz. This is a Polish provider created by a Ukrainian team, a company that has been on the market for many years!

You can order:

• Website hosting and hosting for WordPress, adapted to the needs of projects on this CMS. The price of shared hosting is from 1.8 USD per month when paying for three years and from 3 USD per month when paying for a year. Hosting for WordPress with installed CMS and plugin package from 2.40 USD per month when paying for three years and from 3.20 USD when paying for a year at once.
• VPS servers on Linux and VPS servers on Windows with a large amount of memory on NVME disks. This hosting option will be useful for projects with much more traffic and complex functionality.
• Dedicated servers in Poland, Germany, France, and the USA.

Want a discount? It’s easy. Thanks to an agreement with Host4Biz, you can get a discount of up to 10% on hosting, up to 7% on VPS, and up to 3% on dedicated servers.

To do this:

• Share the link to this article on social media. Do not remove the post.
• Write to me on Facebook or Linkedin and send me a link to the repost of the article. Let me know which of the services you need a promo code for.
• I will send you a promo code for a discount on the chosen service.
• Use the promo code when paying. Start developing your project.

Thank you for reading, stay tuned for updates, and support the Armed Forces and Ukraine in general.

Frequently asked questions about SSL and TLS certificates (FAQ)

What are SSL and TLS?

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) and TLS (Transport Layer Security) are cryptographic protocols that protect information during transmission over the Internet. TLS is an improved version of SSL and is used to ensure secure data exchange between the client and the server.

What are the main functions of SSL and TLS certificates?

The main functions of SSL and TLS certificates include website authentication, encryption of data transmitted between the client and the server, and ensuring the integrity of data during transmission.

How do I get an SSL or TLS certificate for my website?

To obtain an SSL or TLS certificate, you must contact an authorized certificate provider such as Comodo, Let’s Encrypt, or Symantec and choose a certificate that meets your needs. After that, you will need to go through the domain ownership verification process and install the certificate on your server. You can also buy an SSL certificate with a higher level of security from a hosting provider like Host4Biz or another.

What types of SSL or TLS certificates are there?

There are several types of SSL or TLS certificates, including single-site (for one specific domain), multi-domain (for multiple domains), Wildcard (for all subdomains of the same domain), and EV (extended validation).

Why is it important to have an SSL or TLS certificate for a website?

SSL or TLS certificates help provide security and trust for your website users. They protect sensitive customer information, reduce the risk of man-in-the-middle attacks, and provide a positive impact on your website’s search engine rankings.