What is an SSL Certificate

What are SSL and SSL Certificates?

SSL stands for Secure Socket Layer, which is a secured cryptographic protocol for authenticating and encrypting data and communication over a network. Transport Layer Security or TLS is its updated and more secure version. SSL and TLS are often used interchangeably; however, they refer to the type of secure connection that HTTPS uses for communication between a browser and a server.

To initiate the protocol of secure connection between servers (websites, VPN, or intranets) and clients (email clients, website browsers, or website applications), a digital certificate is needed. This digital certificate is what we call the SSL Certificate. Simply put, an SSL Certificate encrypts and protects sensitive information while being transferred across the internet. There are several types of SSL Certificates you can choose from depending on your website's needs.

We can now install SSL on the shared IP address; however, the server must be on at least CentOS 6 and cPanel version 11.58. If the server is on an older version, it will require a Dedicated IP address.

Why do you need an SSL Certificate?

Here are the reasons why you should get an SSL Certificate:

• The most common reason is that you want to accept credit card payments on your website.
• You may have confidential information that you want to keep secure while it is being accessed via the web, like personally identifiable information - such as full name, address, telephone number, proprietary information, legal contracts, and medical records. With the SSL enabled, it will encrypt the data sent across the internet. This encryption prevents the man-in-the-middle attacks used by hackers to steal your customers' information while in transit
• You protect your passwords and login details from being intercepted when typed into a secure login page.
• Adding SSL to your website lets your visitors know that you are serious about your customer and site's security.

How does SSL work?

Identifying SSL Certificate in a website

If you install an SSL certificate, your data is encrypted before being sent, and your website displays HTTPS before the domain name. When people visit your site, they'll see a padlock icon next to your domain. This padlock shows that your site, and in turn, the data that they share on your website, is secure from prying eyes. It serves as a visual indication that your website is trustworthy.

Getting an SSL Certificate

Most browsers nowadays use SSL (TLS) Certificates to authenticate HTTPS websites that you visit. The SSL Certificate issued by a trusted certified authority includes the following details:

• Website URL(s)
• A public key
• The certificate authority that issued the certificate
• The certificate's expiration date
• The organization's name that owns the website (a premium type of SSL)

Verifying an SSL Certificate

The details of the SSL Certificate issuer can be seen through the website browsers. The availability of this information allows you to verify the SSL Certificate of a website you like to visit.