When it comes to your company’s website, security is king. You want to make your users feel safe when entering in personal data on your website. This is especially true for company’s that sell products and services like Amazon, but also for other sites that require accounts to be created like Facebook or Twitter. The easiest way to ensure website security is through the use of SSL certificates. So, what are SSL certificates and how can you use them? Find out below.
What are SSL Certificates
SSL stands for secure socket layer. This means that your domain is given a secure connection between it, the Internet browser and the web server. This allows websites to transmit private data online. It does this by encrypting the information between the user and server, so that third parties can’t hack the information. SSL certificates verify the identity of the user and the web server. You can tell what websites have an SSL because the HTTP will end with an S, making it an HTTPS.
The Different SSL Types
At No-IP we offer three different SSL certificates. Our certificates are issued through Geotrust and include a QuickSSL, QuickSSL Premium and Wildcard.
QuickSSL’s are perfect for websites that have low volume or low dollar value transactions. They offer comprehensive authentication procedures (domain name and identity verification) for a higher level of security.
Premium certificates should be used for websites with medium to high volume of online sales. Just like the QuickSSL, Premium offers comprehensive authentication procedures and verification, but for the highest level of security.
Wildcard certificates are useful if you need more that one hostname protected by an SSL. It gives the same protection at the Premium SSL but can cover unlimited hostnames. For example if you are using domain.com and want store.domain.com and login.domain.com protected, a Wildcard SSL would do that.
How to Set Up An SSL Cert
The first step to setting up your SSL certificate is to create a Certificate Signing Request or CSR on your web server. This can be done two ways. You can either contact your web host or, if you have full administrative privileges, you can create it yourself. You can find instructions on how to create a CSR for certain web servers here.
Once you have the CSR created on your server you can purchase your SSL through No-IP. SSL certificates usually take between 24 and 48 hours to issue.
When the certificate is issued you will receive an email with instructions on how to install the SSL for your specific server type. After you follow the instructions provided in the email, your SSL will be installed and you will have established a secure connection to your server.
Please note: Free and Enhanced hostnames are not eligible for verified SSL certificates as users do not own the root domain associated with each hostname.
Don’t leave your customers second guessing how safe your website is to use. SSL certificates are an easy and inexpensive way to add an extra layer of security to your website and give your customers the peace of mind they are looking for. No-IP’s SSL certificates range from $70 to $450 dollars and can be purchased here.