SSL certificates have proved to be effective companions for websites. With the increase in the security hacks and cyberattacks, SSL certificates have become a perfect weapon in the war against cyberattacks such as man-in-the-middle attacks. Most websites have indeed adopted the SSL certificate trend. According to Google’s Transparency Report, 90.2% of the total browsing time on the google chrome browser was spent on websites with SSL certificates. This statistic shows that the number of SSL certificate purchases has increased. Purchasing an SSL certificate is not a give and take transaction. It involves a number of steps and considerations.
As a buyer, you have to put a number of factors into consideration before purchasing the SSL certificate. This article highlights seven critical factors that you should take into account before and when purchasing an SSL certificate.
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1. Dedicated or Shared 7 SSL certificate: Which is preferable for you?
The first important consideration you should know is, whether to acquire a dedicated SSL certificate or a shared SSL certificate. As the name suggests, a shared SSL certificate is one that you share with someone else. Usually, a person having the SSL certificate will agree to let you use the certificate at a certain fee. You will thus encrypt your website at a smaller fee compared to when you would have purchased your own SSL certificate.
However, one drawback presented by the shared SSL certificate is that the name of your business is not usually attached to it. This might raise a red flag especially to online shoppers. On the other hand, a dedicated SSL certificate is one that you acquire on your own. Your identity will be verified independently and your domain name will be displayed on the certificate. Customers will hence see your business name and this increases their trust and your credibility.
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It is therefore essential to weigh cost against other factors before acquiring an SSL certificate. You will have to choose between a dedicated SSL certificate and Shared SSL certificate best suits you. For instance, if you are not involved in a lot of business or you are comfortable with the e-commerce web hosting company for your website, then there will be no big deal for using a shared SSL certificate.
On the other hand, if you are doing a lot of business that involves huge transactions in the form of sales and purchases, or you want to make the website into a high profile level, then using a dedicated SSL certificate could be a nice idea.
2. The Level of Encryption that you Require
At present, there is a 256-bit encryption available in all SSL certificates. The encryption strength refers to the number of bits that are available in the key. It is the bits that are charged with the role of encrypting the information during a Secure Socket Layer session. Moreover, the CSR encryption strength is 2048-bit key encryption.
3. How does it Work?
One vital thing that you ought to be aware of before purchasing an SSL certificate is how it operates. The main reason as to why you are acquiring the SSL certificate is to strengthen on your website security. Do you know how this is done?
The role played by an SSL certificate is to initiate secure sessions with the browser of the users. This is achieved via the Secure Socket Layer Protocol. To stay on the safe side, any business organization that involves in E-commerce should install an SSL certificate on its web server. However, it depends upon the site that which SSL certificate is the best for it for example, if you have a small business and start-ups with low volume transactions then, comodo positive SSL certificate is an ideal solution.
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The SSL certificate encrypts all the information that is transferred between the servers and the users. When a browser tries to connect to a website onto which an SSL certificate has been installed, the browser will request the identity of the webserver. To confirm its identity, the webserver will have to send a copy of its Secure Socket Layer to the browser.
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The web browser will scrutinize the copy of the SSL certificate it has received to make sure that it is legit and that it can be trusted. If the SSL certificate is trusted, then the web browser will send a message to the webserver. The web server will then send to the web browser a digitally signed acknowledgment that will start an SSL certificate encrypted session. Having this knowledge of the order of events is essential before purchasing an SSL certificate.
4. How Can I get one?
Requiring an SSL certificate for your website is one thing while acquiring the SSL certificate is another. Truth be told, the process of acquiring an SSL certificate can be a bit long and complicated. You have to take the time to do your research to get the best SSL certificate for your website and from the right SSL certificate provider. Today the world is full of scammers. Do not fall victim to a bad SSL certificate provided by a malicious individual. This might just be as harmful to your site as not having one.
SSL certificates are usually provided by a Certificate Authority (CA). The certificate authority will assess your provided credentials against the level of validation and encryption that you require for your website. When your application is finally approved by the Certificate Authority, the CA will then issue the SSL certificate plus all the associated keys that you will require.
It is vital that you go for a trusted Certificate Authority that will offer an SSL certificate that fits into your budget and one that can help achieve your business goals. You can also get an SSL certificate from an SSL certificate reseller.
5. The SSL Certificate Supplier
As earlier stated, you should purchase an SSL certificate from a trusted Certificate Authority. When choosing the SSL certificate provider, there are a number of factors that you should consider. You have to make sure that the SSL certificate provider has all types of SSL certificates. It is also important to make sure that the SSL certificate provider has a twenty-four-hour support.
The reason is that dealing with SSL certificates can at times involve some technical concern that will require the platinum level support from the SSL certificate provider itself. Such support can make a huge positive impression in customers’ mind and it will help in augmenting the renewal ratio of an SSL provider.
Other factors that you have to confirm is whether the SSL certificate has a valid mailing address. The SSL certificate provider should be focused solely on the provision of SSL certificates. Lastly, go for the supplier that offers more than one brand of SSL certificates.
6. Do You Need A Dedicated IP?
Will you require a dedicated IP for your website? This is one of the questions that you should have answers to before installing the SSL certificate. A dedicated IP is usually a technical requirement for the installation of an SSL certificate. Separate dedicated IPs ensure for the proper functioning of SSL certificates. However, with the advancement in the Server Name Indication (SNI) technology, it is now possible to install multiple Secure Socket Layer certificates using a single IP. The decision to use a mandatory IP address can also depend on the web hosting provider that you use for your website.
7. Warranty and Support From Certificate Authority and Supplier
Does the certificate authority that you have chosen for purchasing your SSL certificates from having a warranty and a twenty-four-hour support? It is an essential question that you should put into consideration before deciding to finally purchase the SSL certificate. Go for the SSL certificate that has the warranty option, just in case things go wrong. Also go for a provider that will be available to your aid whenever it is needed.
Conclusion: Purchasing an SSL certificate, as it has been mentioned, is not a give and a take transaction. Several factors have to be put into consideration. Following the above steps will ensure that you choose a perfect SSL certificate that will play the vital role of encrypting your website and achieving all your business objectives.
