What is an SSL?

SSL certificates, or Secure Sockets Layer certificates, are digital certificates that authenticate a website’s identity and enable an encrypted connection. They are essential for maintaining user data security, verifying website ownership, preventing the creation of fake versions of the site, and gaining user trust. SSL certificates work by initiating secure sessions with the user’s browser via the SSL protocol, ensuring that all transferred data remains confidential.

There are three main types of SSL certificates: Extended Validation (EV), Organization Validation (OV), and Domain Validation (DV). EV SSL certificates are the highest-ranking and most expensive type, typically used for high-profile websites that collect data and involve online payments. OV SSL certificates require a substantial validation process and are primarily used to encrypt sensitive user information during transactions. DV SSL certificates provide lower assurance and minimal encryption due to their minimal validation process, making them suitable for blogs or informational websites.

Obtaining an SSL certificate involves verifying your website’s information through ICANN Lookup, generating a Certificate Signing Request (CSR), submitting your CSR to the Certificate Authority (CA) to validate your domain, and installing the certificate on your website. SSL certificates can be obtained directly from a CA, which issues millions of SSL certificates each year.

However, it’s important to note that SSL certificates do expire, typically after a lifespan of no more than 27 months. If a certificate expires, it becomes invalid, and secure transactions can no longer be run on the website. The CA will prompt you to renew your SSL certificate before the expiration date.

To check if a site has an SSL certificate, look at the address bar in your browser. If the URL begins with HTTPS instead of HTTP, that means the site is secured using an SSL certificate. Secure sites also show a closed padlock emblem, which you can click on to see security details.