SSL CertificatesWhat Is SSL
SSL explained

What Is SSL Certificate?

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is the cryptographic protocol which is liable for providing the communication security over the web. The segments of network connections are encrypted above the Transport Layer by SSL with the use of asymmetric cryptography.

SSL at a glance
ProtocolTLS 1.2 / 1.3
EncryptionUp to 256-bit
Key length2048-bit RSA
Validation levelsDV, OV, EV
Free with hostingYes, auto-renewing

Various versions of SSL certificates are being used widely in numerous applications like web browsing, E-mail, Internet Faxing, IM (Instant Messaging) and VoIP (Voice over IP).

SSL Certificate is like a small data file which connects a cryptographic key to a company’s details in a digital way. Upon its installation on the web server, the padlock and https get activated making the secured connection from the web server to the web browser. The SSL certificates are normally used for securing the credit card transactions, transferring of data, generating logins and for securing the social media websites. SSL Certificates bind together:

The domain names, server names or hostnames and the identification of the organization (company name) and location.

The businesses always find the need to install the SSL Certificates onto their web servers to begin the secured sessions with web browsers. SSL Certificates are of various types and the organizations buy the type as per their requirements and demands. When installed, the secure connection is established from server to the browser. Upon the establishment of the secured connection, the web traffic between the server and the browser gets secured. The web browsers then automatically begin letting the visitors know that the website is SSL secured through various visual signs.

About the online security, people have become smarter now. Today, the visitors look for the padlock icon, the “https” prefix and a green address bar in the web browsers to know whether the website is secured before submitting the personal details on the website. If the website does not have the SSL Certificate, the visitors are more likely to leave the website and may not go for making any purchase or creation of an account or signing up for the newsletters.

creativeON have partnered with industry leaders in SSL Certificates to offer Quick SSL Certificate Provisioning.

What an SSL Certificate Does for Your Site

Encryption is the obvious part. The rest is about trust, ranking and whether browsers let visitors through at all.

Encrypts data in transit

Credit card transactions, transferring of data, logins and social media traffic are scrambled between the browser and your server, so nobody on the network in between can read them.

Binds your identity to the key

The certificate binds together the domain, server or host name with the identification of the organization — company name and location — to the level the authority has verified.

Helps your search ranking

HTTPS has been a confirmed Google ranking signal since 2014. Sites still on http are at a measurable disadvantage.

Removes the “Not secure” warning

Visitors look for the padlock icon and the “https” prefix before submitting personal details. Without a certificate they are more likely to leave without buying or signing up.

Required to take payments

PCI DSS requires encryption for card data, and every payment gateway refuses to operate on an unencrypted checkout.

Unlocks modern protocols

HTTP/2 and HTTP/3 only run over TLS. Enabling SSL is what lets your site use the faster transport browsers already support.

Choosing a level

DV, OV or EV — Which One Do You Need?

SSL Certificates are of various types and organizations buy the type as per their requirements and demands. Every certificate encrypts to the same standard — what you are actually buying is how much the certificate authority has verified about the organisation behind the site, and how visible that verification is to your visitors.

As a rule: a brochure site or blog is fine on DV, a business site handling customer data should be on OV, and anything taking payments or logins at scale is worth EV. Tell us what your site does and we will recommend the level honestly.

The three validation levels
DVDomain Validated — confirms you control the domain. Issued in minutes, no paperwork, no company name on the certificate.
OVOrganization Validated — the authority verifies your registered company as well as the domain. Takes one to three days.
EVExtended Validation — the full legal, operational and physical check, with a verification callback. The highest level of trust.
+Wildcard and multi-domain — available at DV and OV, covering every sub-domain or several separate domains on one certificate.

More SSL Resources

Read more about SSL and validation levels before you choose a certificate.

Quick SSL Certificate Provisioning

creativeON has partnered with industry leaders in SSL Certificates. Our team will recommend the right validation level and handle the ordering, verification and installation for you.