When consumers and businesses give sensitive information online, they want to be able to trust the website that they are connecting to. In order to guarantee the security of this information, many websites use SSL Certificates to encrypt the data that is sent between the web server and the browser. This ensures that only the intended party can read the information, and that it cannot be intercepted by malware or hackers. There are various types of SSL certificates, so it is important to choose the right one for your specific needs. This article will discuss the importance of SSL certificates and their place in web hosting, as well as how to select the right one for your site.
Most people are familiar with the padlock icon that appears in the address bar of a website that uses SSL, and know to look for this symbol when entering personal or financial information online. However, there are other less-visible functions of SSL that help to keep websites secure, such as encryption and verification.
The first step in using an SSL certificate is obtaining it from a Certificate Authority (CA). A CA is an outside organization that generates and issues certificates, and is trusted by web browsers to be authentic. A CA will typically charge a fee to issue an SSL certificate, and it can take time for the certificate to be issued depending on the level of validation required.
Once the SSL certificate is obtained, it is installed on the web server that hosts the website. This can vary between different platforms, and is often handled by the web hosting service itself. Once the certificate is in place, all traffic to the website will be encrypted over an SSL connection. The website will also be able to display the green padlock icon in the address bar to show visitors that it is safe to browse.
Some certificates will offer higher levels of encryption than others, and this is an important consideration for many businesses. The amount of information that can be protected by an SSL certificate varies, with basic DV certificates offering up to 40-bit or 56-bit encryption, while EV certificates provide up to 256-bit encryption.
Finally, the last step is to configure other software applications on the web server to use the SSL connection. This can be done through the administrative console for the web platform, or by using instructions provided by the CA that issued the certificate.
Web hosting services allow individuals and companies to publish their websites on the internet without having to own their own servers or computers. Instead, they pay a monthly fee to have their website hosted on the web hosting company’s computers or servers. This allows them to save on the cost of purchasing or maintaining their own hardware, and it frees up their time and resources to focus on other tasks. In addition, many web hosting companies offer additional services to their customers, such as SSL certificates.