Types of SSL Certificates: Which One Is Right for Your Site?

October 5, 2021 / SSL

Malicious attacks are the biggest form of worry for computer users all over the world. So it is vital to secure your website to the best of your ability. In case your work is related to SEO, you might be familiar with digital encryption and SSL certificates. However, what does SSL stand for, and how does it impact your digital marketing strategy? Let’s take a look at the various SSL certificates that are offered in the market and how to install the one most compatible with your server. Your website being protected by an SSL certificate of high quality is the best way to communicate to your customers that they are dealing with a safe website that will keep their data secure at all cost.

What is SSL?

SSL, also known as ‘secure sockets layer encrypts your data using cryptographic protocol so that it can be safe while moving from one machine to another. SSL hides your data so that people can’t access your personal information like credit card numbers which would otherwise have been sent in plain text. Hence, it is crucial that websites should invest in an SSL digital certificate that encrypts and protects your data from being stolen.

What is an SSL Certificate?

Your URL transitions from HTTP to HTTPS when you add an SSL certificate to your server. All of your web browsers project a grey padlock next to it. This lets your customers know at a glance that your website is safe and can be trusted with personal information. Just like registered trademarks, an SSL certificate in the address bar shows the validity of your website. Plus, Google and various other search engines motivate website owners to get SSL certificates by increasing their page rankings.

Types of SSL certificates

  1. Organization Validated (OV SSL) Certificates The CA will look into the organization along with ensuring the applicant has the right to utilize a certain domain name. There is more information presented to the customers about the company in question when the Secure Site Seal is clicked, which makes the people and brand more visible and instills trust. Beneath the ON field, the name of the company is also displayed.
  2. Domain Validated (DV) Certificates It is a basic SSL certificate that only encrypts your communication on the level of your server. They are beneficial for websites which do not need to prioritize credibility as it does not deal with transactional data. So the only thing they need to keep private are forms, logins, etc. On the other hand, if your website deals with company identity verification, you might want to choose a higher grade of SSL certificate. There are several DV-level SSL certification options that will easily help you satisfy all of your SSL certification needs.
  3. Extended Validation (EV) EV certificates are the most secure and strong certificates that you can get for your website. They also cost as much. They provide the most security in case you have been breached. However, to get an EV certificate businesses must qualify by following the most rigorous requirements. The green padlock in the address bar is a guarantee of the most secure transactions and protection for confidential personal data a website can give. Apart from the SSL certificate types mentioned above, there are some more SSL certificates available.
  4. Single Domain SSL Certificates An SSL certificate that is single-domain is applicable only to a single domain. Other domain’s authentication cannot be done under this, not even subdomains. This certificate authenticates every page on the domain.
  5. Multiple Domains If you want your single certificate to secure many domains, then a Multi-domain certificate is the one for you. Multi-domain certificates use only one certificate to help you keep several domain names safe. The certificate categorizes the domains as Subject Alternative Names, also known as SAN certificates.
  6. Wildcard SSL Certificates All of your subdomains will be secured with your Wildcard SSL certificate. So all of the work is done by a single certificate, which eliminates the need for multiple certificates used for every individual sub-domain. If you’re a part of a huge company, a Wildcard SSL certificate can make the whole management a whole lot simpler. 
  7. Code Signing Certificates You can easily secure all of the source code of your applications, software content, and code. Code signing certificate helps you see verified code publisher information and program name as it ensures the code developer author. It helps users identify applications and software that are safe enough to download. It also protects you from malicious attacks and various other harmful entities that could cause irreparable damage.

How to choose the perfect SSL certificate for your website?

As mentioned above, there are various SSL certificates available in the market. If you want to communicate the trustworthiness of your website to potential customers, but don’t know the most compatible SSL certificate for your website, here are some pointers to help you make your choice.

  1. If you own a relatively small website that includes just one domain, the single-domain SSL certificate would be the perfect choice for you, both work and affordability-wise. 
  2. If your website has several subdomains under one domain, go for Wildcard SSL certificate as it will be much more cost-efficient than buying every subdomain it’s an individual SSL certificate.
  3. If your website is relatively big with several domains, then a multi-domain SSL certificate will be compatible with your needs. It will include all of your domains and be much more affordable than getting multiple SSL certificates.
  4. In case your organization wants to be cost and time-efficient, the multi-domain Wildcard SSL is perfect for keeping several domains and subdomains safe.
Conclusion

Almost all websites adopt SSL certificates to ensure a safe connection. As malicious threats are on the rise, it is increasingly encouraged by several popular search engines to get your website SSL certified. Now that you have a better understanding of the various kinds of SSL certificates and their compatibilities with different websites, you can find one that is most perfect for your needs.

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