What is SSL and Why is it Important for E-commerce Websites?

SSL Security Certificates

Ecommerce has gained popularity in recent times over the traditional form of shopping. This is because it provides convenience of shopping. However, ecommerce is any kind of business or any business deal that involves transferring of data via internet and makes investments and imbursement feature of business transactions possible. It includes a wide range of business that deals in both products and services online, irrespective of distance and time, which is otherwise a big hindrance. Owing to this, there are several ecommerce websites available on the internet, offering their services. However, there are certain aspects that are important for any ecommerce store to run successfully.

Online transactions have become quite risky due to various internet frauds that take place while carrying out online transactions using debit and credit cards. To insulate these transactions and to make ecommerce work in a better way, SSL certificate or Security Socket Layer is used.

What is SSL?

SSL protects confidential data of millions of people on the internet every day. It is a security protocol, which is developed to secure confidential data that is transmitted on the internet. It works with the help of a secret key that is transmitted on the SSL connection. Ecommerce websites carry out transactions using SSL certificate are secured and reliable than those that do not have one. Usually, websites that requires an SSL connection begins with https:// in place of http://.

Benefits of SSL certificates for an ecommerce website

SSL certificate is a security certificate that protects sensitive data like credit card numbers and other such data from reaching any unauthorized party and prevents misusing personal information. It benefits both the vendor as well as customer and having SSL certificates is important for an ecommerce website as it provides security and builds trust of the customer.

The security certificate seals helps in building the trust of customers as their data cannot be tampered and remains secured. This as well escalates the competitive advantage as the ecommerce website not only becomes more trustworthy, but also emerges as more legitimate. This security certificate adds value to the website as it provides protection to the data that is being transmitted online. There are different types of SSL certificates provided by different service providers, but the quality depends on the encryption bits, which varies from 48 bits to 128 bits. However, 128 bits encryption is more trusted as it cannot be hacked, thus offering more security. The availability of different types of SSL certificates, which are intended for different type of business, depending on its size, has increased the security while carrying out online transactions. The new feature that has been added to the security certificate is colour coding of web browsers, which denotes secure connections. This feature has made online transactions even more secured and safe.

What Types of SSL Certificates can be used for Online Shopping Website

Website Security Certificates

Presently, the security of online internet transactions is very critical, in order to prevent the unauthorized usage of credit and debit card numbers and other internet frauds. In order to secure these transactions, a Secure Socket Layer, or SSL certificate is installed on an ecommerce website. Though some sites also operate without this certification, it is advisable to use the same so as to ensure maximum data security.

How an SSL certificate provides a sense of security?

Adding an SSL certificate gives customers a feeling of security through two different ways. Firstly, an https:// notification will certify that the site is secured. Along with this, the credit card numbers will appear encrypted and information on the website will be matched with the certificate authority. Digital certificate is mainly an electronic credit card to establish the online shopper's credentials of a website. The digital certificate must be used on the same domain name that has been stated in it; otherwise it will be termed unauthorised.

Types of SSL certificates

There are three types of certificates that can be used on an ecommerce website. Different levels of validation are given to a company in order to prove its genuineness.  The first one is Domain validated (DV) SSL certificate. Issuers of this certificate check the ownership credentials of a domain as against the WHOIS database. Only the applicant's name and contact information is verified in this type. It is the simplest form of SSL and prevents users from encountering warning screens. The next type is an Organizationally Validated (OV) security certificate. Rigorous certification is followed in this type by checking organisational credentials and verifying the activity of business and home addresses of entrepreneurs. It is much more advanced than DV SSL. Last is the Extended Validation (EV) SSL, also the newest form introduced as recently in 2007. It adheres to industry-recognized certification procedures and their validation criterion is even more stringent. One of the new features introduced in this is color coding of web browsers and denoting secure connections. Browser windows turn green on encountering a valid website and red for a phishing or fake website.

Importance of encryption for an ecommerce website

  

With the help of a website certificate, communication between email client and exchange server can be made more efficient. It must be noted that validity of businesses is certified by ensuring legitimacy. SSL can be said to be a type of website certificate as encryption is an important part of security on websites. It is essentially aimed at certifying that the user is legitimate. 

Difference Between Self-Signed and Third Party Security Certificate

SSL Security Certificates

In the current internet age, almost all web-based enterprises leave no stone upturned to engage their target customers across the globe, which happens to be a move that has inevitably become the most crucial step towards establishing a successful online business. In case of an online ecommerce industry, one may find it difficult to believe that 75 per cent of online consumers seek a security certificate before making any online purchase. That is to make sure that an online website is protected and verified by an SSL certificate.

Those who are unfamiliar with the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), it is a type of security certificates, which are provided mostly by Verisign, Comodo or one of the Symantec brands. In the absence of a valid SSL certificate by one of the reliable aforementioned brands, the reliability of the website is not confirmed and thus, online buyers generally click away and look for some other portals. A security certificate like SSL is actually an electronic credit card that verifies the identity and credentials of an online site, engaged in internet marketing and other types of retail transactions across the World Wide Web.

What is a security certificate?

A website's security certificate is issued by the Certification Authority (CA) and consists of name, serial number, expiration dates and a copy of its owner's public key access. A valid SSL certificate is usually required for encryption of information, messages and digital signatures. Additionally, an SSL certificate for website comprises the digital signature of a certificate issuing authority, in order to enable an online visitor to verify its authenticity and source. Further, security certificate like SSL can be listed in online registries, so as to facilitate authentication procedure for any consumer by allowing checking public keys for verification.    

What is better - Self signed or third party signed security certificate 

A few IT tech-heads believe that expenses on website verification can be easily cut down by removing third party SSL certification from the budget equation. Those with the idea of spending money on a SSL certificate for an ecommerce business portal or an official company site is nothing but trivial, and are walking on a tight rope. A self signed security certificate for an online retail/business website is not a viable substitute for paid certification, offered by Verisign, Comodo or Symantec. As per reports and market studies, the net cost of owning a valid SSL certificate is much greater than the actual price of the certificate. Since, the input costs on data centre storage space, management software and security hardware, amid others, easily add up to a huge sum for building a secure and self signed website.

How digital certificates work to make your website secure?

SSL Certificates

Digital certificates are a set of tools used for managing the authentication of different users visiting a particular website, where the identity details are recorded. Prior to the advent of digital certificates, in order to make a website accessible to a limited audience and authenticating incoming user traffic, the only way was to allot a unique username and password to the focused customers. Hence, the use of such digital certificates provided a more robust and efficient access control mechanism, along with many other merits over assigning username and password, whose misuse is a serious security loop hole.  

Introduction to an https certificate

At present, the entire information exchange and communications taking place on the internet are done on a standard protocol, called as the hyper text transfer protocol (http), which is one of the several types of digital certificates. The http protocol is functional at the highest layer of the Transmission Control Protocols and Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) model and is actually a language that defines a format, according to which various web servers and web browsers communicate with each other. The basic http digital certificate is a clear text protocol that manages and transfer data to-and-fro across a particular network, which unfavorably makes them vulnerable to exploitation from unrestricted access.

The lack of privacy in http certificates made way for the arrival of an https certificate, which is nothing but http secure. These types of digital certificates offer enhanced security over http certificates and are ideal for use in the exchange of highly sensitive information, such as online identities, usernames, passwords and debit or credit card numbers, along with confidential corporate business secrets. The fundamental idea behind an security certificate is that they use multiple encryption levels, so as to keep the information transfer as discreet and secure as possible.

In line with the various information encryption methods, the https certificate gives a definition to the use of encryption keys, so as to ensure a smooth and secure data flow between web servers and web browsers in the network. It must be noted that every web server has its own public encryption key that can be made accessible to a particular user, in order to establish a safe and secure web connection.

The digital certificates come into the picture when an end user's web browser wishes to verify if the public key offered by the web server actually belongs to any individual or organisation, which claims itself to be a genuine source. Further, the websites are deemed secure and genuine, when they display their digital certificate to the visiting user on his/her web browser. These kinds of certificates can be availed from a highly trusted third party, called Certificate Authority (CA). The CA issues a digital certificate that is usually enough for verifying that the website source and ownership is nothing but genuine.

SSL Certificates and Their Significance for your Reseller Business

SSL Certificate

With the rising popularity of e-commerce and growth in the number of online shoppers, there is a growing concern on the security of online transactions. With so many hackers and internet thieves out there to attack your websites and steal your client’s sensitive information, there must be proper arrangements made to ensure the security of your website as well as all online business transactions.

SSL Certificates-Abbreviation for Secure Socket Layer, are designed to do just that: secure your business transactions and ensure the safety of your all important data and information being exchanged online.

As a domain and hosting reseller, it becomes important to advise your clients, to secure their websites, especially e-commerce websites that involve payment transactions and exchange of sensitive information of customers’ bank details.  In India, business owners are yet to fully realize the importance of an SSL certificate and securing their websites against any hacking or phishing attack. It is only a small percentage of total websites (both static and dynamic websites) that have an SSL certificate embedded on them. It is only when websites are compromised or they lose their sensitive data to hackers or online thieves that their owners realize they should have their secured by an SSL certificate.  Once you lose your data, it becomes a real challenge to start afresh and create a new website.  Also, if, unfortunately, your bank details are stolen, you can just imagine the repercussions it will have both on your personal as well as professional life.   It is so surprising to know that despite knowing the risk that they carry, we still see websites, involving exchange of sensitive information and online transactions, existing without any SSL certificate on them. As a web hosting reseller, you provide web services like domain registrations, web hosting and Email solutions to your clients; and, most of the times, design their websites as well; then, why not also suggest them to secure their website with an SSL Certificate; especially if their website is going to be an e-commerce website. Most of the domain name registrars also have an SSL reseller options and provide attractive discounts on the various SSL certificates they offer. You can check with your partner Domain Registrar if they have SSL certificates in their product offering as well; and if not, then you may want to directly sign up for a reseller account with any of the major SSL service providers like Symantec, GeoTrust, Thawte, Norton and so on.

In addition to giving your handsome margins on sales, SSL certificates will ensure that you design fully secured websites to your clients also.

What is SSL?

Secure Sockets Layer or SSL is basically an encryption technology that builds a safe and secure session between a website visitor and a website. An SSL Certificate is a digital computer file that is primarily used to encrypt or decrypt information that is send to and from the website.

SSL certificates are considered very crucial for businesses that indulge in taking online orders and payments or those that process crucial data, such as birth dates, bank account numbers, and credit card numbers among others.

These certificates help the website visitors to know that site belongs to who it says it belongs to. An SSL certificate also provides information about the holder of the certificate, the domain name that the certificate was issued to, and the name of the Certificate Authority who issued the certificate.

What Is SSL And How Does It Function?

SSL Certificates

Many of the financial institutions online, government offices and corporate offices utilize a particular encryption termed as Secure Sockets Layer also called the SSL security certificate. Now what exactly is SSL? To transmit data that is sensitive over networks that are insecure like the web, this encryption method called the SSL is used.

Two keys are used in this service, known as Public Key that encrypts data and the other Private Key that not only decrypts data but also creates Public Key. It is possible to have a secure email transaction on the web that is fully secured by using the above keys in two sets. It must be noted that both the parties involved in the transaction should have the Public Key of the other.

Prevention of MITM Attacks
To ensure verification of the Public Key the SSL digital certificate comes into the picture. It helps in making sure that there is no tampering done with the Public Key. Attacks by Man in the Middle or the MITM are prevented due to this. Otherwise the MITM is an attacker who first captures the data and then makes certain modifications in the data while it is in transit.

To make sure that the security certificate proves to be of best use, the SSL certificates have to be trusted as well otherwise in the certificate too modifications could be made by the attacker like they would do in the case of Public Keys. With the availability of Certificate Authorities or the CAs there is no need for end users to do the verification manually.

Signed Duly By CA
The certificates SSL are duly signed by the CAs thus allowing users to browse in a normal way with the transaction being well secured in the process. The SSL Certificate could be signed with any website that is reliable. There are a number of popular websites which can be termed as reliable these days since they use the SSL Certificates.

Even the strongest of encryption can be handled well by the fastest of computers in today's times due to the provision of SSL certificates. When the certificate is signed by the CA it must be installed. Procedures for installing the SSL digital certificate is quite simple and need just a few changes to be made in the dedicated server that is being secured.

Expiry Date Is Important
Once the certificate installation is done, till the date of expiry it functions which from the date of issue is, around 12 months. An expiry date is provided in case of theft of a certificate from a site if the server that is being managed becomes compromised. The certificate can be revoked by the CA in such a case and the websites credibility to send a secure email which was secured previously can now be maintained.

Another important thing to note is that the certificates SSL function on domains that have been signed for only. A separate SSL Certificate is applicable for each of the domain names individually. Even if a particular payment has to be made for obtaining the SSL certificate it pays off in a big way when criminals do not capture the data that has been transmitted.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/web-hosting-articles/what-is-ssl-and-how-does-it-function-6050541.html

About the Author

Jass Sawhney specialises in writing for services in the IT sector. He has in-depth knowledge and experience in the field of web hosting, windows hosting, Linux web hosting, domain names, domain search, domain name search, domain reseller, cloud server, reseller hosting, website builder, website creator, SSL, SSL certificates, SSL digital certificates, business emails and email services among others.

Why Do You Need Web Security Certificate?

SSL Certificates

In development countries, more shopping is done online than conventionally. Most of us have purchased railway tickets or air tickets on the net or paid our bills without a glitch. For those who cannot shop abroad, buying things that are made abroad has become easy using the internet. But the chance of things going wrong and data related to credit cards being stolen is very real. Every now and then we hear about phishing by cyber thieves resulting in loss of money for individuals.

New Weapon to Fight Cyber Squatters
Businesses that function online do not want to lose customers who may have reservations about using their credit cards. The latest weapon in the security armoury is secure SSL or Secure Sockets Layer. This is an internet protocol that encrypts online transactions. This ensures security and keeps data safe during transactions that take place over the net.

The coding and decoding is incorporated via the use of two keys. They are referred to as the public key and the private key. The private key can be accessed only by the website owner and the public key is used by all visitors to the site.

The Way It Works
Individuals who illegally break into sites to siphon off data are called cyber squatters. This encryption using server certificate makes it impossible to extract sensitive information from sites. This is the way it happens. When a visitor fills in sensitive information like bank details or credit card number, sites that are protected by web certificate generates a cryptographic key.

As soon as the browser tries to connect to the web server it is sent a request to check whether the site is protected by secure SSL. In response, the server transmits a facsimile of the server certificate to the web browser for checking. The browser now has to approve the web certificate. If the browser verifies the web certificate, it messages the server. When no accreditation is sent, the browser alerts the user who can choose to ignore the warning and go ahead or the attempt can be aborted. The onus thus rests on the user to make a correct decision.

The Functions
SSL and certificates have clear functions to make the web more secure. Most of the SSL and certificates that now exist in the industry have uniform features but it is a good idea to review them before deciding which ones suits a particular site. The first function is web browser authentication. The main web browsers should be able to read the SSL Certificates. 

If the browser keeps rejecting the SSL, it is going to create doubt in the minds of users of the safety of the website. The best choice for buyers is the encryption of 128/256 bit. Most certificates are of this level. The issuing of SSL should be done very fast so that customer service is good. Get to know the details regarding the policy regarding cancellations and guarantees.

Before choosing a particular SSL, make sure you are assured of technical support and you can email for assistance. The company should be available on phone and chat round the clock. Installing a SSL or Secure Sockets Layer can do a lot for your business.