What is SSL Certificate and How It Works?

SSL, which stands for Secure Sockets Layer, is an encryption technology to create an encrypted connection between a web server and a web browser for protecting the private information of the visitors. With the increasing importance of e-commerce websites where people do online payments through credit cards, it becomes all the more essential for the website owners to protect their sensitive information from hackers and identity thieves. If not so, they might lose their customers. Reports say that online shoppers have become more aware and always look for security signs like HTTPS and green padlock icon on the address bar while shopping online. SSL Certificate comes to the rescue of eCommerce entrepreneurs and safeguards the sensitive information like debit and credit card numbers; username and password details etc. This Infographic titled 'What is SSL Certificate and How It Works' help you understand more about what is SSL, how it works to make secure connections, what SSL Certificate checks, types of SSL certificates, why to get SSL certificate, what are the benefits of SSL security certificates and what all should you have to buy SSL certificate!

SSL Certificates - Low Cost, High Assurance, Secure Sockets Layer!

SSL Certificate

The SSL certificate means a Netscape developed protocol called Secure Sockets Layer. For the purpose of communicating with clients on the web, in a secure manner, installation of secure site SSL certificates are made. If the installation of this certificate is not done on the server, then anyone can view or intercept the website for information. 

SSL certificates at low cost and high assurance have a lot of advantages to it. Potential buyers start gaining trust in your website which is one of the main advantages. If the secure URL is different then, many of the customers do not feel comfortable in putting up details of the credit card on the site.  

Customers Feel Confident Enough
Consider a high assurance, low cost dedicated SSL so that customers feel confident to furnish details of their credit card on your cart for shopping. A SSL that is dedicated also shows that the web certificate is dedicated to your site and in the name of your company.

If yours is an ecommerce site then it is necessary to have the SSL certificate. In a secured manner this protocol helps in private document transmission. Once you have this certificate it secures your site and enables you to use the ecommerce cart or the shopping cart securely on the site. 

Three Types of Validation 
Instead of using http:// the certificate allows browsing with https://. Security of information on bank accounts and credit card numbers which is extremely confidential is ensured. Once the SSL certificate is purchased, its validation has to be performed in three different ways. One is organizational validation, domain validation and extended validation.

In the case of organizational validation, information from multiple sources is checked for the business. This is for ensuring the business names, names of the owners etc matches with business registration. With listings of businesses locally, the details also should perfectly match. A secure SSL certificate is issued when a check is done to ensure that with the business listings locally match well. For certificate verification the organizational validation method is used. All information required for business verification can be used.

Affordable Method
The next is domain validation, the most affordable method done at the domain level. For checking whether or not the person who controls the domain is the recipient, an email is sent to a domain associated account. To determine whether or not the domain’s legitimate owner is the person, the email is not provided guarantee. Validation can be done by calling up the person. It is only the SSL certificate which helps ensuring proper verification of business.

In the case of extended validation a popular method, on the address bar of the browser. A highlight in green for the business name and site appears. All information is verified after contacting the owner of the domain via a number taken from the phone directory locally. Two weeks are taken for issuing the SSL certificate using extended validation. A certificate that is designed by self is another option for SSL certificate validation.  In a web browser, display of a warning appears to ask if the user is interested in proceeding or not.

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.