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. 

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.

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 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.