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. 

Is self signed security certificate enough for your business website?

Website Security

In the 21st century, many internet based businesses go great lengths so as to connect with their target customers, which inevitably has become the most important step towards building a profitable online enterprise. Interestingly, some 75 per cent of the online shoppers look for a security certificate before making any online purchase and ensuring that the concerned website is protected by a verified and popular Secure Sockets Layer, or SSL certificate. Further, these kinds of security certificates are mostly provided by Comodo, Verisign or one of the Symantec brands. Without these reliable brands underlining reliability of a website, online customers usually click away and look for some other websites. A digital certificate like SSL is nothing but an electronic credit card, which confirms credentials or identity of a website that is engaged in online business and other types of transactions over the World Wide Web.

Introduction to a security certificate?

A security certificate for a website is issued by the Certification Authority (CA) and it comprises name, expiration dates, serial number and the copy of owner's public key, which is usually needed for encryption of data, messages and digital signatures. Further, an SSL certificate also includes digital signature of the certificate issuing CA, so as to enable a recipient to verify its authenticity. A digital certificate like SSL can also be recorded in online registries, so that any authenticating consumer can check public keys for verification.

Self signed vs third party signed security certificate 

Some IT professionals hold the opinion that net costs for a website authentication can be easily cut by eliminating third party SSL certification authorities from the budget equation. Individuals who believe that spending money on an SSL certificate for an online ecommerce website business or a company homepage is nothing but unnecessary, are actually walking on a tight rope. A self signed security certificate for an online business website is not a great alternative for paid SSL certification, issued by Comodo, Verisign or Symantec. This can be easily found out doing some basic market research and budgetary estimates.

Experts believe that the net cost of owning an SSL security certificate is much more than the price of the certificate. One has to consider expenses on security hardware, data centre storage space and management software, amid others, which can easily add up a big figure for the setting up of a secure and self signing architecture. Further, a Do It Yourself (DIY) approach to SSL certificate can put an entire organisation at grave risk in a number of ways, from both technical and business perspectives. Almost all major external and internal facing online marketing oriented business websites require a strong SSL protection verified by reputed third party certification provider. A digital certificate offers the most cost effective option for authenticating the identity of any online ecommerce web portal, besides being highly recommended as well.

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.

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.

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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.