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.

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.

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.