What SSL Certificate is Right for My Business?

Key Takeaways:

When choosing SSL certificates, consider various factors like company reputation, available support, and encryption strength. A well-informed selection ensures optimal security for your website.
Businesses have a range of certificate options, such as domain validation, organization validation, and extended validation certificates. Each type caters to specific needs and levels of validation.
It's essential to assess the features offered by different certificate providers so that you can choose the one that aligns best with your security and functionality requirements.

When managing a website, prioritizing security is paramount. An SSL certificate plays a pivotal role in this endeavor, as it encrypts crucial data like usernames, passwords, and credit card details, thereby granting access solely to authorized entities. Furthermore, SSL certificates have the potential to elevate your website's search engine ranking and enhance your brand's standing. Notably, Google has observed a substantial upswing in encrypted browsing traffic to its diverse servers. In recent years, encrypted access has exceeded 95 percent of overall traffic across Google’s online services.

Despite their popularity, there is a lot to know and understand about certificates as well. Let’s take a closer look.

What is an SSL Certificate?

An SSL certificate is a digital certificate that verifies the identity of a website and encrypts data between the website and its users. It creates a secure connection between the server and the browser, preventing third parties from intercepting and accessing sensitive information such as credit card numbers and passwords. You can tell if a website has an SSL certificate by looking for the padlock icon and "https" instead of "http" in the URL bar.

Why Do You Need an SSL Certificate?

In today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, the internet has become an integral part of our lives, providing unprecedented convenience, connectivity, and access to information. However, as our online activities expand, so do the security threats that lurk in the virtual realm. From personal data breaches to sophisticated cyberattacks, the risks faced by individuals and businesses alike are growing in complexity and scale. It's more crucial than ever to take proactive measures to safeguard our online interactions and digital assets.

SSL and Website Security: SSL plays a pivotal role in website security by safeguarding user data and privacy. It prevents malicious actors from intercepting sensitive information transmitted between users and websites.
Protecting User Data and Privacy: SSL encrypts data like login credentials, credit card details, and personal information, preventing unauthorized access and protecting user privacy.
Preventing Data Breaches and Unauthorized Access: By encrypting data during transmission, SSL mitigates the risk of data breaches, ensuring that only the intended recipient can access the information.
Building Trust and Confidence with Users: The presence of SSL is indicated by the padlock icon and "https://" in the address bar, which reassures users that their interactions are secure. This instills trust and confidence in the website.

Benefits of Implementing SSL include:

Increased Security: SSL encryption protects your website and users from security threats, data breaches, and identity thieves.
Improved SEO: Google and other search engines give preference to websites that have an SSL certificate. This can help your website to rank higher in search results pages (SERPs).
Enhanced User Trust: SSL certificates increase user trust by showing visitors that your website is secure and that you care about their security and privacy. This showcases your commitment to their privacy and security, in an era of escalating security concerns.
Compliance with Data Protection Regulations: SSL serves as a key component not only for GDPR compliance but also for a range of other stringent data protection regulations, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and finance regulations like the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). These regulations impose strict requirements on the secure handling of sensitive personal and financial data.

SSL Certificate Validation Types

There are different types of SSL certificates available, each with its own set of features and benefits. The type of SSL certificate you need will depend on the needs of your business. Choose the level of validation that's appropriate for you:

Domain Validated (DV) SSL Certificate: This is the most basic SSL certificate that verifies the domain ownership. It's ideal for individuals and personal websites.
Organization Validated (OV) SSL Certificate: This certificate verifies the domain ownership and the organization behind it. It's ideal for Small to mid-sized businesses and e-commerce websites.
Extended Validation (EV) SSL Certificate: This is the highest level of SSL certificate that verifies the domain ownership, organization, and legal existence. It's ideal for large corporations and financial institutions.

Network Solutions began selling certificate products in 2005. and offers a variety of certificates to meet the needs of businesses of all sizes.

Did you know there are SSL Certificates for multiple domains and subdomains?

Wildcard SSL certificates allow you to secure multiple subdomains and hostnames within a domain. For example, a wildcard SSL on domain.com would also protect mail.domain.com. Perfect for businesses with multiple domains, Wildcard SSLs simplify the process of securing your website.
Unified Communication Certificate (UCC) SSLs offer protection for multiple domains, anywhere from 2 to 250! A UCC SSL is the perfect choice for larger companies with many domains to manage costs by purchasing a single SSL. Plus, it reduces the number of SSL expiration dates that need to be managed, making your life easier.

Steps to Implement SSL Certificates

Choosing the Right SSL Certificate for Your Business

Choosing the right SSL certificate depends on the size and nature of your business. For individuals and personal websites, a DV SSL certificate may be sufficient. For small-mid-sized businesses and e-commerce websites, an OV SSL certificate is essential. For large corporations and financial institutions, an EV SSL certificate is crucial.

Features to Look for When Purchasing Your SSL Certificate:

Certificate Authority (CA): The CA is the entity that issues the SSL certificate. It's important to choose a reputable CA that is trusted by all major web browsers. As the world's largest commercial Certificate Authority, Sectigo is highly-rated by independent organizations such as Gartner, Forrester, and Trustwave. It is also a member of the CA/Browser Forum, which sets the standards for SSL certificates.
Encryption strength: The encryption strength of the SSL certificate determines how secure your website is. Higher bit-level makes the encryption more secure. Look for a certificate provider with 256-bit encryption on all their certificates.
Warranty: Some SSL certificates include a warranty that provides financial protection in case the SSL is compromised. For example, Network Solutions offers varying levels of guarantees ranging from $10,000 up to $1 million depending on your business needs.
Compatibility: Ensure that the SSL certificate is compatible with all major web browsers and operating systems.
Customer support: It’s important to be able to access knowledgeable help either by phone or over chat to connect, reissue, renew or add domains to your SSL.
Length of validity: How long is the certificate valid? Some providers have short time periods, others last longer. Also, you should understand the process by which you can revoke a certificate too. Some providers make revocation easier with online tools, others have more manual processes. You want a process that isn’t too complicated, given that you will need to revoke a certificate periodically in case an employee is fired or if an application changes.
Price: SSL certificates are available in a variety different price points, so choose one that fits your budget while still offering the essential features you require.
Reputation. When you purchase an SSL certificate, you are trusting the CA to verify your identity and to encrypt the data that is sent between your website and your visitors' browsers. A CA with a good reputation has a track record of issuing secure certificates and of handling customer support issues promptly and effectively. A CA with a bad reputation may be more likely to issue fraudulent certificates or to ignore customer support requests.

Configuring SSL on Your Web Server

During the configuration process, take into account the unique data security requirements of your industry. Configure your SSL setup to adhere to the encryption and data protection standards specified in the relevant regulations.

Updating Internal Links and Resources

Updating internal links and resources to use secure connections is not only a security measure but also a step toward complying with regulations that demand data protection during transmission.

Testing and Verifying SSL Implementation

Thoroughly test your SSL implementation to ensure that it aligns with the data protection regulations in your industry. Test for vulnerabilities and security gaps that could lead to non-compliance.

Getting Started with Your New Network Solutions SSL Certificate

For steps to install your Sectigo SSL certificate from Network Solutions, you can visit our help center and check out the comprehensive guide which will walk you through the process, ensuring a seamless and compliant integration of SSL on your website.

By integrating SSL into your website's architecture with industry-specific regulations in mind, you're taking a proactive stance toward compliance, security, and trust-building. You're not only protecting sensitive data but also demonstrating your commitment to maintaining the highest standards of data protection mandated by the regulations that govern your sector.

Other Considerations for SSL Certificates

When it comes to purchasing an SSL certificate, it's important to consider more than just the price and speed to market. If your business owns multiple domains, it could be a prime target for malicious attacks. Scammers often use SSL certificates to make their fraudulent websites look legitimate, so it's crucial to choose a certificate that verifies the trustworthiness of the domain owner.

While domain validation (DV) SSLs may be tempting for their affordability and quick issuance, they don't provide the same level of trust as more stringent validation methods. As IT expert Troy Hunt explains, extended validation (EV) certificates offer the highest level of security and are worth the investment if you understand what you're getting into.

While the SSL certificate industry continues to evolve and improve, it's up to businesses to stay informed and choose the right certificate for their needs. By prioritizing security and trust, you can protect your brand and give customers peace of mind when interacting with your website.

Understanding SSL certificates requires some knowledge, even for IT professionals. Troy Hunt has researched the perceived versus actual value of SSL certificates. His analysis of trust and phishing prevention is worth reviewing, as is his attention to detail. Hunt cites studies that show that only 7% of the top million websites that use HTTPS have Extended Validation (EV) certificates. Many banks and other financial institutions still do not have HTTPS home pages, only securing their login pages with SSL.

In conclusion, there are many different factors to consider when choosing the right SSL certificate for your business. The type of website you have, the level of security you need, and your budget will all play a role in your decision. By taking the time to understand your needs and compare different certificates, you can choose the right one to protect your website and your customers.

Products Mentioned in This Blog Post Include:

SSL Security Solutions

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