SSL – A large company certainly needs a website as a form of their portfolio or also useful for marketing their products. However, creating a website is not an easy matter. It must also be considered in terms of security and not only in terms of appearance. Therefore, it is useful if the company must recognize and implement SSL on its website.
Website owners around the world have been pumped with information about the service over the past few months. SSL (Secure Sockets Layer), is an internet security protocol used to secure website data. Due to changes at Google, this has eventually gone from a luxury to a necessity for websites all over the world.
Learn how important SSL is on your website in this article!
Table of Contents
Understanding SSL
As you learn a lot about anything, the initial understanding is the understanding. Likewise with Secure Socket Layer, if you may have started to be interested in it for your company’s website, this service you need to know more deeply so you can confirm “Is SSL important for my company?”.
What is SSL
SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) and its successor, TLS (Transport Layer Security), are protocols for establishing authenticated and encrypted links between network computers. Although the protocol was deprecated with the release of TLS 1.0 in 1999, it is still common to refer to this related technology as “SSL” or “SSL/TLS.”
Secure Socket Layer is a data transmission protocol that websites use to secure connections with users. You already use this service almost every day you use the internet. Whenever you see “https” in a link to a website in your address bar, your connection is secured with this service. Even this website uses it to protect your connection!
Basically, what this does is ensure that the data between your browser and the web server is not stolen or tampered with. When two computers are connected, a digital encryption key is generated. Only two computers, the server and your PC or smartphone, can decode the information sent between the two sites. It’s a secure way to connect with your customers.
SSL Function
Basically, what this does is ensure that the data between your browser and the web server is not stolen or tampered with. When two computers are connected, a digital encryption key is generated.
Only two computers, the server and your PC or smartphone, can decode the information sent between the two sites. This function of this service is a secure way to connect with your customers.
Free SSL
As the name suggests, free Secure Socket Layer certificates require no payment, and web owners can use them as much as they want. They are considered fast, convenient and attractive to website owners because it allows them to maximize their website profits.
A user can download multiple certificates for his website without a rigorous vetting process because one certificate of this free service can only secure one domain.
It is available in two options: Self-Signed Certificates and Certificates signed by a Certificate Authority. The encryption level is comparable to paid SSL. Both free and paid Secure Socket Layer certificates provide 256-bit certificate encryption and 2048-bit key encryption.
However, back to your needs, is it enough to use a free Secure Socket Layer but for your large and professional scale company?
SSL Type
SSL types can be divided into 3 categories, including::
Extended Validation (EV SSL) Certificates
With EV SSL, the Certificate Authority (CA) checks the applicant’s right to use a specific domain name plus, it performs a thorough check of the organization. The process for issuing an EV SSL Certificate is strictly defined in the EV Guidelines, as formally ratified by the CA/Browser forum in 2007. All steps required for a CA before issuing a certificate are specified here including:
- Verifying the legal, physical and operational existence of the entity
- Ensuring that entity identity matches official records
- Verify that the entity has the exclusive right to use the domain specified in the EV SSL Certificate
- Ensure that the entity has properly authorized the issuance of the EV SSL Certificate
Organization Validated (OV SSL) Certificates
The CA checks the applicant’s rights to use a specific domain name PLUS performs some organizational checks. Additional verified company information is shown to customers when they click the Secure Site Seal, providing increased visibility of who is behind the site and associated increased trust. The organization name also appears on the certificate under the ACTIVE field.
Domain Validated (DV SSL) Certificates
The CA checks the applicant’s rights to use a specific domain name. No company identifying information is checked and no information is displayed other than the encryption information within the Secure Site Seal. While you can be sure that your information is encrypted, you can’t be sure who actually received the information.
DV SSL certificates are fully supported and have the same browser recognition as SSL OV, but have the advantage of being able to be issued immediately and without the need to submit corporate documents. This makes DV SSL ideal for businesses that need this low-cost service to quickly and effortlessly send corporate documents.
Why Should Corporate Websites Use SSL?
Most hosting companies provide Secure Socket Layer included with your hosting, as is increasingly common. Next, you need to login to your host and change your website settings to use https vs http.
You can find out if you have Secure Socket Layer installed looking in your hosting CPanel. If you have WordPress, follow this simple guide to enable SSL if a certificate is installed for your site. No plugins required!
If your hosting company still thinks it’s 2016 and doesn’t offer this service for free, you’ll need to take a few more steps to purchase and install this service. You can pay your hosting company to do it or follow one of the many free guides available online.
Lastly, one thing is for sure, 2017 was the year of Secure Socket Layer for websites big and small. If you are not onboard, the internet will leave you and your company will not survive.
Buy Trusted SSL
You already know is not very important for the company? Now is where you have to look for who provides reliable service and also with guaranteed quality.
NetData is a service provider that is guaranteed to be reliable. You can get this service with a secure guarantee and configuration from NetData which allows you to ensure that your company’s website is safe.
Conclusion
SSL/TLS certificates vary depending on the validation method used and the level of trust provided, with incremental validation (EV) offering the highest level of trust. Choose according to your needs, make sure if your company implements SSL for your company website!
