SSL, which stands for Secure Sockets Layer, is a cyber-security protocol that digitally encrypts information sent from a browser to a server. SSL certificates are used to protect sensitive information like credit card numbers, usernames, passwords, email addresses, and more. A website with an SSL certificate is identified using a number of trust indicators, like “https” and the padlock icon in the browser bar, a site seal from a reputable Certificate Authority (CA), and a green bar that wraps around the URL on more premium certificates.

A Domain Validated (DV) SSL certificate is a quick and easy way to secure a domain, as the Certificate Authority (CA) issuing the certificate only requires verification that the recipient actually owns the domain they wish to cover. This verification process can typically be completed in a matter of minutes. However, these certificates offer little in the way of SSL recognition, so they are recommended for websites where visitor trust is not of high importance and information like usernames, passwords, or credit card information is not required.

An Organization Validated (OV) SSL certificate requires that a business complete a light vetting process by the Certificate Authority before being issued. These certificates are a nice middle-ground between DV and EV certificates, as they aren’t as expensive as EV options but still offer more SSL and trust indications than basic between DV and EV certificates. These certificates typically take between 2-3 days to be issued.

EV stands for Extended Validation and is the most premium type of SSL certificate available. These certificates are identified on websites mainly by the green address bar, the most universally recognized symbol of trust on the web. EV certificates are becoming more and more commonplace in the industry, especially amongst ecommerce sites, as they are used by some of the most trusted sites in the world like Bank of America, Twitter, Paypal, and more. These certificates require that a company complete a thorough vetting process before being issued.

The only way to get the green address bar on your website is with an Extended Validation (EV) certificate. These are the only type of SSL certificate that come with the green address bar.

The main criteria for qualifier for an EV certificate would be that your business is an official company registered with a government authority. Also, if you’re a Sole Proprietor or a Partnership registered in the U.K., you cannot qualify for any EV SSL certificate.

All major SSL Brands like GeoTrust, RapidSSL, Symantec, Thawte & Comodo offers coverage for www and non-www. As long as the certificate is generated with www as the common name, the non-www version will automatically be covered.

Wildcard SSL certificates can cover one main domain name (www.domain.com) and an unlimited amount of subdomains (mail.domain.com, login.domain.com, test.domain.com, etc.).

Multi-domain or SAN (Secure Alternate Name) SSL certificates can cover multiple domain names on just one certificate. For example, Symantec and Thawte multi-domain certificates can cover up to 25 domains, whereas Comodo certificates can cover up to 100 domains with just a single SSL certificate. GeoTrust multi-domain certificates can cover anywhere from 25 to 100 domains, depending on the type of certificate you order.

256-bit encryption is a server configuration. This has nothing to do with the certificate itself, it is based on your server configuration. To learn this, you should seek information provided by your webhosting platform or operating system. They will inform you how to set this encryption strength up.

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SHA stands for Signature Hashing Algorithm. It’s a mathematical hash that proves the authenticity of the certificate. SHA-1 is an older version of the algorithm that is no longer seen as secure by industry experts and major browsers and is not allowed to be used during the generation process any longer by the industry. SHA-2 is the latest version that is widely accepted and viewed as secure by all major browsers and industry experts. The hashing algorithm of your CSR has no relevance to what hashing algorithm is used on the certificate.

Our SSL certificates can be valid from anywhere to 1-3 years, depending on the certificate you choose to purchase. Per the Certificate Authority/Browser (CA/B) Forum, the governing body of the SSL industry, EV certificates can only be issued for a maximum of 2 years. DV and OV certificates from Symantec, GeoTrust, Thawte, Comodo, Certum and RapidSSL can be issued for a maximum of 3 years.

Sole Proprietors outside of the U.K. can qualify for both OV and EV certificates. However, Sole Proprietors located in the United Kingdom or UK Partnerships cannot qualify for EV certificates, but are eligible for OV certificates, with additional documentation required.

A Certificate Authority (CA) is the company that actually issues the SSL certificates. Symantec, Thawte, GeoTrust, RapidSSL, Certum, and Comodo are all CAs, for example. We are a reseller of these CAs, meaning that we are able to offer the exact same certificate that you would get from buying direct, but at much lower prices. We are hooked up to the API of these CAs, which is how we are able to offer the exact same products. Because we buy in bulk, we are able to offer them at the significant discounts that you see. We also offer dedicated SSL support for every certificate we offer and can help walk you through the entire process, from purchasing to generation to issuance to installation and more.

All of the Certificate Authorities (CAs) that we carry are leaders in the industry and trusted across the world. Symantec is the largest CA in the world, and their Norton Trust Seal is the most recognized symbol of trust across the web. Their name definitely adds the most value of any CA in the industry. Additionally, GeoTrust, Thawte, RapidSSL, Certum, and Comodo are all trusted and secure CAs.

Yes, the brands that we provide all have their roots included in modern devices and browsers. They all feature 99% or better compatibility, or browser ubiquity.

An SSL certificate warranty covers any damages that you may incur as a result of a data breach or hack that was caused due to a flaw in the certificate. The warranties range in value, which means that the higher value certificates come with more extensive warranties.

An intermediate certificate is a file that helps the web browser identify who issued your SSL certificate. It is not required, but it is HIGHLY recommended that you install it along with your server SSL certificate in order to have full compatibility with all browsers and mobile devices.

You can use SSL to cover an internal domain if it is an officially registered domain (a publically available FQDN). If the internal domain is not a delegated and registered domain, the certificate will not be issued.

If your hosting platform or company tells you that you can only use one certificate file, then you can combine your server certificate with the intermediate file.

That is the difference between the key lengths used once an SSL connection has been established in the browser. 256-bit security is indeed a bigger key however that does not necessarily mean it is more secure. Experts and research agrees that 128-bit is equally secure for the foreseeable future. The only reason 256-bit security is needed is if it’s specifically required by your industry or company policy.

This largely depends on the type of Multi-Domain SSL certificate that you purchase. Comodo Multi-Domain certificates can cover up to 100 additional domains. Symantec and Thawte certificates can cover up to 25 additional domains. GeoTrust Multi-Domain certificates can cover anywhere between 25-100 additional domains, depending on the certificate.

UC stands for Unified Communications and is a newer type of SSL certificate that is designed and primarily used for securing Microsoft Exchange 2007 and Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 products. The main difference between a UCC SSL and a standard Multi-Domain certificate is that a UCC can secure both internal network names and external domain names as well.

A Multi-Domain Wildcard SSL certificate can secure multiple domains and all of their associated subdomains. Basically, this certificate combines multiple wildcard domains into one certificate.

Wildcard SSL certificates can cover one main domain (www.domain.com) and an unlimited amount of subdomains (mail.domain.com, login.domain.com, test.domain.com, etc.). Multi-domain (SAN) SSL certificates can cover multiple domains on just one certificate. For example, Symantec and Thawte multi-domain certificates can cover up to 25 domains, whereas Comodo certificates can cover up to 100 domains with just a single SSL certificate. GeoTrust multi-domain certificates can cover anywhere from 25 to 100 domains, depending on the type of certificate you order.

Browser ubiquity or browser recognition basically means how many browsers recognize an SSL certificate and properly display the trust indicators. So, the higher the browser ubiquity of an SSL certificate, the more browsers that recognize and accept it.