All the information you need to choose the right security solution for your site.
You already know that you need an SSL / TLS certificate for your website and how TLS works. There are enough reasons for this. In addition to protecting the communication between your website visitors and your web server, SSL certificate also validates the authenticity of your business.
Both of these components are critical to success online. Web security is integral today and in the future, but identity is also important. Trust is EVERYTHING in e-commerce. Without the trust of your customers, you will not succeed in anything you try to do online. Give your customers assurances that they can trust you, that you are who you say you are. This is paramount to your success.
All companies, from small to large, recognize the fact that using an SSL / TLS certificate is a critical part of having a presence on the Internet.
But which option is right for you?
Based on the size and scope of your company, your budget, and your business goals, we can help you find the best solution to secure your website.
That’s what we made this buyer’s manual for. Take some time to read the information we have prepared. There’s everything from explanations of the different levels of authentication to descriptions of additional features and benefits. We guarantee that we can help you find the security solution that is right for you. After all, different certifications are not equally suited for different types of projects. It’s worth figuring out what you want and what you need to get the most out of buying an SSL certificate.
So keep reading, and remember, if you have any questions, our support is always there to help you.
Types of SSL certificates
Type of verification
The first thing to decide when choosing a certificate is the level of verification. Determine what level of verification or authentication is best for your company. If your website is a small project: a forum, blog or personal page, an SSL certificate with Domain Validation (DV) is sufficient. For larger projects where business identification is important and bank card payments are accepted, you may want to consider a certificate with Organization Validation (OV) or Extended Validation (EV).
It’s important to remember…
The process of SSL certificate verification or validation takes different time, depending on which type of certificate you have chosen. While DV certificates are issued in minutes, OV or EV certificates can take days to be issued. Of course, TutHost can help you speed up the process of obtaining a certificate, but you should be aware of the timeframes for issuing different types of certificates.
Wildcards and Multi-Domain SSL certificates
Once you have determined what level of identity you need, you will need to decide how many domains and subdomains you need to protect. Keep in mind that a simple SSL / TLS certificate for one site only protects one domain, the Wildcard and Multi-Domain (SAN) certificate options give you more flexibility to protect multiple sites.
A Wildcard certificate can protect an unlimited number of subdomains of a single domain, while a Multi-Domain or SAN certificate can protect up to 250 additional domains. These certificates are good because they save you money and simplify certificate management.
SSL/TLS features:
Guarantees
Most SSL / TLS certificates come with a warranty that guarantees the security of the customer’s data, otherwise the certificate authority will compensate the customer if they suffer a loss due to the fault of the certificate authority. The size of these guarantees varies widely, with some low-cost certificates covering losses as low as $10,000 and some higher-end products offering up to $1,750,000 in reimbursement.
Encryption level
While most SSL / TLS certificates offer standard 128/256-bit encryption, it’s worth noting how SSL works, because the actual level of your encryption depends on a variety of factors, such as the power of your web server and the power of your client-side hardware. A certificate with a claimed 256-bit encryption can provide this level of encryption, but the actual encryption may be different.
Security seal
In addition to the standard visual indicators that accompany an SSL / TLS certificate, most certificates also come with a security seal (Site Seals). The SSL / TLS security type (print type) can be either static or dynamic – a small image that can be placed on the homepage or on the page for payment. This image tells your visitors that your website is secured by the certificate authority that issued your SSL certificate. Different security seals indicate different levels of reliability, depending on which certification authority (CA) you choose.
Benefits of SSL / TLS:
Building trust with SSL / TLS
Trust is important to your success online. Your clients must trust you, and understand that you really are who you say you are. They need to make sure their information is safe. Without trusting you the customer will not register and make a purchase on your site. Fortunately, SSL certificates and SSL / TLS protocols have been proven in practice to build your customers’ trust in you.
Improve SEO ranking with SSL certificate
When implemented correctly, your SSL / TLS certificate can give you a 5% increase in search rankings. Back in 2014, Google announced that it would add the presence of an SSL certificate to its ranking algorithm, and the rest of the industry quickly followed suit as well. The use of universal encryption by browsers, further improves SEO optimization.
Increased conversions with SSL / TLS certificates
Trust is important to your success online. Your clients must trust you, and understand that you really are who you say you are. They need to make sure their information is safe. Without trusting you the customer will not register and make a purchase on your site. Fortunately, SSL certificates have been proven in practice to build your customers’ trust in you.
Protect your brand with SSL certificates
90% of large corporations and 74% of SMBs have been the target of cyber attacks. These attacks are costly and perhaps even more dangerous than you think because they can cause critical damage to your company’s reputation. You just can’t afford to take risks when it comes to your reputation.
The future of your site
Is your company growing? Any plans to create an additional website or add some new subdomains in the near future? The good news is that if you choose the right SSL security solution, your certificate will be ready for change and you can grow without worrying about security. If you are planning to expand your company and sites in the near future – we recommend that you pay attention to multi-domain SAN certificates or Wildcard certificates.
Simplify certificate management
Having multiple certificates for multiple sites can be a real headache. Not only do you need to manage your certificates, but you also need to keep track of timely renewals and ensure that all installations are done correctly. But the right SSL security solution can make all of this easier.
SOME FINAL QUESTIONS
Which certification center is the best to choose. Where is the best place to order SSL certificates for Dummies
You already know that you need to purchase an SSL / TLS certificate from a trusted CA (Certificate Authority), but which CA should you choose? Each certification center has its own strengths and weaknesses. Some may offer better prices at the expense of a less recognizable brand. Others can offer huge benefits in terms of increased trust and conversions, but it will cost a lot more. So, which certification center is right for you?
Is it really worth paying for extended validation (EV)?
Is the EV worth the money? For many businesses and organizations, the answer is yes. An Extended Validation (EV) certificate has many benefits, from the immediately recognizable green address bar to a proven track record of increasing sales and profitability for companies that want to be invested in. There is no higher level of identification than Extended Validation.
It’s time to make a decision
So now it’s time to decide which SSL / TLS certificate is right for you. Remember that TutHost™ is here to help. If you have any additional questions, you can call or chat with our specialists.
To make it easier for you, we offer a checklist with questions that will help you determine which features are most important to you and which SSL certificate is right for you.
SSL tools
These tools are available to our customers and help them perform the necessary steps to issue an SSL certificate.
