Understanding The Different Types Of SSL Certificates

As of January 2024, over 302 million SSL certificates had been issued online. Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) is a security protocol which authenticates and encrypts information passed between web servers and browsers.

An SSL certificate provides added protection to sites from bad actors who might exploit unprotected connections.

There are various kinds of SSL certificates, but which is best suited to your website and business? In this guide, we discuss various kinds of SSL certificates to assist in choosing one.

What Is An SSL Certificate?

SSL technology encrypts traffic between websites on web servers and visitors from browsers, making it more difficult for unauthorized people to “eavesdrop” on the traffic between the website and the visitor.

It can be used to protect passwords or when paying online using personal and card details sent between server/visitor.

The simplest way to get an SSL certificate is to do it through a domain name registrar.

In addition to an SSL certificate plan, these professionals offer domains, a domain search tool, hosting, and other services to help you set up your site right from the start.

Types Of SSL Certificates

SSL certificates can be divided into several distinct categories depending on their validation levels and the domains or subdomains they cover, so let’s explore them in depth here.

Validation Levels

• Domain validated (DV) SSL certificates: Domain validated SSL certificates are the simplest type of SSL certificate. They simply verify that an applicant possesses control of a specific domain name.
  • This validation process is quick, often completed within minutes, and requires minimal documentation.
    • DV SSL certificates are ideal for small websites, blogs, and personal projects where data encryption is the top priority.
• Organization validated (OV) SSL certificates: Organization validated SSL certificates provide an extra level of protection.
  • Besides the domain control, the certificate authority (CA) also checks their legitimacy by verifying business credentials like name, address and phone number.
    • This additional layer of validation helps build trust with visitors. OV SSL certificates are ideal for websites, e-commerce platforms, and any other sites where building trust is key.
• Extended validation (EV) SSL certificates: These certificates offer the highest level of security and trust.
  • Their verification process involves extensive vetting of an organization’s identity and legal presence before being issued with an EV SSL certificate.
    • Its green address bar or organization name indicates an increased sense of trust from users, making EV SSLs ideal for large e-commerce websites, financial institutions or any website handling sensitive data.

Coverage Types

• Single domain SSL certificates: As their name implies, single domain SSL certificates only secure one domain at a time. One such SSL certificate issued for “example.com” would only protect its main domain.
  • Sub-domains like “sub.example.com” or “blog.example.com” would still need protection, which makes single-domain SSL certificates suitable for smaller to mid-sized websites that only need protection on one primary domain.
• Wildcard SSL certificates: Wildcard SSL certificates offer protection to an entire domain and any of its subdomains, for instance, “example.com.”
  • In practice, such a certificate would cover “example.com,” “blog.example.com,” and any others that might fall within its purview, making them ideal for businesses that need multiple certificates but prefer managing one at once.
• Multi-domain SSL certificates (MDC): MDC certificates, also referred to as subject alternative name (SAN) certificates, provide organizations with an economical and efficient means to secure multiple domains simultaneously with just one certificate.
  • An MDC can protect domains such as “example.com,” “example.net,” “example.org,” and “example.co.uk.”

Choosing The Right SSL Certificate

The selection of an SSL certificate depends on several variables, including your website’s nature and purpose, the desired level of trust established, the number of domains/subdomains secured, and the desired level of encryption.

Here are a few points that should help guide your selection process:

• Security needs: DV SSL certificates should suffice for personal blogs or small websites.
  • However, for e-commerce or handling sensitive customer data sites that need higher levels of security and trust building, an OV or EV SSL certificate would provide greater protection and build customer confidence.
• Number of domains/subdomains: If your requirement is only to secure one domain, a single domain SSL certificate would suffice.
  • For sites hosting multiple subdomains or multiple subfolders, wildcard SSL certificates provide cost-effective protection while for businesses managing multiple domains, MDC makes administration simpler while lowering costs.
• Trust and credibility: EV SSL certificates offer the highest level of trust, identifiable by a green address bar or organization name displayed prominently within the browser.
  • If creating maximum credibility and trust among visitors is your top priority, an EV SSL certificate may be the ideal way to achieve it.

The Importance Of SSL Certificates

SSL certificates are essential for safeguarding private data, fostering visitor confidence, and raising search engine ranks.

Websites without an SSL certificate will have the warning “Not Secure” displayed, which will deter users from visiting and damage your reputation. 

Furthermore, Google uses HTTPS as a ranking factor. Websites with SSL certificates have an increased chance of ranking higher in search results.

Conclusion

Understanding SSL certificates is vital to maintaining website security and visitor trust. Select an SSL certificate according to your needs, from basic encryption for blogs to maximum protection on financial sites.

An SSL certificate can protect sensitive information, strengthen credibility, and enhance search engine performance on websites.

As cyber threats multiply, protecting your website with an appropriate certificate is becoming ever more crucial to creating a trustworthy online presence.