SSL certificates (Secure Socket Layer) are an essential part of the technical Safety on the Internet. They help to be sensitive data to protect against unauthorized access. In this Article We explain how SSL certificates work and what you need to consider to use them effectively.
What is an SSL certificate?
SSL certificates are digital certificates, which are issued by a trusted certification authority. They serve to establish the identity of a person Website or online service to confirm the data transfer between the user and the server to encrypt.
Why SSL certificates?
SSL certificates are an essential part of today's Internet security. They provide a reliable method by which Websites and other online resources can be protected from unauthorized access. In addition, SSL certificates enable the Encryption from data, so that they cannot be intercepted and read by third parties.
What is an SSL certificate used for?
For transferring data between one Web server and a web browser will that HTTPS protocol used. This protocol ensures that all data transferred between the Server & Hosting and the browser are exchanged, are encrypted. To ensure this encryption, an SSL certificate is required.
How does an SSL certificate work?
An SSL certificate is a type of digital certificate used to establish a secure connection between a web server and a web browser. The certificate is issued by Certificate Authority (CA) issued and contains the public key of the web server. If the browser the Website visits, he gives the server his public key and the server uses his private key to decrypt the browser key. This connection is encrypted and therefore secure.
Free SSL certificates
SSL certificates are an essential part of today's Internet security. They encrypt the data between your Browser and the web server are exchanged so that they cannot be intercepted and read by third parties.
However, there is not always a free certificate. In most cases you will need to pay for an SSL certificate, but there are some exceptions. You can usually get a free SSL certificate if you use one of the following services:
Let's Encrypt:
Let's Encrypt is a relatively new certificate authority that offers free SSL certificates. It is suitable for both private users and businesses and is relatively easy to install.
Cloudflare:
Cloudflare is a popular CDN and DDoS protection solution. It offers a free SSL certificate solution that can be integrated directly into your account.
AWS Certificate Manager:
AWS Certificate Manager is part of Amazon Web Services offering. It allows you to get free SSL certificates that can be linked to your applications.
Google App Engine:
Google App Engine also offers free SSL certificates. However, you must meet certain requirements before you can use it.
What types of SSL certificates are there?
SSL certificates are offered in different versions. Depending on the requirements and purpose of the Website Different certificates may be useful. The most common types of SSL certificates are:
DV certificates (Domain Validated certificates):
These certificates are often used for small Websites or blogs because they are relatively easy and cheap to get. The validation is done via the Domain, i.e. it only needs to be proven that the applicant has the Domain owns. However, DV certificates offer no guarantee of the identity of the certificate holder and are therefore not suitable for sensitive data or transactions.
OV certificates (Organization Validated certificates):
Organization Validated (OV) certificates are one level higher than Domain Validated (DV) certificates and will therefore be more expensive. OV certificates require a slightly more involved process, but they offer your customers additional trust features. The identity of the Certificate Authorities (CA) is validated through an independent audit, and the organization must follow strict policies and procedures to verify the identity of website owners. This means that OV certificates are suitable for companies or other large organizations that have their customers want to offer the highest level of security.
Wildcard certificates
A wildcard certificate is a digital certificate that is valid for a specific domain and all of its subdomains. This type of certificate saves time and money by eliminating the need to purchase or generate a separate certificate for each subdomain.
Wildcard certificates are often used by companies that have multiple Websites or operate services under a main domain, e.g. example.com, blog.example.com, shop.example.com, etc. For these scenarios, a wildcard certificate provides the ability to protect all your domains and subdomains with a single certificate.
Where do I get an SSL certificate?
SSL certificates are issued by Certificate Authorities (CA). As a rule, you have to register with such an authority and prove your identity before you receive an SSL certificate. The certification body checks the applicant's information and then issues the certificate.
There are different types of SSL certificates that have different costs. The cheapest certificates are domain-validated certificates, which only verify the existence of the specified domain. This type of certificate is for simple Websites or weblogs sufficient. However, for commercial websites, it is recommended to purchase an OU Validated or Extended Validation SSL certificate. These certificates are more expensive, but also require more checks and therefore offer greater protection.
How do you install an SSL certificate?
SSL certificates are usually installed by the web server administrator. However, if you want to purchase and install an SSL certificate yourself, you can do so with a few simple steps.
First you need to get the certificate from your certificate authority (CA). This can be downloaded as a file, or you can usually also download it via e-mail request. Once you have the certificate, you need to install it on your web server. The exact method depends on your server software - but it is usually as simple as copying the certificate file to the correct directory and configuring the Servers adapt.
Once the certificate is installed, it should be automatically issued by your website. If this is not the case, you will need to adjust your website's configuration to use the certificate.
To ensure that your SSL certificate is working properly, you can test it with an SSL testing service like QualysSSL Labs. This test checks the validity and Safety of the certificate.
Conclusion
In summary, SSL certificates play an important role in website security. They encrypt the data that is exchanged between the web server and the browser so that it remains unreadable for third parties. To purchase an SSL certificate, you must contact a certification authority that verifies the company's identity and issues the certificate. Installing the certificate on the web server is also necessary to activate encryption.
