SSL is an acronym for Secure Socket Layer, a secure cryptographic technology used for network communication, data encryption, and authentication. Its updated and more secure version is called Transport Layer Security, or TLS. TLS and SSL are sometimes used interchangeably, however, they relate to the secure connection type that HTTPS employs to connect a browser to a server.
A digital certificate is required to start the secure connection protocol between clients (email clients, online browsers, or website apps) and servers (websites, VPNs, or intranets). We refer to this digital certificate as the SSL Certificate. Sensitive data is encrypted and safeguarded during transmission over the internet by an SSL certificate. Depending on the requirements of your website, you can select from various SSL certificate kinds. To find out more about various SSL certificate types, please read the article Choosing the Right SSL Certificate for Your Website.
What is the purpose of an SSL certificate?
You should obtain an SSL certificate for the following reasons:
- Accepting credit card payments on your website is the most frequent reason.
- Confidential information, such as your full name, address, phone number, proprietary information, contracts, and medical data, maybe something you are concerned about protecting when it is accessed online. The information sent over the internet will be encrypted if SSL is enabled. The man-in-the-middle assaults that hackers use to steal your clients' information while it's en route are avoided by this encryption.
- You prevent your login credentials and passwords from being stolen when you enter them into a secure login page.
- Your visitors will know that you take customer and website security seriously if you add SSL.
How is SSL operated?
Your website will display HTTPS before the domain name if you install an SSL certificate, which encrypts your data before it is transferred. A padlock icon will appear next to your domain when someone visits your website. This padlock indicates that your website, and consequently the information they exchange on it, is safe from unauthorized access. It acts as a visual cue that your website is reliable.
Acquiring an SSL Certificate
Nowadays, SSL (TLS) certificates are used by the majority of browsers to authenticate HTTPS websites you visit. The following information is included in an SSL certificate issued by a recognized certified authority:
- URL(s) of websites
- The public key
- The certificate authority responsible for issuing it
- The expiration date of the certificate
- Identifying the company that owns the website (a premium SSL)
