SSL stands for “Secure Socket Layer.” It is a technology that establishes a secure session link between the visitor’s web browser and your web site so that all communications transmitted through this link are encrypted and are, therefore, secure. SSL is also used for transmitting secure email, secure files, and other forms of information.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF SSL CERTIFICATE

There are a number of different SSL Certificates on the SSL market.

Standard SSL Certificates:

A Standard SSL Certificate is considered an entry-level SSL Certificate and can be issued quickly. The only verification check performed is to ensure that the applicant owns the domain (web site address) where they plan to use the certificate. No additional checks are done to ensure that the owner of the domain is a valid business entity.

• RapidSSL Certificate
• Thawte SSL123
• GeoTrust QuickSSL Premium

High Assurance SSL Certificates:

A fully authenticated SSL Certificate is the first step to true online security and confidence building. Taking slightly longer to issue, these certificates are only granted once the organization passes a number of validation procedures and checks to confirm the existence of the business, the ownership of the domain, and the user’s authority to apply for the certificate.

• GeoTrust True BusinessID
• Thawte SSL Web Server
• VeriSign Secure Site
• VeriSign Secure Site Pro

Wildcard SSL Certificates:

A domain name is often used with a number of different host suffixes. For this reason, you may employ a Wildcard Certificate that allows you to provide full SSL security to any host of your domain—for example: host.yourdomain. com (where “host” varies but the domain name stays constant).

• RapidSSL Wildcard Certificate
• Thawte Wildcard SSL
• GeoTrust Wildcard SSL

EV SSL Certificates:

Extended Validation (EV) SSL Certificates offer the highest industry standard for authentication and provide the best level of customer trust available. When consumers visit a web site secured with an EV SSL Certificate, the address bar turns green (in high-security browsers) and a special field appears with the name of the legitimate web site owner along with the name of the security provider that issued the EV SSL Certificate. It also displays the name of the certificate holder and issuing CA in the address bar. This visual reassurance has helped increase consumer confidence in e-commerce.

• GeoTrust True BusinessID with EV
• GeoTrust Multi Domain EV SSL
• Thawte Web Server EV SSL
• VeriSign Secure Site with EV
• VeriSign Secure Site Pro with EV(SGC)

SAN(UCC) SSL Certificates:

Similar to a Wildcard Certificate, but a little more versatile, the SAN (Subject Alternative Name) SSL Certificate allows more than one domain to be added to a single SSL Certificate. SAN – Subject Alternative Name certificates are also known as Unified Communication Certificates or UCC Certificate or UC Certificate.

• GeoTrust QuickSSL Premium
• GeoTrust Multi Domain SSL(UCC)
• GeoTrust Multi Domain with EV SSL

SGC SSL Certificates:

Even though an SSL Certificate is capable of supporting 128-bit or 256-bit encryption, certain older browsers and operating systems still cannot connect at this level of security. SSL Certificates with a technology called Server-Gated Cryptography (SGC) enable 128- or 256-bit encryption to over 99.9% of web site visitors. Without an SGC certificate on the web server, browsers and operating systems that do not support 128-bit strong encryption will receive only 40- or 56-bit encryption. Users with certain older browsers and operating systems will temporarily step-up to 128-bit SSL encryption if they visit a web site with an SGC-enabled SSL Certificate.

• VeriSign Secure Site Pro
• VeriSign Secure Site Pro with EV

Code Signing Certificate:

Code Signing Certificates are specifically designed to ensure that the software you have downloaded was not tampered with while en route. There are many cyber criminals who tamper with software available on the Internet. They may attach a virus or other malicious software to an innocent package as it is being downloaded. These certificates make sure that this does not happen.

• Thawte Code Signing Certificate

No matter which type of SSL certificate you select, or which trust-building images you choose to display, remember that SSL security is most effective when you work with a reputable provider. That way, you can be sure that your online reputation is backed by a company that is well known and respected for its online security.