What is SSL? Why do I need an SSL Certificate? Can you help me install my SSL Certificate? Where do I install my certificate?
Learn about Secure Sockets Layer certificates and purchase yours today from us below.
What is SSL
Let’s start by filling in what the letters, “SSL” stand for – yes, this is another Tech Industry acronym.
SSL is an acronym for Secure Sockets Layer. You would be correct if you guessed that this has something to do with better security for your website visitors.
SSL is a protocol. All communication over the internet runs on “protocols.” Protocols are a way of organizing communication on the internet.
Protocols let a server know what type of communication to expect and SSL indicates a secure, encrypted communication.
Types of Communication Protocols
Let’s start with email. When you send an email, the transfer of the email from you to your recipient runs on a protocol. In fact, there are three different protocols for email communication: SMTP, POP and IMAP. Now, this happens in the background and most of us aren’t even aware of it, which is why the explanation of protocols like SSL and SMTP and HTTP is necessary! But, essentially…
Protocols let servers know what type of information is being requested and sent.
On to SSL… This website runs on a protocol. The protocol for all websites is HTTP, which is an acronym for Hyper-Text Transfer Protocol. This communication protocol tells a server, “Hey, this is a website.” For many types of information the HTTP protocol is sufficient. But when you want to secure transactions between servers, like on an eCommerce website the SSL Protocol is necessary.
What does SSL Do
SSL secures the communication between servers. Everything on the World Wide Web is a form of communication. When you type in
domainnamesusa.comthe browser you use knows to put “http://” in front of what you typed.
Now, behind the scenes, your request is sent to a Domain Name Server that converts the letters (domainnamesusa.com) to a series of numbers. Those numbers are the address of this website on the World Wide Web. The server that receives your request to view this site is the server we use to host this site. And, like magic, our server receives your “request” over HTTP and sends back this website over HTTP.
And it all happens in your browser.
But your site uses HTTPS! Yes, because we have an SSL Certificate.
SSL secures the communication between your browser and our website.
SSL is a type of digital security that allows encrypted communication between a website and a web browser. HTTPS is a secure extension of HTTP. When your website has an SSL certificate, you can use the HTTPS protocol to establish a secure connection with the server.
SSL allows you to securely to transmit sensitive information including personal data, payment or login information.
The little padlock that appears locked next to the domain name… That is your indication that the communication to and from the website is encrypted and secure.
Securing your website with SSL has another benefit in that your Site Visitors will not receive the dreaded browser messages that warn a visitor that the site is not safe to browse.
Clearly, if you want your Site Visitors to feel safe, you should purchase and install an SSL Certificate. We can help you or do it for you, if you prefer.