Whether you need to purchase a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificate to secure your website with HTTPS for compliance or to prevent customer complaints, doing so is crucial. It’s not always the best idea to jump the gun and acquire the lowest SSL certificate you can find.
There are various kinds of SSL certificates, each with its own set of features and advantages. Hence, before buying an SSL cert for your website, be sure you have done your homework.
Brands, warranties, support, verification levels, site seals, and prices are only few of the ways in which certifications vary from one another. SSL certificates are not a “one-size-fits-all” commodity because everyone has distinct requirements.
Buying an SSL certificate doesn’t have to be difficult, but you should do your research before making a purchase.
Here is a checklist of items to think about before purchasing an SSL certificate to help you narrow down your options.
1. The type of SSL certificate
One can choose from single-domain, multi-domain, wildcard, or even multi-domain wildcard SSL certificates. If you simply need protection for one domain, such a personal website or a blog, a single-domain SSL certificate is the way to go.
In contrast, multi domain certificates let you control several domains from a single location. This “one-for-all” feature can be helpful for larger firms with many different domain names.
Unlike single-domain certificates, which only cover one domain, wildcard certificates protect an unlimited number of subdomains under the principal domain.
You can also choose to use a wildcard SSL certificate that protects several domains and all of their subdomains.
2. The need for a warranty
SSL certificates with the same level of validation but various warranty amounts are available, with the difference depending on the validation level selected.
In the event that your site goes down due to an error on the part of the certificate authority for example, if the issuing company’s main data centre goes down you will be compensated under this warranty.
3. The certificate authority
After settling on a coverage period, you will need to decide on a manufacturer. RapidSSL, Symantec, GeoTrust, and Thawte are among the most reliable SSL certificate providers, among many more.
The site seal you will be allowed to display on your site, the length of time your product is guaranteed to work, and other factors all depend on the brand you choose.
4. The level of validation
There are three distinct validation levels for SSL certificates, each of which specifies what kinds of outward indicators of security your website must offer to convince visitors that they are safe to use. These tiers of verification are:
- Domain-validated (DV) SSL certificates offer the bare minimum in security and make no claims about your company’s affiliation or brand. If you operate a simple website that does not collect personal information, then one of these certificates should suffice.
- SSL certificates that are “organisation verified” (OV) are relatively cheap since they perform basic business verification of the organisation requesting the SSL certificate.
- The most visual indicators come from extended verified (EV) SSL certificates, which also demand the most extensive corporate verification.
The guidelines listed above should be sufficient to help you choose the best for your needs.
