SSL Certificates are small data files which digitally help to accommodate a cryptographic key with the organization’s details. After it’s installation on any web server, the padlock and the https protocol is activated which 100% allows secure connections from the web server to the browser. Basically, SSL is used for the security of credit card transactions, data transfer, and logins attempts. In the present time, it has become more important as it helps in securing browsing of social media sites.

SSL Certificate follows the following format:

• Name of the holder
• Serial number and expiration date
• Copy of the certificate holder’s public key
• Digital Signature of the certificate-issuing authority

The SSL Certificates help in binding together a domain name and organizational identity (i.e. company name) and location. It is necessary for an organization to install the SSL Certificate onto its web server for a secure session with the browsers. The establishment of a secure connection, all web traffic between the web server and the web browser is secured.

More importantly, SSL is used to keep sensitive information encrypted so it is successfully received only by the intended recipient. This is extremely important because the information you send across the Internet is passed through different pcs to get to the destination server. The credit card numbers, usernames and passwords, and other sensitive information is visible to any computer in between you and the server if it is not encrypted with an SSL certificate. An SSL certificate makes the information unreadable to everyone who might get an access to your secured information, only the server you are sending the information to can access it. This protects the information from online hackers and identity thieves.

SSL Certification also successfully builds trust & brand power of the organisation among the website users. Since, with SSL certificates, the customers will see visuals like lock icon and green address bar on their screen when they click on the site’s URL which indicates that the site is well-trusted and securely encrypted. I do recall that many a time, I have confidently placed a prepaid order for an online order after assuring that the website is SSL certified as I had checked for the lock and green address bar. For example, PayPal, one of the most trusted websites for online transactions.

Not only this but SSL plays an important role in affirming your identity. Another most important task of an SSL certificate is to provide authentication to each website certified. The identity verification is the key aspects as far as the web security of the business is concerned. There is absolutely no doubt about the amazing fact that the internet is progressively tricky. There have been cases in which individuals have lost a huge number of dollars on phony sites. This is the place SSL certificate becomes an integral factor in brand identity.

As you install an SSL certificate, it is advised that you must go through a secured validation process set by an independent third party called a Certificate Authority (CA). Contingent upon the kind of declaration, the CA checks the yours and your association’s identity. When you have demonstrated your identity, your site gets trust pointers vouching for your honesty. This is done as when the customers use it they know whom they’re talking to.

The process is same as verifying a social media account, except here, it is the website which is the account which need verification. We all know, verification helps in driving away users from frauds and improves your notoriety.

An interesting and important key feature of SSL certificate is that it facilitates better search engine ranking.

In the year 2014, Google had announced changes to its algorithm and made sure that HTTPS-enabled websites will be given an upper hand from their side. Various SEO experts have proved this fact through the number of studies conducted by them. Now let’s face it, what is the point of having a website when it is not being displayed at Google’s top ranked?

Almost all SSL server certificates are able to secure only a single domain name or sub-domain. For example, one SSL certificate could secure www.website.com or mail.website.com but won’t be able to secure both. The certificate will be able to work on both the domain names but the web browser will most probably show an error everytime it sees that the address in the address bar doesn’t match the domain name mentioned in the SSL certificate. In order to secure multiple subdomains on a single domain name or a single SSL certificate, you can buy a wildcard certificate. A wildcard certificate will take up a common name for your domain, and would secure all the websites having that common name mentioned in it’s URL or address. There are also special certificates such as Unified Communications (UC) certificates that can secure several different domain names through one common certificate.