Purchasing an SSL certificate for a website requires an inevitable task for any website. It needs some groundwork and technical knowledge to get the right type of SSL certificate.
As we know, the rising cybercrime has put almost all businesses in danger if they miss anyhow to take security precautions.
Data spying is one of the serious crimes in which intruders take advantage of unencrypted information. In this case, you need strong online security that can save valuable data from prying eyes.
Here, an SSL certificate plays an important role in securing online data.
Purchasing an SSL Certificate – What to Keep In Mind?
Different options are available when you want to buy an SSL certificate for your website. Each certificate is different in terms of traits. Certain things you should consider before purchasing an SSL certificate for the website.
#1. Types of Validation
The selection of an SSL certificate depends upon SSL validation. Domain validation, organization validation, and extended validation are three types on which the certificate authority issues an SSL certificate.
Domain Validation: Domain Validation (DV) refers to confirming the ownership of a domain name through a WHOIS record or completing email verification, file verification, or CNAME record. DV offers modern 256-bit encryption and 2048-bit CSR encryption compatible with almost all browsers and operating systems.
Organization Validation: Organization Validation refers to a higher assurance SSL certificate that is one step ahead of the domain validation certificate. It requires verification of business-related documents and third-party business resources.
Moreover, a site seal boosts customers’ confidence in the website and encourages them to deal with the site positively.
Extended Validation: Extended Validation (EV) bears the highest level of authentication that boosts customers’ confidence and security against phishing and email scam, and other cyber-attacks. It displays a verified company name once a user clicks on it. You can go with the multi-domain option that comes with an EV certificate.
#2. Number of Domains
The number of domains plays a huge role in selecting an SSL certificate. For example, single-domain security needs a single-domain SSL certificate, while multi-domain security can be achieved with a multi-domain SSL certificate. The same goes with unlimited subdomains where a wildcard SSL certificate is an ideal answer.
- A single domain certificate allows securing the www and non-www versions of any domain or subdomain like www.domain.com or mail.domain.com.
- A multi-domain certificate allows you to secure up to 250 domains/subdomains under a single certificate. For example, domain.com, mail.domain.com, blog.my domain.co.nz, abc.yourdomain.edu, etc.
- A wildcard certificate allows to secure the first level of unlimited subdomains under a primary domain name; for example, *.yourdomain.com can secure blog.yourdomain.com, mail.your domain.com.
#3. Warranty
A warranty amount is given in case of any fraudulent activity happens to your customers. The warranty increases as the validation level go high. However, the certificate authority takes care while issuing an SSL certificate and checks the existence of an applicant via different methods. Still, a warranty is a decent option as additional security.
#4. Certificate Authority
Before choosing an SSL certificate, it is necessary to check the credibility of a certificate authority (CA). You should check the market share of any CA and the number of users worldwide.
The CA should have a strong infrastructure and modern and developed research and techniques to step up with the changing environment of cyber-attacks.
Moreover, the history of a certificate authority should also be checked as the CA should not have any bad reputation.
#5. Issuance Time
The issuance time depends upon the type of certificate validation. Domain Validation takes a few minutes to issue, while organization validation and extended validation take up to 5 days to issue. If the certificate authority is not confident about the received documents, the CA will ask for further documents to validate and issue a certificate.
#4. SSL Price
The SSL certificate price depends upon different factors, including multi-year option, type of validation, number of SAN domains.
For instance, a single-domain SSL certificate may cost lower than a multi-domain extended validation or multi-domain SSL certificate. It is up to the website holder what type of SSL certificate he chooses.
#5. Customer Support
The SSL certificate process from purchase to installation requires technical knowledge, and 24/7/365 customer support is required. Expertise in pre-and post-sales support can solve issues of customers immediately and helps them to move forward in the SSL process. The support can be via Live chat, email, ticket, or calls.
How to Purchase an SSL Certificate?
To Purchase an SSL certificate, you do not need to dig a lot or search Google. You need to sign up with us and provide basic information, then choose the right SSL certificate per your need. If you have already an account, sign in with your email and password or log in with your Gmail account.
#1. Get the right SSL certificate
Getting the right SSL certificate for your website is necessary. At ClickSSL, you will have all the SSL products you want for your website’s security. From a single domain to multidomain and wildcard SSL, all SSL products are available at a discounted price.
#2. Generate CSR
After purchasing an SSL certificate, you need to start the configuration and installation process stepwise. CSR can be generated from the server on which you will install an SSL certificate, or you can use OpenSSL or the CSR generator tool. While generating the CSR, you need to copy and paste the private key into a notepad and save it on the server/desktop.
#3. Complete order process
After generating the CSR, go to your email where you can find the configuration certificate link; you need to click on it and start the configuration process. Submit the CSR, provide company details, including working email, address, etc., and proceed to the email validation process.
#4. Authentication process
Once you submit the details and complete the configuration process, the certificate authority will review it to issue the certificate. You can choose email validation, HTTP verification or CNAME record for the authentication process. If you have chosen organization validation or extended validation certificate, the issuance may take 4-5 days.
#5. Install SSL certificate on your server
After reviewing the details, the certificate authority sends a certificate file in an email, or you can download it from the My Account section. Moreover, install the intermediate and root certificates and the main certificate file. The installation process may vary according to server type. Once you install the SSL certificate correctly on the server, the browser will start showing HTTPS instead of HTTP. HTTPS means the site is secured.
Conclusion for Purchasing SSL Certificate
After deciding to buy an SSL certificate, you should check the above options that influence your purchase. Different above-discussed parameters should be checked before you purchase an SSL certificate. SSL certificate saves your customers from data theft and data spying and encrypts the information between two ends.
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