SSL Certificates

Your questions, our answers

• What is an SSL certificate?

  By using HTTPS protocol, data can be exchanged securely over the internet via encryption by Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology.
  When we visit a website, the data exchanged between our browser and the server that hosts the website may be intercepted by a third party during transmission. To avoid this situation, HTTPS and SSL technology are used which, by way of an SSL certificate issued by a Certification Authority, encrypts transmitted information, making it virtually non-interceptable.

• What is the difference between DV, OV and EV certificates?

  Certification Authorities issue three types of certificates that differ in the way a company is verified. A DV (Domain Validation) certificate is the easiest to obtain, are release times are very short (1 day). This type of certificate validates only the domain name, meaning that it is enough for a company to have, for example, a DNS or domain Emails to receive certification, and the visitor is assured that the exchange of information between the website and browser will be encrypted. This, however, does not certify the domain owner. Instead, the OV (Organization Validation) certificate, where verification of the applicant, ie the domain owner, is conducted, the organization too is validated. During the verification phase, known as "vetting," business data are validated to verify authenticity. Finally, the EV (Extended Validation) certificate holds the highest level of validation. Here the vetting phase is very thorough. Companies holding this certificate are easily recognized as the company name is indicated directly on the navigation bar (ie the green address bar).

• Why should I buy an SSL certificate?

  An SSL certificate associated with your domain provides more prestige in the eyes of the visitor, and guarantees that data exchanged between your website and the visitor’s are encrypted and not intercepted. If your domain contains user registration forms, forms for sending informative email or electronic payment forms, you will definitely need an SSL certificate to protect the exchange of this sensitive data. In addition, Google’s search engine has stated that it will reward, via ranking level, websites that use a secure HTTPS connection.

• Which SSL certificate should I choose?

  Choosing the SSL certificate best suited to your business depends largely on the type of website you want to protect. If your website contains only static pages, registration forms or just sends Email, then the most common choice is DV (Domain Validation) certification, where no checks at an organizational level are conducted and certificate emission is almost immediate. However, if your website contains forms for sending credit card information, such as when selling products online, the most appropriate choice from a security point of view for the buyer is OV (Organization Validation) certification. Since this certification includes validation at an organizational level, the buyer will consider your website as highly secure, increasing their propensity to buy. Finally, Extended Validation (EV) certification is recommended to more structured organizations that want their brand name included on the navigation bar, giving the buyer absolute certainty they are navigating in the official company store. The cost is certainly higher than the other types of SSL certificates, but the return in brand visibility and reliability is definitely greater.