Posted by Introduction
The value of your business website as a tool for sales and marketing is high, giving customers easy access to you in a vast online space. You might question the need for an SSL certificate, regardless of whether you sell products or provide services. Or you’re just utilizing your website as a promotional platform. Looking beyond the question, though, what exactly is an SSL certificate? So an SSL certificate provides security to your website by safeguarding essential customer information from the hands of cyber villains.
Online security has gone from being a nice to have to an absolute must-have. News of data breaches frequently pops up, making consumers much more cautious about disclosing personal details. Basically, protecting your website and its patrons has gained high importance these days.
You’ve probably encountered that tiny padlock icon and the “https” addition on your internet browser’s search bar. These are visual indications that a website has an SSL certificate, and it’s crucial to note them. But what exactly does this entail, and why does it matter to your domain?
What is an SSL Certificate?
An SSL certificate works as a digital identification card for websites. So, it authenticates who they are and provides a cryptic connection for secure exchanges. But what does SSL mean? It stands for Secure Sockets Layer, a security process that builds an encrypted bond between a web server and an internet browser.
Moreover, why stop there with the Secure Socket Layer? This is where enhanced conversation happens between web servers and browsers. When someone visits a website with an SSL certificate, the data transferred between them gets encrypted. So, only the intended receiver can open it.
Loaded with relevant information like:
- Name of the certificate holder
- Serial number of the certificate and its expiry date
- An identical copy of the holder’s public encryption key
- Digital signature from the authority that issued the certificate
It’s only possible to form a secure connection with an SSL certificate. Now, isn’t that interesting?! How could someone misjudge the importance of such a document?
Not having an SSL certificate can shatter potential site visitors and affect your website’s credibility and conversion rates. Who wants that?
Impact on SEO
Did you know that Google praises secure websites (those with SSL certificates) in its rankings? If your website needs SSL, you might wave goodbye to a high ranking, less visibility, and organic traffic. These SSL-certificated sites pump up the volume on your approach and upgrade your site’s position.
Types of SSL Certificates
Better wise up about the different kinds of SSL certificates before getting one:
- Single Domain Certificate: Taking care of one domain forever.
- Multi-Domain Certificate: It’s tailored for multiple domains and a slew of hostnames within each domain. The neat thing? You can attach up to 99 additional Subject Alternative Names (SANs) to one cert—ideal for anyone with subdomains.
- Wildcard Certificate: Addressing all the subdomains under a solitary domain.
Getting an SSL Certificate
Picking up an SSL certificate isn’t something other than rocket science. And if you’re a newbie, it’s even simpler. You’ll find that hosting providers, like GoDaddy and Bluehost, offer SSL certificates left and right. You can grab them from external vendors like CloudFlare, Comodo, or Network Solutions, as most big corporate houses do. A penny for your thoughts – ever considered free SSL certificates? Ideal for bloggers or sites not chasing the dollar, methinks.
Are you considering putting an SSL handle on an old domain?
Then, follow these steps:
- It’s time to swap HTTP with HTTPS on your website. First, who doesn’t love an upgrade?
- Now, let the HTTP pages be a mirror image of HTTPS versions.
- Reconfirm who the boss (ownership) is and the configurations in Google Search Console and Google Analytics. Check and double-check, my friend.
- Run multiple tests of your configurations to prevent page load errors. You wouldn’t want your pages to feel heavy now, would you?
What Happens if an SSL Certificate Expires?
Nothing good lasts forever, and SSL certificates must clock out. According to the Certificate Authority/Browser Forum, the unofficial regulatory board of SSL, these certificates should be at most 27 months. Twenty-seven months is a good run.
Just think of it this way: Your SSL certificate has a life span of two years. Plus, if there’s any time left over from your previous certificate when you renew it, you can add that up to three months.
Now, why do SSL certificates have an expiration date? The world is constantly changing. Companies change hands, websites are bought and sold—the Internet is a whirlwind of change. As a result, the information associated with your SSL certificate might shift along with it. We’re practicing keeping authentication details as current and precise as possible. That’s why certificates need a refresh now and then.
Additional Points on expiration of SSL Certificate
Remember when an SSL certificate could last for an incredible five long years? So, those times are past. The term was then trimmed down to three years and, more recently, to just a couple of years plus an optional additional quarter. In 2020, major players like Google, Apple, and Mozilla even argued for one-year SSL certificates. However, the Certificate Authority Browser Forum turned down their proposal.
But when your SSL certificate runs its course and expires, it could cause some real trouble. Your website needs to be more approachable. If a user logs onto your website and finds that your SSL certificate has passed its sell-by date – swift as lightning – they’ll get a message like “This site isn’t safe. Potential dangers ahead”. It’s different from the kind of welcome mat you’d want to roll out!
Sure, there’s always the chance that folks might proceed anyway despite the warning signs. That’s not recommended, considering all the potential cybersecurity threats like malware. For website owners, this raises red flags about bounce rates as users are quick to exit stage left.
Let’s discuss keeping things current.
Tracking and updating SSL certificates is challenging, particularly when managing a large operation. It’s like trying to herd cats.
Moreover, small—to medium-sized companies often have a few certificates to manage. However, large corporations, which frequently strike deals across different markets and maintain multiple websites and networks, typically have much more. If an SSL certificate expires in such organizations, it usually results from missed supervision rather than incapacity.
The most practical way for these big businesses to keep track of their SSL certificates’ expiration dates is by employing a certificate management platform. You can quickly locate various options for these products with a quick online search. They come in handy as they allow companies to view and administer digital certificates throughout their entire infrastructure. So, if you take advantage of one of these platforms, remember to check in frequently so you’re always up-to-date about upcoming renewals.
Slip-ups happen. It becomes void if you overlook an expiration date and let a certificate lapse. Once this happens, secure transactions on your website are a no-go. The Certificate Authority or CA reminds you when to renew your SSL certificate before expiration.
Whichever Certificate Authority or SSL service you choose to get your SSL certificates from will send reminders when the expiration is nigh, usually beginning 90 days out. Here’s a tip: arrange for these reminder notifications to be sent to multiple folks (an email distribution list) rather than just one dude who could have decided to quit or swapped roles by the time the message comes through. Be thoughtful about who you include in this distribution list, ensuring that those who need to see these reminders get them just when they should.
Email Verification: The Unseen Gatekeeper in the SSL Certificate Pantheon
SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificates are a cornerstone of online safety. They create secure channels for information to travel from browser to server, cloaked in an inviolable layer of confidentiality and security. Obtaining an SSL certificate, though, is no casual endeavor and involves a validation dance around the domain in question.
The Validation process:
Imagine a Certificate Authority (CA) as a sharp-eyed bouncer stationed outside the exclusive club that is your domain. As clients arrive at the door, clamoring for entry (an SSL certificate), our bouncer doesn’t just let them stroll in unchecked. Oh no. A contact sport ensues domain validation.
The email verification step is as vital as a heartbeat in this process. The CA pulls out their pad and sends off an obligatory note—essentially an ‘Are you who you say you are? Prove it. ‘ challenge—to the main door (the administrative email address linked to the domain: thinkVIP@yourdomain. com).
Sifting Through Public Addresses:
In a flurry of discretion, our digital bouncer goes through publicly listed emails found through WHO IS data paired with standard admin email addresses. The applicant then has to pick one from the list to receive the challenge—the verification link.
This chain of actions sharply focuses on a simple yet undervalued necessity—the role of valid, always-at-hand email accounts tied to the domain. It underlines the silent yet pivotal role email verification serves.
Isn’t Safety Always Worth a Double Check?
Email verification acts as an unsung hero. Its mission is simple yet of the utmost importance—ensuring only those with the keys can validate SSL certificate requests. This is a twist Sherlock Holmes himself would be proud of, designed to thwart unauthorized access while maintaining the sanctity of the domain.
If email verification were a scene in a spy thriller, failed verification would be a dramatic twist in our plot. If an email address turns invalid or unreachable, the SSL certificate is not deployed, spotlighting the supreme importance of reliable and successful email verification practices. So, are we all playing our part in this intricate dance? Or are we leaving it all to our diligent digital bouncer?
Conclusion
Gone are the days when having an SSL certificate safeguarding your website was considered a luxury – these days, it’s downright crucial. It shields your users’ data and enhances their trust in your site, upgrades your SEO rankings, and is ultimately a growth booster for your enterprise. So, wouldn’t you say that’s both a benefit and a necessity? Plus, who doesn’t like growth, right?