The Role of SSL Certificates: Secure Your Website Against Cyber Attacks

Essential SSL Stats for an Industry Overview

• 252,376,364 SSL certificates detected on the Internet.
• 96.3% of all SSL certificates on the Internet are issued by just 9 Certificate Authorities.
• The Certificate Authority market is expected to reach $1.8 million by 2023.
• 94.3% of SSL certificates are Domain Validation.

According to SSL Pulse, a comprehensive global dashboard tracking SSL/TLS support quality across Alexa’s top 150,000 websites, a concerning 38.9% of these sites fail to adhere to optima SSL practices to secure against cyber-attacks.

The survey conducted on May 4, 2023, encompassing 135,005 websites, revealed that 52,506 of them exhibited insufficient security measures. This includes issues such as incomplete certificate chains or the use of weak ciphers. This alarming statistic underscores the urgency of implementing a robust SSL configuration to safeguard online platforms.

Cyber attackers are still scattered all over the internet. They carry no filters. They do not discriminate, and they attack everything. For them, everybody becomes just another potential victim. Whether a million-dollar site or a simple blog. All of you are equal targets for cyber attackers.

Still in doubt? Here we go – several stats and recent incidents to prove it for me. Air Euopa’s customers woke up to a rude awakening of having to cancel all their credit cards on the 11th of October, 2023. Reasons?

A data breach had tripped the airline carrier. The hackers accessed customer data, including credit card numbers and personal details.

Here is a question that should have you scratching your head: If big corporations with the strength and means to be secure can be hacked, why can’t you?

In 2023, companies, including Sony, Forever 21, Duolingo, and many more, have all faced data breaches. Just like that, people such as Hunter Biden, the son of the current US president, were not spared, too.

With the data breach costs rising, something needs to be done quickly to contain this situation that seems to be heading out of control.

What Is An SSL Certificate?

An Introduction to SSL Certificates

An SSL certificate serves as a code snippet on your web server, enhancing the security of online communications. Upon a web browser connecting to your secure website, the SSL certificate facilitates an encrypted connection, akin to enclosing a letter in an envelope for secure mailing.

Moreover, SSL certificates instill confidence by incorporating identification details. When you seek an SSL certificate, a third party (like Thawte) validates your organisation’s information and issues a distinctive certificate, uniquely tied to that data. This procedure is referred to as the authentication process.

SSL certificates also act as digital bodyguards for your website, creating a shield against cyber threats. In simple terms, they ensure that the data moving between a user’s browser and your website remains confidential and secure. Picture it as a secure tunnel for information to travel through and prevent cyber criminals from eavesdropping.

The magic happens through encryption – SSL certificates scramble the data into a secret code that only your website and the user’s browser can understand.

This process not only keeps sensitive information, like credit card details, safe from prying eyes but also guarantees that the data hasn’t been tampered with during transit.

It’s like sending a sealed letter that can’t be opened until it reaches its intended recipient. Let us explore some of the reasons why secure site SSL certificates are necessary.

How Many Websites Are Using SSL (Secure Socket Layer)

According to recent data collected in 2021 46,703,423 live websites use SSL by Default. As expected, the United States has the most websites—around 22.2 million.

While the adoption of SSL certificates is widespread, achieving 100% coverage is still a work in progress. Nevertheless, the statistics reveal a consistent upward trend, accompanied by an increasing number of SSL providers in the market.

In recent years, Let’s Encrypt has become the dominant force on the SSL market. Moreover, the Let’s Encrypt market share is npw over 50%

How SSL Certificates Help With Website Security

There are many reasons why you need to grab your SSL certificate today. We cover the security benefits of these benefits in this section.

• Data Encryption

Information that is exchanged between a user’s device and your website is digitally locked and opened up using the SSL certificates.

SSL converts sensitive information such as login credentials and payment details, into an unreadable code when a user sends it. Encrypted text can be understood only by your webpage and the device of the user.

This is a strong defence against cyber-eavesdropping. Even if a hacker intercepts the data during transportation, they will get a heap of characters that cannot be deciphered unless they use the correct decryption key.

SSL, in essence, converts your user’s data into a package and keeps it secure and intact from the start to the end of its journey. Website security is based on the fundamental encryption layer, which gives users an opportunity to believe that their personal information is secure from dangers.

• SSL Certificates for Establishing Trust and Credibility

Trust is now a highly precious commodity for internet users, who have become more discerning. SSL certificates do not only protect data but also provide a good user experience.

People would be willing to give their personal information, make transactions, and interact with the content if they feel safe on a website. SSL certificates also play a vital role in establishing trust for one’s website in the highly competitive online market where there are many choices.

SSL certificates do not only serve as security measures, but they are also the internet’s trust badges that build confidence in the users. The presence of the padlock icon in the address bar informs visitors that their connection is safe when a website displays it. This visual sign has now come to personify trustworthiness and reliability.

Browsers may mark a site as “Not Secure” without SSL, causing visitors to hesitate or drop off the site altogether. EV certificates take it one step further by displaying the organization’s name in the address bar, making it even clearer to users that the site is

• SSL For Addressing Common Security Threats

SSL certificates are among the toughest barriers against common online threats, especially for stopping man-in-the-middle attacks. In these attacks, hackers capture users’ communication with the website and change it as they wish. SSL encryption turns this intercepted data into a meaningless code, which is useless until decryption is achieved.

Further, SSL protects against phishing via the digital handshake by ensuring the identity of the website. This protects against fraudulent copies of real sites and makes victims divulge confidential information.

Websites protect themselves by means of SSL and maintain secrecy of users’ data and their uninterrupted connection.

What Exactly Is Encryption And The Different Levels?

Encryption involves the mathematical encoding and decoding of information. The key’s size, measured in bits (such as 40-bit, 56-bit, 128-bit, 256-bit), indicates the level of security.

A larger key, akin to an extended password, provides a greater number of potential combinations. Notably, 128-bit encryption is significantly more robust than 40-bit encryption, boasting a strength that is one trillion times greater.

The effectiveness of an encrypted session is determined by the capabilities of the web browser, SSL certificate, web server, and the operating system of the client computer.

How Does SSL Make My Website More Trustworthy?

An SSL certificate contains verified details about the secured website, aiding users in confirming their communication with the site. The Extended Validation represents the industry’s highest verification standard, offering users a prominent visual cue – the address bar turns green in high-security browsers.

By showcasing the Thawte Trusted Site Seal, users can click on the trust mark to access information about the website’s identification, the third-party verifier (such as Thawte), and the SSL certificate’s expiration date.

In modern browsers, website identification details may appear on hovering over the address bar, and users can alternatively click on the closed padlock icon for this information.

Authentication

Moreover, SSL certificates encrypt the data and act as a virtual ID for your website. The SSL certificate comes in handy when visitors connect to your site, it will verify the legitimacy of your website, ensuring that users are engaging with the original entity and not an imposter. This is similar to checking an ID card before allowing entrance into a secure location.

The SSL certificate confirms that it is the real server sending the information via a cryptographic handshake. Authentication is done in such a manner that it does not allow attackers to create fake websites for deceiving users in stealing sensitive information. Therefore, users will be assured that the website they are accessing is real and not a fraudulent one.

SSL also helps to create a secure connection and confirm authenticity for users to engage in your website confidently. It instills a sense of security and reliability.

Does Authentication Really Matter?

Authentication involves a trusted third party, confirming the accuracy of the identification details within your SSL certificate. This verification assures customers that your website is genuinely yours.

In light of increasing concerns about fraud and identity theft, users have become more cautious about sharing personal information with unfamiliar websites.

Research indicates that 86% of online shoppers feel more secure when entering their personal details on sites displaying security indicators, such as a trust mark (Synovate/GMI, 2008).

There are many established certificate authority providers and services who offers SSL Certificates that come with a widely recognised Trusted Site Seal, reinforcing the credibility of your website.

What Exactly Is A Certificate Authority?

An SSL certificate functions as a digital credential in the online realm, providing a unique identifier for a particular domain (e.g., thawte.com) and its associated web server.

The trustworthiness of this credential is contingent on the confidence placed in the issuing organisation. Certificate authorities employ diverse methods to validate the information supplied by individuals or organisations seeking certification.

Recognised certificate authorities, like Thawte, enjoy a solid reputation and are trusted by browser vendors. Browsers, in turn, extend their trust to digital certificates that have been verified by esteemed entities such as Thawte.

What Does Browser Compatibility Mean?

When a browser or operating system comes across an SSL or code signing certificate, it verifies the validity and trustworthiness of the certificate.

Trust is established for an SSL certificate if it is signed by a root certificate that is considered “trusted” or pre-installed. Thawte, being a well-established and globally recognised certificate authority, has had its root certificates pre-installed in the majority of major browsers since 1996.

What Is a Public/Private Key Pair?

Encryption involves mathematically encoding and decoding information. SSL Certificates include a pair of keys: a private key for encoding and a public key for decoding.

The private key, containing the code, is securely installed on the server and kept confidential. Meanwhile, the public key is embedded in the SSL certificate and shared with web browsers.

What is a CSR (Certificate Signing request)?

A Certificate Signing Request (CSR) is a cryptographic key pair generated on your server based on the instructions provided by your server software.

If you lack access to your server, your web host or Internet service provider will generate it on your behalf. The CSR plays a crucial role in the SSL certificate enrollment process as it validates specific details about your web server and organisation.

Industry Overview – SSL Statistics

• Sectigo follows closely with a 13.1% market share, and Digicert Group secures the third position with a 12% share. Notably, the majority of SSL certificate authorities, Amazon included, command a market share of less than 0.1%, as per data sourced from W3Techs.
  
  
• Projections indicate a substantial upswing in the Certificate Authority market, with expectations of reaching $1.8 million by 2023.
  
  
• A report by GlobalNewsWire posits that the global certificate authority market is poised to catapult from $57.1 million in 2017 to a formidable $114 million by 2024, reflecting a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 10.18% during the forecast period, effectively doubling the initial amount.
  
  
• An overwhelming 94.3% of SSL certificates are of the Domain Validation (DV) type, as revealed in a Netcraft report. Organisation Validation (OV) certificates secure a 5.5% market share, while Extended Validation (EV) products trail with a mere 0.1%.
  
  
• The prevalence of DV is underscored by Let’s Encrypt, which has issued over a billion free certificates. Despite this dominance, premium certificates hold their ground, with 60% of web traffic directed through DV sites, 27% through OV, and 13% through EV.
  
  
• Alarmingly, 38.9% of websites exhibit suboptimal security practices, according to SSL Pulse, a global dashboard monitoring SSL/TLS support across Alexa’s top 150,000 websites.
  
  
• Of the 135,005 sites surveyed on May 4, 2023, 52,506 displayed inadequate security, encompassing issues such as incomplete certificate chains and weak ciphers. This highlights the imperative need for a robust SSL configuration.
  
  
• The adoption of the latest TLS 1.3 protocol stands at an impressive 62.1%, as per SSL Labs’ survey of websites. Since its 2018 release, TLS 1.3 has introduced enhanced security features and expedited TLS handshakes. In contrast, 2.0% of sites persist in supporting the now-deprecated SSL protocol.
  
  
• A startling revelation by the Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG) indicates that over 90% of phishing websites employed HTTPS in 2023, incorporating the padlock. This marks a substantial 40% increase from 2019, emphasising the ease with which free SSL certificates facilitate the credibility of phishing sites.
  
  
• Approximately 21% of Alexa’s top 100,000 sites eschew SSL, according to a recent Internet Security Report by WatchGuard. This worrisome statistic exposes 20,911 websites transmitting data in plain text, leaving sensitive information susceptible to potential vulnerabilities.
  
  
• In a notable shift, 35.4% of unencrypted traffic originates from mobile devices, a stark departure from the previous year’s 70% dominance. Google Transparency Report underscores this significant improvement in mobile device security.
  
  
• A staggering 9.1732631e50 years would be required to break SSL encryption, as analyzed by SSL Dragon. The feasibility of decoding encrypted certificates remains beyond human capabilities, requiring a hypothetical super-computer powered by 30% of all nuclear plants.
  
  
• In 2023, a commendable 82.9% of websites employ a valid SSL certificate, marking a substantial increase from 18.5% five years prior, as per W3Techs’ report. While the percentage appears robust, the remaining 17.8% translates to millions of websites posing potential security threats to users.
  
  
• A revealing insight from the Google Transparency Report indicates that 93.2% of Chrome browsing time is spent on secure HTTPS pages. This surpasses the percentage of loaded pages, suggesting users swiftly exit websites lacking proper security measures.
  
  
• Discrepancies among platforms are minimal, with Chromecast and Mac users at an impressive 98% and 97%, while Linux users rank lowest at 86%. Android and Windows users hover around the 94% mark.
  

Free VS Paid SSL Certificates

SSL certificates, whether free or paid, play a crucial role in ensuring the security and trustworthiness of websites. Here’s a comparison between free and paid SSL certificates:

Free SSL Certificates:

1. Cost: The most obvious advantage of free SSL certificates is, of course, their cost. They are accessible to anyone without the need to spend additional money.
   
2. Issuing Speed: Free SSL certificates are often issued quickly, sometimes within a few minutes, making them suitable for immediate deployment.
   
3. Encryption Strength: Free certificates typically offer the same level of encryption as their paid counterparts. They secure the data transmitted between the user’s browser and the server.
   
4. Validation Level: Free SSL certificates usually provide domain validation only. This means that the Certificate Authority (CA) verifies that the entity requesting the certificate has control over the domain but does not perform extensive checks on the organisation itself.
   
5. Limited Warranty: Free SSL certificates usually come with little or no warranty, which could be a concern for businesses looking for financial protection in case of a security breach.
   
6. Renewal: Free certificates often have shorter validity periods, typically 90 days. This means they require more frequent renewal compared to paid certificates, which may have validity periods of one or two years.

Paid SSL Certificates:

1. Cost: The primary drawback of paid SSL certificates is the cost. However, the expense often comes with additional features and benefits.
   
2. Extended Validation (EV): Paid certificates may offer extended validation, providing a higher level of trust. EV certificates involve a more thorough validation process, verifying the legal existence and identity of the organisation.
   
3. Wildcard and Multi-Domain Support: Paid certificates often provide wildcard support (securing subdomains) and support for multiple domains in a single certificate, offering flexibility for businesses with complex online structures.
   
4. Warranty: Paid certificates usually come with a warranty, providing financial coverage in case of a security breach. This can be crucial for businesses handling sensitive information.
   
5. Longer Validity Periods: Paid certificates typically have longer validity periods, reducing the frequency of certificate renewals and associated administrative overhead.

The choice between free and paid SSL certificates depends on the specific needs and priorities of the website owner. For individuals and small websites with basic security needs, a free SSL certificate might be sufficient.

However, for businesses or organisations dealing with sensitive data and requiring a higher level of trust, investing in a paid SSL certificate with extended features and warranty is often a prudent choice.

Selecting the Right SSL Certificate for Your Website

At this point, I am sure you are convinced that you truly need an SSL certificate. The good news is that you can get a cheap SSL certificate, and it will do just fine for you. Here are some excellent options.

• 1 Domain Validated (DV) Certificates: Ideal for personal websites or blogs, DV certificates verify domain ownership and provide basic encryption. Here is one of the cheapest SSL certificate providers found on the market in 2023 – 2024. There are of course other cheap and even free options you will find later in this artcile.
  
  
  
• 2 Organisation Validated (OV) Certificates: They are suited for small to medium businesses, OV certificates authenticate the business entity and add an extra layer of assurance.
  
  
  
• 3 Extended Validation (EV) Certificates: Best for e-commerce and high-profile sites, EV certificates undergo a rigorous validation process. They display the organisation’s name in the browser and enhance credibility.
  
  
  
• 4 Wildcard Certificates: They offer versatility. Wildcard certificates secure the main domain and all subdomains with a single certificate. This streamlines the management process.
  
  
  
• 5 Multi-Domain Certificates: For those managing multiple domains, multi-domain certificates secure several domain names within a single certificate
  

Consider things like what sort of site you want, the levels of surety desired, and how many domains you plan to have for your website. 

Also check for the reputation of the CA that issued it, and so on. Renew and regularly update certificates in order to maintain ongoing protection. Choosing an appropriate SSL certificate for your site makes it secure, trustworthy to visitors, protects their data, etc.

Domain Validated SSL

Domain Validated (DV) certificates stand as the most basic level of SSL certificates, offering a quick and straightforward way to secure a website, albeit with minimal identity verification.

They are also easily obtainable, even by potentially harmful automated bots. These certificates come with a relatively low cost, necessitating only the validation of a company or individual’s control over the specific web domain for which they seek certification.

The process to acquire a DV certificate involves the website owner receiving a confirmation email from the Certificate Authority (CA) to an email address listed in the domain’s WHOIS record.

These certificates are commonly used by websites that do not engage in business transactions or handle sensitive data such as credit card information.

DV certificates find their place on various types of websites, including:

• Blogs
• Personal websites
• Websites that do not facilitate transactions or collect personal information

By opting for DV certificates, website owners prioritise a quick and uncomplicated security solution, suitable for platforms where robust identity validation is not a primary concern.

Main Aspects of SSL and TLS ‒ Strengths and Weaknesses

While Secure Socket Layer (SSL) continues to safeguard numerous domains, the more sophisticated Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocol has emerged as the predominant technology.

This shift in preference is not arbitrary; it is substantiated by the considerable significance of encrypted traffic, as highlighted by ecommerce statistics.

In essence, the SSL mechanism relies on a cryptographic key system to secure browsing sessions. SSL certificates serve as a cost-effective and convenient security measure, influencing search engine ranking positions (SERPs).

However, it’s crucial to note that SSL protocols do not provide an absolute guarantee of 100% safety. Despite their effectiveness, acknowledging their limitations is essential for a comprehensive understanding of online security.

How Do SSL Certificates Work?

SSL certificates function by securing the data exchanged between users and websites or between two systems, ensuring its unreadability.

The process involves encryption algorithms that scramble the data during transit, preventing hackers from intercepting and deciphering sensitive information like names, addresses, credit card numbers, or financial details.

The sequence of actions unfolds as follows

• 1. A browser or server initiates a connection to a website (web server) with SSL protection.
  
• 2. The browser or server requests identification from the web server.
  
• 3. In response, the web server sends a copy of its SSL certificate to the browser or server.
  
• 4. The browser or server checks the SSL certificate for trustworthiness. If validated, it signals approval to the web server.
  
• 5. The web server responds with a digitally signed acknowledgment, initiating an SSL encrypted session.
  
• 6. Encrypted data is exchanged securely between the browser or server and the web server

This series of steps, commonly known as an “SSL handshake,” transpires almost instantaneously, typically within milliseconds.

When a website employs an SSL certificate, the URL reflects this security by changing from HTTP to HTTPS (HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure). Conversely, without an SSL certificate, the URL remains HTTP, lacking the “S” for Secure.

Additionally, a padlock icon in the URL address bar serves as a visual indicator of the secure connection, instilling trust and assurance for visitors to the website.

What Are The Different Types of SSL Certificate’s?

There are currently six different main types of SSL certificates all with different validation levels. The main types of SSL certificates include :

1. Extended Validation certificates (EV SSL)
2. Organisation Validated certificates (OV SSL)
3. Domain Validated certificates (DV SSL)
4. Wildcard SSL certificates
5. Multi-Domain SSL certificates (MDC)
6. Unified Communications Certificates (UCC)

Extended Validation Certificates (EV SSL)

• Highest-ranking and most expensive SSL certificate.
• Used for high-profile websites involving data collection and online payments.
• Displays padlock, HTTPS, business name, and country in the browser address bar.
• Requires a standardised identity verification process for legal authorisation.

Organisation Validated Certificates (OV SSL)

• Similar assurance level to EV SSL, obtained through a substantial validation process.
• Displays website owner’s information in the address bar for user trust.
• Second most expensive SSL type, primarily used for encrypting sensitive information.
• Ensures confidentiality for commercial or public-facing websites.

Domain Validated Certificates (DV SSL)

• Minimal validation process, providing lower assurance and minimal encryption.
• Suitable for blogs or informational websites without data collection or online payments.
• Least expensive and quickest to obtain SSL certificate type.
• Browser address bar displays only HTTPS and a padlock without business name.

Wildcard SSL Certificates

• Secures a base domain and unlimited sub-domains on a single certificate.
• Economical for securing multiple sub-domains compared to individual certificates.
• Common name includes an asterisk (*) representing valid sub-domains.

Multi-Domain SSL Certificate (MDC)

• Secures multiple domains and/or sub-domains with different TLDs.
• Does not support sub-domains by default.
• Specifying all hostnames is necessary for securing both www and non-www versions.

Unified Communications Certificate (UCC)

• Also considered a Multi-Domain SSL certificate.
• Initially designed for Microsoft Exchange and Live Communications servers.
• Organisationally validated, displays a padlock, and can function as an EV SSL certificate.
• Allows multiple domain names to be secured on a single certificate.

How You Can Obtain A SSL Certificate

SSL certificates can be acquired directly from a Certificate Authority (CA), also known as Certification Authorities. These entities issue millions of SSL certificates annually, playing a crucial role in facilitating transparent and trustworthy online interactions.

The cost of an SSL certificate varies, ranging from free to several hundred dollars, contingent on the desired level of security. Once you determine the specific certificate type you need, you can explore Certificate Issuers that offer SSLs at the corresponding security level.

The process of obtaining an SSL involves the following steps:

1. Preparation involves setting up your server and ensuring that your WHOIS record is updated to match the information submitted to the Certificate Authority (such as the correct company name and address).
   
2. Generate a Certificate Signing Request (CSR) on your server, a task that your hosting company can assist with.
   
3. Submit the CSR to the Certificate Authority for domain and company details validation.
   
4. Install the provided certificate upon completion of the validation process.
   
5. Automatically install a certificate via your hosting provider (Free Certificates)

After obtaining the SSL certificate, you must configure it on your web host or on your servers if you self-host the website.

The speed at which you receive your certificate depends on its type and the chosen certificate provider. Different validation levels have varying processing times. For instance, a simple Domain Validation SSL certificate can be issued within minutes of ordering, while Extended Validation may take up to a week.

Top List Of SSL Certificate Providers For 2024

How To Get A Free SSL Certificate

Numerous website proprietors opt against incorporating an SSL certificate to cut costs. Regrettably, this choice exposes their websites to potential vulnerabilities.

Fortunately, the nonprofit initiative Let’s Encrypt enables website owners to secure their sites with a complimentary SSL certificate, establishing trust without incurring extra expenses.

These certificate authorities offer SSL for free

1. Let’s Encrypt: Let’s Encrypt provides complimentary DV SSL certificates, emphasizing the creation of a more private and secure open web. They contribute to this objective by ensuring that SSL certificates are accessible to everyone.
   
2. Cloudflare: Cloudflare extends free standard SSL certificates, coupled with additional security and performance features. Installation is simplified to a single click, and the certificates auto-renew, alleviating the need for manual updates. Cloudflare also takes care of seamlessly redirecting your site from HTTP to HTTPS to prevent any potential issues.
   
3. SSL For Free: Similar to Let’s Encrypt, SSL For Free supports the open web by providing SSL certificates at no expense. Their certificates enjoy trust from 99.9% of browsers globally and have a validity period of 90 days. It’s important to bear in mind that these certificates require renewal every three months.

Do SSL Certificates Expire?

SSL certificates do expire and don’t have an unlimited lifespan. The lifetime is determined by the Certificate Authority/Browser Forum, the primary regulatory body for the SSL industry.

According to guidelines, SSL certificates should not exceed 27 months in duration, equivalent to two years with an option to carry over up to three months when renewing a certificate that still has time left.

The expiration of SSL certificates is essential because, like any authentication mechanism, periodic re-validation is necessary to ensure the accuracy of information.

Changes in ownership and other relevant details occur as companies and websites are bought or sold. The expiration period ensures that the information used to authenticate servers and organisations remains current and accurate.

In the past, SSL certificates were issued for up to five years, but this duration has been reduced to three years and, most recently, to the current two years with a potential additional three months.

In 2020, Google, Apple, and Mozilla enforced a one-year SSL certificate policy, despite its rejection by the Certificate Authority/Browser Forum. The policy became effective in September 2020, signaling a potential trend towards further reductions in validity periods.

• Expired SSL Certs

An expired SSL certificate renders the associated site inaccessible. During the SSL handshake, a user’s browser checks the certificate’s validity within milliseconds. If expired, visitors receive a warning message indicating a lack of security and potential risks.

While users can choose to proceed, doing so is not advisable due to cybersecurity risks, including the threat of malware. This can significantly impact website owners’ bounce rates, as users quickly navigate away from the insecure site.

• Managing SSL Certificate Expiration

Managing SSL certificate expiration poses a challenge for larger businesses dealing with numerous certificates across various websites and networks.

Unlike smaller businesses, enterprise-level organisations may face oversights rather than incompetence when certificates expire.

Adopting a certificate management platform becomes crucial for large businesses to stay informed about expiration dates. Various products in the market enable enterprises to oversee and manage digital certificates across their infrastructure.

Allowing a certificate to expire also results in its invalidation, preventing secure transactions on the website. Certification Authorities prompt users to renew SSL certificates before the expiration date.

Regardless of the chosen Certificate Authority or SSL service, expiration notifications are typically sent at intervals, often starting 90 days before expiry.

Ensuring these reminders are sent to an email distribution list, rather than an individual, helps avoid issues when personnel changes occur within a company. Identifying key stakeholders for this distribution list ensures timely awareness of renewal reminders.

How To Make Sure How Your Online Session Is Safe

Only share your personal information and online payment details with websites possessing EV or OV certificates; DV certificates are inadequate for eCommerce platforms. To identify a site’s certificate type, check the address bar.

An Extended Validation (EV) SSL displays the organisation’s name directly in the address bar, while an Organisation Validation (OV) SSL reveals the organisation’s name upon clicking the padlock icon.

In contrast, a Domain Validation (DV) SSL only shows the padlock icon.

• Review the website’s privacy policy to understand how your data will be utilized. Legitimate companies are transparent about data collection and usage.
  

• Pay attention to trust signals on websites, such as SSL certificates and reputable logos, indicating adherence to specific security standards.
  

• Verify the legitimacy of a site by checking for a physical address and telephone number, reviewing their return/refund policy, and ensuring prices are realistic.
  

• Be vigilant against phishing scams. Cyber attackers may create fake websites that replicate legitimate ones to deceive users. Some phishing sites obtain SSL certificates, encrypting traffic and misleading users who rely on the padlock icon for reassurance.

Extended Summary & Conclusion

As the Internet undergoes continual transformation, a noteworthy and positive change is apparent—there’s a heightened focus on bolstering safety.

This positive shift owes much to the increasing accessibility of affordable certificates and the steadfast adoption of HTTPS encryption. Together, these factors contribute to a more secure and trustworthy online experience.

Despite these strides, challenges persist, particularly in how websites configure their SSL certificates. As the digital landscape sees a surge in services and businesses transitioning online, the SSL industry is poised for ongoing growth in the years ahead.

So, while we’re making strides in cybersecurity, there’s still work to be done to ensure a safer online environment for everyone.

There you go! You now have reasons why you will need an SSL certificate for your website. Time to go ahead and do the needful. Install the certificate today and reap from the many security benefits it brings. More interesting is to know that the certificate does more than just security.

While certificates hold a significant 94.4% share on the internet and help securue our online property they also bring other benefits on board, such as increased SEO rankings. This article has also given you some of the SSL certificate options to get you started.

95% of all websites you can now find on Google all use HTTPS. (SSL) – Upon delving into Google’s HTTPS statistics, it becomes evident that the tech giant places a strong emphasis on security.

The ongoing effort to achieve 100% encryption is readily apparent. Consequently, nearly all websites featured in Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs) now display the green padlock. Whether you use Bing or Google for your searches, encrypted websites dominate the landscape.

Google has consistently and unequivocally communicated its intent to phase out HTTP websites in favor of HTTPS. This commitment underscores the company’s dedication to enhancing online security and promoting a safer browsing experience for users.