What is an SSL Certificate?

Having an SSL Certificate added to your site is essential in protecting your customers details.Speak to us today for a free quote.

What is an SSL Certificate?

An SSL Certificate is a series of small data files that digitally bind a key to an company’s details. When an SSL Certificate is installed it activates the padlock and allows secure connections from a web server to a browser.

An SSL Certificate is used to secure debit and credit card transactions, data transfer and logins, and more recently is becoming the norm when securing browsing of social media sites.

SSL Certificates bind together:

• A domain name, server name or hostname.
• An organisations identity (i.e. company name) and location.

A business needs to install the SSL Certificate onto its web server to initiate a secure session with browsers. Once a secure connection is established, all web traffic between the web server and the web browser will be secure.

When a certificate is successfully installed on your server, the application protocol (also known as HTTP) will change to HTTPs, where the ‘S’ stands for ‘secure’.

How does an SSL Certificate Work?

SSL Certificates use something called public key cryptography.

This particular kind of cryptography brings together the power of two keys which are long strings of randomly generated numbers. One is called a private key and one is called a public key.A public key is known to your server and available in the public domain. It can be used to encrypt any message.

Why do I Need An SSL Certificate?

SSL Certificates protect your sensitive information such as credit card information, usernames, passwords etc. It also:

• Keeps data secure between servers
• Increases your Google Rankings
• Builds/Enhances customer trust
• Improves conversion rates

If you have any questions regarding SSL Certificates, or you’d like us to add one onto your website, simply contact us today.