SSL Certificates Explained

A website with an SSL certificate is notable as there is a padlock icon next to the URL on a browser's address bar. It's right to assume that a website with this padlock icon is protected with an SSL certificate.

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How Do SSL Certificates Work?

  • A server or browser attempts connecting to a website that is secured with SSL certificates.
  • The server or browser requests for "identification" from the webserver.
  • The web server sends a copy of its SSL certificate to the browser or server.
  • The server or browser checks the SSL certificate to see if the certificate is trustworthy. If the certificate is trustworthy, it signals approval to the webserver.
  • The web server then sends an acknowledgment that is signed digitally, and an SSL encrypted session begins.
  • Encrypted data can now be shared between the browser, server, and web server.

How To Acquire an SSL Certificate

  • Set up your server

    Set up your server and ensure that you have updated your WHOIS records and match the information you are submitting to the Certificate Authority


  • Signing Request

    Generate a Certificate Signing Request on your server. Most web hosting companies can help you do this.

  • Submit your CSR to

    Submit your CSR to the Certificate Authority to validate your company and website details

  • Market like yourself
    People will only get interested in your product if they know you. Market your product by being who you are and not like any digital robot.
  • Install the certificate

    Install the certificate issued once the approval process ends


Types of SSL Certificates

  • Domain Validated Certificates

    Domain validated certificates are a type of SSL certificate that verifies the domain name only (e.g., example.com) without validating the organization behind it.


    This type of certificate is the cheapest and quickest to set up but offers low levels of encryption and validation because the organization that is requesting the certificate has not been verified.

  • Organization Validated Certificates

    Organization validated certificates are used when the organization requesting the certificate has gone through a substantive verification process.

    This type of SSL certificate offers more validation than domain validated certs and they display the owner's information in the SSL certificate (e.g., example.com, Inc.)

  • Extended Validated SSL Certificates

    The extended validated SSL certificate offers the highest levels of validation, but it requires a substantial amount of validation and is expensive to obtain.

  • Wildcard SSL Certificates

    A wildcard certificate is used when a company secures a domain and unlimited subdomains in a single certificate.


    This certificate works well if you have many sub-domains that you need to secure.

  • Unified Communications Certificates

    A unified communications certificate was developed initially to secure Live Communications and Microsoft Exchange servers.


    Also considered as Multi-Domain SSL Certificates, UCCs allow for a single certificate to secure multiple domains.