SSL Basics

What Is a CA Certificate Authority and How Do I Choose the Right One?

SSL Basics

Ah, yes, the (internet) age-old question: What is a CA certificate authority and how do I pick the best one for my business and website? To answer the first half of that question, we’ll explore what a CA certificate authority is and what they do. After that, we’ll tell you about some of the things to keep in mind and flags to look out for when choosing a certificate authority to issue your SSL/TLS certificates. What Is a CA Certificate Authority? A CA certificate authority, in reality, is a repetitious Continue Reading

Free Multi Domain SSL Certificates

Advanced SSL, Compare SSL Certificates, SSL Basics

Are free multi domain SSL certificates available in the market? While it’s true that there are some free multi domain SSL certificates available in the market, the million-dollar question is why do people still prefer paid multi domain SSL certificates? What’s the catch? Sure, it’s your website and your financial investment — hence, the final decision is yours as to whether you want a free product or paid one. But you have all the rights to know the aspects involved with free multi domain SSL certificates. So, let’s explore some Continue Reading

Sectigo Intermediate Certificate Installation Guide

Advanced SSL, SSL Basics, Website Security

Where to get Sectigo intermediate certificates and how to install them on Microsoft IIS web server When your certificate authority (CA) of choice completes their SSL certificate validation process, they will send you the bundle of four or five files with *.crt extensions. The Sectigo CA certificate bundle will contain: Alternatively, you can download the applicable intermediate certificate or CA Bundle from one of the tables below: Domain Validation (DV) SSL/TLS Intermediate Certificates and CA Bundles Sectigo RSA Domain Validation Secure Server CA (Intermediate Certificate)   Sectigo RSA Domain Validation Continue Reading

What an SSL Security Certificate Is and How to Get One

SSL Basics

Are you a website owner? Here’s why your site needs an SSL security certificate If you’re reading this article, it’s probably because you’ve heard about an SSL security certificate, and you’re looking for more details on what it is, why you need it, and how to get an SSL security certificate for your website. You’re in the right place! What is an SSL Security Certificate? An SSL security certificate is an important website feature that protects users’ confidential information. If you’ve been to a website and noticed a padlock and/or Continue Reading

How to Install a Wildcard SSL Certificate in Apache Web Server

SSL Basics,

Your step-by-step directions for how to install a wildcard SSL certificate on Apache Most of you reading this article probably know that Apache is a widely used web server distributed under the open-source license that is maintained by the Apache Software Foundation. It’s used to host one or more HTTP-based websites and has built-in support for shared/virtual hosting. To make your websites accessible over a secure connection (i.e. HTTPS), you will need to install an SSL/TLS certificate on your web server. A wildcard SSL certificate secures your domain along with Continue Reading

What Is a Multi Domain SSL Certificate?

SSL Basics

If you’re here because you’re wondering “what is a multi domain SSL certificate?” or “what is a UC multi domain certificate?” then you’ve come to the right place. A multi domain SSL certificate is also known as a subject alternative name (SAN) or unified communication certificate (UCC). As the name suggests, it’s used to secure multiple domains with a single certificate. Considering that many businesses have multiple domains, it makes sense to have a solution for business owners who have multiple websites. Would you rather manage multiple certificates for all Continue Reading

What Is SSL Server Certificate and How Does It Protect Websites?

SSL Basics

What Is A Server Certificate? A server certificate is an SSL certificate issued to hostnames that includes machine names (like XYZ-SERVER-04) or domain names (like www.example.com). When a client sends the request, the browser will verify the server certificate to ensure the legitimacy of the web host. An SSL server certificate is a digital certificate issued to the server for two main purposes – to authenticate the server’s identity and create a secure communication channel with the client. The SSL server certificate uses public key infrastructure (PKI) to maintain the Continue Reading

DV SSL vs OV SSL Certificates – Which One Is Affordable for My Website?

SSL Basics, ,

You have many choices when it comes to purchasing an SSL/TLS certificate for your website. You’ll see all kinds of acronyms — DV SSL vs OV SSL , OV vs EV SSL, etc. It can be a somewhat disconcerting experience having to scour through the web to find the perfect certificate that will meet your needs. Confused about which product to choose? Consider looking at domain validated (DV) and organization validated (OV) SSL certificates if you’re on a budget but need your site to run on HTTPS in a secure Continue Reading

Client Certificate vs Server Certificate – the Ultimate Difference

SSL Basics

In the digital world, SSL certificates — client or server — exist to guarantee that we are communicating securely with legitimate entities. These certificates use a trusted third party, aka a certificate authority (CA), to validate the identity of the client to the server or the server to the client, respectively. Whether you know it or not, each of us on the digital platform has made use of these certificates because they afford us a certain level of protection from malicious attacks. A client certificate is a digital certificate used Continue Reading

What Is Standard UCC SSL and How It Works for Multiple Websites

SSL Basics,

It can get heavy on your wallet to individually purchase SSL/TLS certificates for each of your domains. Leaving the websites unencrypted is no longer a viable choice partly due to the loss of trust and reputational damage that comes with insecure browsing but majorly due to the security risks that come into play. Standard UCC SSL certificates are used to host multiple domains on a single certificate. They are also referred to as multi-domain SAN or Exchange certificates. UCCs are ideal for server environments such as Microsoft Exchange but can Continue Reading

How to Install Sectigo SSL on GoDaddy

SSL Basics

Step-by-step directions for how to install Sectigo SSL certificate on a GoDaddy server  GoDaddy is well known for its low-cost hosting plans. Sectigo (formerly Comodo CA) provides the least expensive digital certificates in the industry. Combining both of them i.e., getting a web hosting plan from GoDaddy and an SSL certificate from Sectigo is one of the most cost-efficient decision you can make! Without further delay, let’s explore how to install an SSL certificate on the GoDaddy server.  Since you’re looking for installation directions, we assume that you’ve already generated a certificate signing request (CSR), completed the validation process, and received the SSL certificate’s file from Sectigo on Continue Reading

Wildcard SAN Certificates – All You Need to Know Before Buying

SSL Basics

A multi domain wildcard SSL certificate — or what’s sometimes referred to as a wildcard SAN, SSL SAN wildcard, or a wildcard multi domain certificate — combines the flexibility of a multi domain SAN certificate with that of a wildcard certificate. This provides coverage not only for multiple domains but also their accompanying subdomains at multiple levels as well as IPs. This versatile solution offers a cost-effective alternative to efficiently manage certificates for a host of websites and subdomains using a single certificate instead of having individual certificates for each Continue Reading

Understanding Wildcard SSL & How Does a Wildcard Certificate Work?

SSL Basics

Most prominent players in the digital certificate industry offer a variety of SSL/TLS certificates. As such, it’s natural for a customer to be confused about which SSL/TLS certificate to use on their website. If you have a host of subdomains where you want to use HTTPS, a wildcard SSL certificate might be a good fit, especially in terms of cost and ease of implementation. What Is a Wildcard SSL Certificate? A wildcard SSL certificate encrypts a website and an unlimited number of subdomains at a specific level using a single Continue Reading

Multi Domain SSL vs Wildcard SSL — What You Should Know

SSL Basics,

SSL/TLS certificates play a significant role in web security. Most business owners are moving their websites to HTTPS  in part due to Google’s initiative to flag sites not using SSL/TLS certificates as “not secure,” and because they see the benefits of installing an SSL/TLS certificate on their web servers. With cyber-crime on the rise, using SSL/TLS certificates is integral to building trust with users and taking a step toward improved digital security. SSL/TLS certificates ensure that the communication channel between your client browser and the server you’re connecting to is Continue Reading

Comodo PositiveSSL vs InstantSSL

Compare SSL Certificates, SSL Basics

What is the difference between Positive SSL and Instant SSL? Which one is better?  If you are thinking selecting the most appropriate SSL certificate for your website is a confusing process, you’re not alone! With so many SSL certificate varieties, anyone can feel lost. In this article, we compare two of the most popular SSL certificate brands — Comodo Positive SSL and Instant SSL.   Comodo PositiveSSL and InstantSSL are rebranded as Sectigo PositiveSSL and InstantSSL. We hope this PositiveSSL vs InstantSSL guide will provide you some helpful insights in choosing the right SSL certificate. Positive SSL vs Instant SSL: A Look at the Similarities  Positive SSL and Instant SSL are offered by the same parent organization or Continue Reading

Pros and Cons of Wildcard SSL Certificates — An Expert Review

SSL Basics

Is a wildcard SSL certificate really worth buying? Explore the advantages and disadvantages of a wildcard SSL certificate  Are you looking for the best SSL certificate for securing your website and its subdomains? You may have heard that a wildcard SSL certificate will be the best fit. But is it so? Are there any disadvantages of using a wildcard SSL certificate? You have every right to investigate. After all, a wildcard SSL is almost eight times more expensive than a regular SSL certificate. So, let’s do a quick reality check concerning the advantages and disadvantages of a wildcard SSL certificate. In this article, we’ll weigh the Continue Reading

SSL Renewals: Renew SSL Certificate Now!

SSL Basics

Everything you need to know to renew SSL certificate! When and How Do I Renew My SSL Certificate? You can renew an SSL certificate up to 30 days before its expiry date.   Ideally, you should buy, generate a certificate signing request (CSR), complete the SSL validation process, and install the new SSL certificate before the expiry date. So, as soon as your old certificate expires, it will be replaced by the new certificate automatically.  Technically, as soon as the CA issues/renews the certificate, it becomes activate. Now, there will be two SSL certificates existing on your server simultaneously. But this is normal and doesn’t cause any problems.  If Continue Reading

Wildcard SSL Certificate Price Comparison

SSL Basics

Not sure which wildcard SSL certificate gives the most bang for your buck? We’ve got your answer: Wildcard SSL Certificate Price Comparison If you’re not sure whether a wildcard SSL certificate is right for your website or is it a cost-efficient option, you have landed on the right article! First, we have a few questions: Do you own multiple subdomains? Or, are you planning to have multiple subdomains for your primary domain in the future? If you aren’t sure what subdomains are, see the following examples: Your Primary Domain: Example.com Continue Reading

SSL Vs. Wildcard SSL Certificate – Which SSL Certificate Should I Choose?

SSL Basics

SSL/TLS certificates are the foundation of website security. They encrypt the data transferred between the client and server over the wire and provide third-party verification of the applicant’s business identity. Wildcard Certificate Vs. Regular Certificate Depending upon your business needs, you can get a single certificate for each domain that you want to secure or get a single certificate that can accommodate multiple domains and/or subdomains. All SSL certificates have a field called the website’s common name (also referred to as the host or the domain name) which dictates the Continue Reading

What is The Difference Between SSL and TLS?

SSL Basics,

When considering the difference between SSL and TLS, you’ll find that the main difference lies in what is still in use. SSL has been deprecated, but because SSL evolved into the brand new and “shiny” TLS, the industry has decided to refer to it as SSL/TLS or only TLS. However, there are technical differences between the two types of cryptographic protocols as well. SSL vs TLS SSL (secure sockets layer) and TLS (transport layer security) were developed to provide a secure, encrypted communication channel to protect end users’ privacy and Continue Reading