Are you looking to streamline your certificate management by securing multiple subject alternative name (SAN) domains under one certificate? Then look no further — we’ll explore the three best UCC SSL certificate options for 2021

Managing a few individual SSL/TLS certificates is doable. But managing dozens or even hundreds of domains and SANs makes things a lot more complicated. Something’s bound to slip through the cracks, which can leave your site insecure or result in service outages. This is where a UCC SSL certificate can help.

A unified communications certificate (also called a “UCC certificate”) allows you to secure multiple SAN domains, specified subdomains, external IP addresses, and hostnames using a single SSL/TLS certificate. This is why it’s alternatively also known as a multi-domain SSL certificate or a SAN certificate. (The origin of its UCC name has to do with the fact that these certificates were originally designed to secure Microsoft Exchange and communication servers. However, the truth is that they also work perfectly to secure non-Microsoft servers as well.)

It is important to know the features of the product you want to buy. So, which are the three best UCC SSL certificates in 2021? Let’s explore each to see how each certificate can best serve your business.

3 Best UCC SSL Certificates For 2021

A UCC SSL certificate secures much more than your primary domain under a single certificate. It also helps you get rid of the “Not Secure” label from your site, which is critical considering that Baymard Institute reports that 17% of users abandon checkout purchases due to site security concerns.

UCC certificates fall into one of three categories: domain validation (DV), organization validation (OV), or extended validation (EV). Validation refers to the level of vetting a business undergoes before a certificate authority (CA) issues a certificate to a website to ensure a business and its website are legitimate.

Our team at SectigoStore.com has put together a list of the top three UCC SSL certificate options that may be most beneficial for your business. Our goal is to help you make an informed decision about which certificate to buy that will be the best fit for your website.

1. Sectigo Multi-Domain/UCC SSL Certificate

A Sectigo Multi-Domain/UCC SSL Certificate is specifically designed for Microsoft Exchange and Communication servers. However, you can use this type of certificate to secure other servers as well with the same efficiency and effectiveness.

This DV certificate can cover up to 250 domains or IP addresses under a single certificate. SectigoStore.com is equipped with a state-of-the-art automated validation system that ensures you’ll receive your website certificate within minutes.

Let’s look at some of the other features of the Sectigo multi-domain/UCC SSL certificate:

When you purchase a Sectigo Multi-Domain/UCC SSL certificate from SectigoStore.com, you can enjoy a significant discount of 54% for a five-year bundle. This means you can secure up to 250 SANs for as little as $127.20 per year.

Vendor Price: $1,396 for 5 years

SectigoStore.com Price: $636 for 5 years

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2. PositiveSSL EV Multi-Domain

A Positive SSL EV Multi-Domain SSL/TLS certificate is an affordable option for enterprises that want to secure multiple domains and specified subdomains under one certificate. Using an EV certificate enables you to display your business’s verified information in both the browser and in the certificate details. Another huge benefit is that this certificate secures up to 250 domains and IP addresses at a very affordable price.

The features of a PositiveSSL EV multi-domain certificate are the following:

When you buy a PositiveSSL EV Multi-Domain certificate from SectigoStore.com, you can enjoy a discount of 34% on a five-year bundle. This means you can secure up to 250 SAN domains for prices starting at just $144.86 per year.

Vendor Price: $1,100 for 5 years

SectigoStore.com Price: $724.28 for 5 years

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3. Sectigo OV UCC SSL Certificate

If you like the Sectigo brand name but want higher validation than what the Sectigo Multi-Domain/UCC SSL Certificate offers, then here’s a certificate you should know about. A Sectigo OV UCC SSL certificate is a premium certificate capable of securing up to 250 SAN domains and IP addresses. As such, this certificate gives you freedom from repetitive certificate management tasks by only having to manage one certificate instead of many. It’s a cost-effective option that’s easy for legitimate businesses to obtain.

The following features will accompany your Sectigo OV UCC SSL certificate:

When you buy a Sectigo OV UCC SSL certificate from SectigoStore.com, you can enjoy a discount of 39% on a five-year bundle. This means you can secure up to 250 SAN domains for as little as $140.00 per year.

Vendor Price: $1,140 for 5 years

SectigoStore.com Price: $700 for 5 years

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Frequently Asked Questions on UCC SSL Certificate (FAQs)

What is a UCC/SAN SSL certificate?

A unified communication certificate / subject alternative name (UCC/SAN) SSL certificate is a super certificate. It’s powerful enough to secure multiple FQDNs and specified subdomains under a single certificate. As a result, you don’t have to manage many individual certificates for your websites.

A company that owns multiple SAN domains can use a single UCC SAN SSL certificate to make their certificate lifecycle management tasks a whole lot easier.

What is an SSL certificate warranty and what does it cover?

An SSL certificate warranty offers protection for your customers in the event that they face losses or damages as the result of an improperly issued certificate. Basically, the issuing CA’s warranty provider would then have to cover the damages that result up to the warranty amount. The individual warranty amount varies from one certificate to the next.

SectigoStore.com offers certificates with warranties ranging from $50,000 to $10 million.

Which are the most trusted CAs or Brands of UCC/multi-domain SSL certificates?

Some of the most trusted names in the SSL market are Sectigo and PositiveSSL.

What is a multi-domain wildcard certificate?

A multi-domain wildcard certificate covers multiple SAN domains and an unlimited number of subdomains under a single certificate.

This differs from a multi-domain certificate, which can cover multiple SAN domains under a single certificate. (You also can include specific subdomains as well among your total of 250 domains.) Typically, a vendor will specify a maximum number of domains that a single multi-domain certificate can cover.

A multi-domain wildcard certificate also differs from a wildcard certificate, which covers an unlimited number of subdomains on a single level in addition to your primary domain under one certificate. 

How can I renew my SSL certificate?

Renewal of the certificate is basically buying it all over again. The CA will do the same validation process for the renewal of the certificate. The remaining time of your current certificate can be carried over to your new certificate.

How can I check whether my UCC SSL certificate is installed properly?

You can use our SSL Checker tool to verify that your certificate is installed correctly and is working. It’s super easy — all you need to do is enter your URL or IP address into the field and select the reCAPTCHA box to check your certificate.

For instance, if the name of your website is www.mywebsite.com and you are checking if your SSL certificate is installed properly, your screen would look like this:

A screenshot of SSL Checker Tool from SectigoStore.com

How can I add a subject alternative name (SAN) domain to an SSL certificate?

There are basically two ways to add subject alternative name domains to your SAN certificate. One is when you buy a SAN certificate and the second is at a later stage. Let’s quickly explore these two methods:

How to Add a Subject Alternative Name Domain at the Time of Buying a SAN Certificate

While buying a SAN certificate, you can specify the number of subject names you want to be added in the certificate when you make your initial purchase. You can just add the additional subject names in the space provided.

For example, if you purchase Sectigo Multi-domain/UCC SSL Certificate, you can select the number of additional domains you will need at the time of purchase. The screenshot attached below shows where you can select the additional number of domains you wish to secure. You will be given a form where you can enter the additional domain names to be included in your certificate.

A screenshot of purchase order form where you can select the number of additional domains

How to Add a Subject Alternative Name Any Other Time During the Certificate’s Lifecycle

You can add additional subject names at the time of your certificate’s reissuance. Click on “Re-issue” under “Order Details.” Add the number of additional SANs you need on this page.

You can input the names of SANs in the field “Secure Additional Domains” again under “Order Details” page. You can see the number of total SANs and the number of used SANs in under the product details. You can add and remove SANs based on your organization’s needs.

The following screenshot of a UCC/SAN certificate issued to SectigoStore.com shows the additional subject alternative name domains secured by the same certificate.

A screenshot of a SAN certificate’s subject alternative name information.