Sectigo Wildcard SSL Certificates

Encrypting unlimited subdomains with a single Wildcard Certificate

Most people never give much thought to URL structure, but it’s important to understand the basics to learn how a Wildcard SSL works. This is a URL:

• Domain – This is the website’s hostname. If you can identify the domain, you’ll know what website you’re on.
• Top-Level Domain – The portion at the root of the URL indicates either the country of origin or a generic top-level domain (.com, .org, .edu)
• Page – This is the path of the specific page you’re on.
• Subdomain – The subdomain is in front of the domain and can host its own apps or services. For example, www.domain.com and blog.domain.com are separate sub-domains.

What are subdomains used for?

There’s no limit to how you can use subdomains for mail servers, FTP servers, members areas, and more. Each subdomain often functions as an independent website, and because of this, it used to be challenging to secure each subdomain. While regular SSL certificates encrypt the primary domain, only a Wildcard certificate can encrypt everything under a single certificate.

How does a Wildcard SSL Certificate work?

Ordering and installing a Wildcard SSL certificate isn't all that different from any other certificate. The key distinction is that when you create the Certificate Signing Request, you place an asterisk at the subdomain level.

*.SectigoStore.com

This will signify that you want to encrypt any sub-domains that reside on this level of your URL.

Wildcards are Futureproof

Perhaps the best part of the Wildcard certificate – outside of its ability to encrypt your subdomains on the same certificate as your hostname – is that it grows with your organization. If you ever add a subdomain, simply tweak your server configuration to include encryption without purchasing a new certificate. Wildcard SSL certificates are scalable to your needs, providing both flexibility and convenience for evolving needs.

A Wildcard SSL Changes Everything

Ask anyone that has ever had to manage more than a handful of certificates and they'll tell you what a pain it is. But it doesn't need to be. Wildcard SSL certificates help you consolidate certificates, easy administrative burdens and they save you money. And who doesn’t like saving money?