What are SSL certificates and why do they matter?

Secure Sockets Layer, or SSL for short, refers to cryptographic protocols designed to safeguard communications between different devices in the same network. It is one of the tools in the cybersecurity toolbox.

While browsing websites, such as viewing items on an online shopping website, we are not only accessing information but also exposing ourselves to the internet. SSL steps in to safeguard the transmission of sensitive data, such as individual bank information used to purchase items from an online website.

The HTTPS we often see at the beginning of a URL indicates the website implements SSL, whereas HTTP means that SSL is not in use.

💡 What is a network protocol?

A network protocol is essentially a set of predetermined rules which determines the transmission of data between devices in a network. Network protocols are an important part of digital communications as they allow us to interact with people around the world easily and safely.

SSL is able to secure communications between two systems by encrypting the transferred data. Should someone intercept the data, the information would then appear as a block of unreadable characters. SSL encryption is done through asymmetric cryptography with asymmetric key encryption algorithms, such as EIGamal, RSA, DSA, Elliptic curve techniques and PKCS.

When initiating communication, SSL first verifies the communicating devices to make sure they are who they claim to be with an authentication process called a handshake. During the data transfer, SSL also ensures data integrity, confirming that the data has not been tempered, by digitally signing data.

Initially developed in 1995, SSL was once the most widely used protocol. There were three different versions of SSL: SSL 1.0, SSL 2.0, and SSL 3.0. The updates were meant to fix particular vulnerabilities in each version. However, while SSL 1.0 was never released to the public, SSL 2.0 and 3.0 were eventually deprecated in 2011 and 2015 respectively. No new updates of SSL have been released since.

TLS, Transport Layer Security, was originally defined in 1999 as an update to SSL 3.0. It eventually became the successor to SSL, although TLS 1.0 was not drastically different from SSL 3.0. The current protocol in use is TLS 1.3, which was defined in 2018.

Although TLS and SSL are not the same things, we often use these two terms interchangeably or simply say SSL/TLS.

SSL/TLS is implemented using a web certificate which authenticates a website's identity. Naturally, this is chiefly referred to as an **SSL certificate. **

An SSL certificate is a digital document, or an ID card or badge, that indicates your website is authentic and enables encrypted connections between devices. SSL certificates are issued by trusted Certificate Authorities (CAs). CAs are trusted organizations that verify the identity and legitimacy of an entity that requests a certificate.

While TLS 1.3 is most commonly used as of now, the certificate for website security is still called an SSL certificate. This term is also still used by most vendors that provide security solutions.

Why does your website need SSL certificates?

Privacy protection 🛡

The essential function of SSL/TLS is to prevent transferred information and data from being exposed and/or intercepted. For example, online clothing stores commonly offer various online payment options, while browsers are able to save banking information, for the customer's convenience. However, these options increase the site's vulnerability to sensitive data, such as customer banking details, being stolen through hacking attempts and cybercrime.

SSL ensures the security of website traffic with encryption algorithms, improving website privacy and reducing the chance of cyber attacks. This ensures that cybercriminals cannot get hold of customers' bank or credit card details to exploit them for their financial gain. Hence, SSL encryption is able to prevent data theft and security breaches, safeguarding user privacy.

Earn user trust 🤝

Users of a website can easily tell if it is protected by SSL/TLS. As previously mentioned, this is indicated in the very beginning of the URL. Browsers such as Google Chrome, even display warnings and prevent users from accessing websites that do not have an SSL certificate. A 'Not secure' warning can certainly scare your users away, which is something you certainly don't want to happen. By earning user trust, they will be more likely to visit your website and increase user traffic.

Improve search engine rankings ⬆️

Search engines like Google, take SSL certificates into consideration. They encourage websites to obtain one and reward them by increasing their visibility. Google has explicitly stated that they use HTTPS as a signal to rank websites higher in search engine searches. Improving website ranking on search engines means more traffic and visitors, boosting your site and increasing business opportunities.

For different purposes, there are different kinds of SSL certificates:

• Single-domain: As its name suggests, a single-domain SSL certificate only applies to one domain.

• Wildcard: Wildcard SSL certificate applies to a domain and all its subdomains. For instance, www.example1.com, blog.example1.com, and supports.example.com can all share one wildcard SSL certificate.

• Multi-domain: As its name suggests, multi-domain SSL certificates apply to multiple domains. You can also categorize SSL certificates by their levels.

• Domain validation: The simplest type of SSL certificate which only requires you to prove that you own the domain.

• Organization validation: The CA will not only make sure you own the domain but also investigate your organization to confirm that it is a legitimate business. This type of SSL certificate is for organizations and businesses only.

• Extended validation: a full background check will be conducted by the CA before an extended validation SSL certificate can be issued.

You can get an SSL certificate directly from a CA. Depending on the types of SSL certificates you wish to obtain, you might need to pay a fee, which can go from zero to hundreds of dollars. Hence, the first thing you need to do is to decide what type of SSL certificate you require. Consider the level of security you need as well as the number of domains and subdomains you want to cover.

After you've decided on one SSL certificate, you can start preparing for SSL certificate applications by following the steps below:

1. Set up your server and update your WHOIS record (which contains information about a registered host, their contacts, and other metadata about the registration) to ensure it reflects the correct company information that you're submitting to the Certificate Authority.

2. Generate a Certificate Signing Request (CSR) on your server, which your hosting company can help with. Next, submit the CSR to the Certificate Authority to confirm your domain and company details.

3. Finally, install the SSL certificate provided by the Certificate Authority once the validation process is complete.

Among other security solutions, Hi Cloud can easily help you get the SSL certificates you need to safeguard your sites. Contact our cloud security experts and set one up today.