Category: SSL Certificates

Posted on

What is an SSL certificate?

SSL stands for Secure Socket Layer. It’s the widget that makes a padlock appear in your browser bar and its standard security technology for encrypting information sent between the website and a visitor’s web browser.

SSL Certificate

SSL ensures the link between the server and browser is private and secure, thus safeguarding any sensitive information sent between the two such as login details and credit card information.

If I am a website owner, do I need one and why?

Firstly,  search engines are always looking to secure sensitive search data and make the web a safer place for their users, and Google is a driving force behind this notion.   Google have recently announced that they will be using SSL secured websites as a preferred ranking indicator. This means that sites which are SSL protected will receive an extra boost up the list in search engine results.

In addition, later this year, users of Google’s Chrome browser will begin to receive Google search results warning of any links to non-SSL enabled websites. This means that even if your website currently ranks well in Google, if your site is not SSL enabled your search result will have a “non-secure” warning next to it, implying to any potential visitors that the site is not secure.

How do I set this all up?

Setting up SSL with our hosting couldn’t be easier.

Just follow the on-screen instructions to add an SSL certificate to your hosting package and verify your domain name via an authorisation email and depending on the type of certificate you have bought you are done.

How much will this cost?

Prices start from just £14.99 per annum. Order yours today!

Find Out More

Questions?

To speak to one of our Sales Consultants about what our services can do for you, or for any other queries, please call 0800 808 5450

Posted on

Google now boosting the ranking of SSL Sites

Google have just announced it will boost the ranking of sites that use secure and encrypted connections. This is part of Google’s efforts to push “HTTPS everywhere” on the web.

https

What is HTTPS?

HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) is a communications protocol used on the Internet that has a layer of security added. It is a combination of the standard HTTP protocol, and a security protocol called SSL/TLS.

HTTPS is important because standard HTTP sends data over the Internet in plain text making it easy to intercept. The added security layer with HTTPS encrypts information traveling over the internet to prevent wire tapping, stolen credit card numbers, and other interceptions.

What is a SSL Certificate?

SSL is the acronym for Secure Sockets Layer and is the Internet standard security technology used to establish an encrypted (or safe) link between a web server (website) and your browser (i.e. Internet Explorer, Chrome, Firefox, etc…). This secured link ensures that the data/information that is passed from your web browser to the web server remain private; meaning safe from hackers or anyone trying to spy/steal that info.

SSL is the industry standard and is used by millions of websites to protect and secure any sensitive or private data that is sent through their website. One of the most common things SSL is used for is protecting a customer during an online transaction.

To establish a secured SSL connection on a web server it requires an SSL Certificate to be properly installed. When completing the process to activate SSL on your web server you will be asked to complete a number of questions to verify the identity of your domain and your company. Once properly completed, your web server will create 2 types of cryptographic keys – one is called a Private Key and the other is called the Public Key.

Are all SSL Certificates the Same?

The number of businesses that use SSL have increased tremendously over the past few years and the reasons for which SSL is used has also increased, for example:

Some businesses need SSL to simply provide confidentiality (i.e. encryption).Some businesses like to use SSL to add more trust or confidence in security and identity (they want you to know that they are a legitimate company and can prove it).

As the reasons companies use for SSL have become wider, three different types of SSL Certificates have been established:

  • Extended Validation (EV) SSL Certificates
  • Organization Validation (OV) SSL Certificates
  • Domain Validation (DV) SSL Certificates

Netcetera offers SSL Certificates from as little as £14.95/pa.

Netcetera

Questions? Let us help!

To speak to one of our Sales Consultants about what our services can do for you, or for any other queries, please fill out our Enquiry Form or call 0800 808 5450 or click our Live Chat