SSL Certificates
What is SSL Certificate?
An SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate is a digital certificate that authenticates the identity of a website and enables an encrypted connection. It is the core technology behind securing data transmitted between a user’s browser and a website.
The basic functions of SSL certificate (Secure Sockets Layer certificate) are:
Authenticates a website’s identity – proves the site is owned by who it claims to be.
Encrypts the connection between a visitor’s browser and the website’s server so data is secure.
What are the Benefits of Having an SSL Certificate?
Installing an SSL certificate on your site grants you these premium benefits!
Data Encryption
SSL encrypts all data exchanged between your website and its visitors, ensuring that sensitive information like passwords, credit card numbers, and personal details can’t be intercepted by hackers.
Builds User Trust
Visitors see the padlock icon and “https://” in the browser, which signals that your site is safe. This boosts customer confidence and makes them more likely to interact or purchase.
Improves Search Engine Ranking
Google and other search engines give preference to HTTPS-enabled websites, so having an SSL certificate can give you a small but important SEO boost.
Meets Compliance Requirements
Certain regulations like PCI DSS (for online payments) require SSL to secure transactions. Without it, your site might fail compliance checks
Enables Secure Online Payments
For e-commerce websites, SSL is essential for encrypting payment data and protecting customers during checkout. Without it, most payment gateways won’t integrate with your site.
Prevents Browser Warnings
Modern browsers like Chrome and Firefox show “Not Secure” warnings on sites without SSL, which can scare visitors away. Installing SSL removes these warnings.
How SSL Certificates Work
Handshake & Verification
When a user visits your site via
https://, their browser asks the server to start a secure session.The server sends back its SSL certificate, which contains the domain name, the owner’s identity (for EV/OV certificates), and a public key.
The browser checks if:
The certificate was issued by a trusted Certificate Authority (CA)
The certificate is still valid (not expired or revoked)
The domain name matches the certificate
If all checks pass, the browser proceeds. If not, users get a “Not Secure” warning.
Key Exchange
After trust is established, the browser and server perform a cryptographic handshake to agree on a session key.
This is done using public key encryption — the public key from the certificate encrypts the session key, which only the server’s private key can decrypt.
This shared session key will be used for the rest of the communication, making it fast and secure.
Secure Data Transfer
Once the session key is set, all data (like login credentials, payment info, forms) is encrypted before being sent over the internet.
Encrypted data looks like random gibberish to anyone who intercepts it.
The browser and server decrypt it instantly using the session key.
This ensures confidentiality (no one can read the data) and integrity (data can’t be altered without detection).
HTTP vs HTTPS- What is the difference?
Now that you have a basic understanding of SSL, you may be wondering how HTTP differs from HTTPS, which is the protocol that appears before a website’s URL.
Hypertext Transfer Protocol is abbreviated as HTTP, and HTTPS stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure.
When the domain’s web server has a current and valid SSL certificate installed, HTTPS is used. Compared to HTTP, HTTPS offers users faster speeds and connections. This is because websites that support HTTPS are provided directly to the user and have already been licensed as securely locked.
Here are other difference between HTTP and HTPPS
- HTTP sends information in plain text, which can be analysed and understood by anyone who knows the syntax and instructions of the HTTP protocol. Customers filling out forms run a very high risk of providing sensitive information, such as payment details or passwords. Hackers are constantly trying to find such data as well as any other information that a server provides to browsers.
- Because HTTPS displays a lengthy string of unintelligible encrypted characters, it provides protection: Without any spaces or returns, the characters used in HTTPS requests and answers are a mix of capital and lowercase letters as well as symbols.
- HTTPS relies significantly on authentication: In order for browsers to identify a user, computer, or website, they need to verify their identity. Simple trust is the only foundation of HTTP.
- Because Google mandates that website owners give their visitors a safe online experience, HTTPS is regarded as a ranking factor with Google.
- A certain amount of trust is offered by HTTPS to those wishing to make a purchase.
A browser without SSL certificate shows the following screen
Frequently Asked Questions
An SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate is a digital certificate that authenticates the identity of a website and enables an encrypted connection. It is the core technology behind securing data transmitted between a user's browser and a website.
The basic functions of SSL certificate (Secure Sockets Layer certificate) are to Authenticate a website’s identity and to Encrypt the connection between a visitor’s browser and the website’s server.
If you are using a merchant account to process credit card payments online, you will require an SSL certificate. Even the authorities, such as networks and credit card associations, need that you have an SSL certificate. This is due to the transmission of important data, such as the card number, CVV code, expiration date, and name of the card holder. Making your website PCI compliant—a set of guidelines that must be adhered to in order to accept credit card payments—requires implementing an SSL certificate. Additionally, a knowledgeable consumer is aware of website security and verifies that your shopping basket is safe before making any purchases from your website. You can lose out on potential clients if you have not secured your website with an SSL certificate.
Yes we will. When you purchase a domain from us, we will install SSL certificate on your website for free!
SSL certificates are based on hosts. Therefore, only one website will be able to use a single SSL certificate.
HTTPS is important because It protects customer and communication information. Businesses that use HTTPS can also be verified, since HTTPS works to legitimize any site.