A Secure Socket Layer commonly referred to as SSL certificate is a digital certificate that represents the secure website issued by the Certificate Authorities (CA) that validates the website’s identity and provides a secured encrypted connection between a web browser and the web server. It helps to maintain a secure internet connection and prevent cyber attackers from eavesdropping or tampering with the communication channel.
The web server sends the SSL certificate copy to a web browser, then validates the SSL certificate and initiates a secure SSL-encrypted communication tunnel. After the SSL certificate is verified, a secured HTTPS connection will be established between the web browser and server.
Types of SSL certificate
Users can view the SSL certificate details by clicking the padlock icon in the URL bar and then clicking on the ‘Certificate.’ The SSL certificates are classified into three types:
Single Domain SSL Certificate
The single-domain SSL certificate is a certificate that applies only to one domain. It does not secure its subdomains; for example, if Infosectrain.com has a single domain certificate, then the blog.infosectrain.com page will not be secured and encrypted.
Wildcard SSL Certificate
The Wildcard SSL certificate is a certificate that applies to one domain and all its subdomains. For example, if infosectrain.com is the main domain, then blog.infosectrain.com, support.infosectrain.com, and community.infosectrain.com are the subdomains of infosectrain.com and will be secured. All the domains are listed in the SSL certificate.
Multi-Domain SSL Certificate
The Multi-domain SSL certificate is the certificate that applies to multiple domains, including subdomains. It is best suitable for an organization with multiple domains and looking for a way to secure. Multi-domain SSL certificate is also referred to as Subject Alternative Names (SAN) SSL certificate.
The Certificate Authority (CA) validates the organization and its domains before issuing the SSL certificate. The SSL certificate validation has different validation levels as follows:
Organization Validation SSL Certificates
The Organization Validation SSL certificate is a manual validation process in which the CA contacts the organization requesting an SSL certificate and performs background verification. When the organization proves it is a legally registered business, the CA will issue an Organization Validation SSL certificate.
Domain Validation SSL Certificates
The Domain Validation SSL certificate is an automated process in which the CA will issue the SSL certificate for the organization that has control over the domain. The CA validates the DNS records associated with the organization’s domain and sends the SSL certificate through an email. This certificate is best suitable for small businesses looking to launch quickly with secured HTTPS.
Extended Validation SSL Certificates
The Extended Validation SSL certificate is a high-level certification that validates the complete background of the organization and is legally registered by meeting all the norms. It turns the website URL address bar to a green color representing the security encryption of the site. This certification is best suitable for large businesses, eCommerce, and financial institutions that maintain sensitive data, such as credit card information, name, passwords, etc.
Check out our blogs for more information on digital security, cybersecurity, and information security. InfosecTrain is a well-known online certification training provider for cybersecurity, information security, and cloud domains. If you aspire to become an information security professional, check out our courses and enroll in the best suitable course to enhance your career.
