Secure your website with an SSL certificate to encrypt data in transit and verify your identity

An SSL Certificate is a digital security file installed on a website’s origin server. It acts as a “digital ID” for the site, verifying its identity and facilitating a secure, encrypted connection between the server and the visitor’s web browser.

An SSL Certificate keeps your website safe by encrypting data sent between the user’s browser and your server. It verifies your website’s identity, stops hackers from stealing sensitive information—such as passwords or credit card numbers—and prevents browsers from labeling your site as “not secure.”

Yes, an SSL Certificate is absolutely necessary for any modern website. If you don’t have one, major browsers will block your site or mark it as “Not secure,” which instantly ruins user trust and scares off visitors.

Security is the main difference between HTTP and HTTPS. HTTPS encrypts data transmissions using cryptographic protocols, whereas HTTP sends data in plain text without encryption.

There are two main characteristics used to classify SSL certificates: the level of validation (how the Certificate Authority verifies identity) and the number of domains covered (the certificate structure).

1. Domain Validation (DV): Verifies domain control. Offers basic encryption. Issued rapidly to anyone.
2. Organization Validation (OV): Confirms domain ownership and business identity. Requires legal documentation. Shows verified business details in the certificate information.
3. Extended Validation (EV): The highest level of security. It requires comprehensive legal and background checks. Recommended for e-commerce and login portals.

A single-domain DV SSL Certificate is a basic digital security certificate that encrypts traffic and authenticates just one domain name (e.g., yourwebsite.com). “DV” stands for Domain Validation, meaning the certificate authority only verifies that the applicant controls the domain.

A multi-domain certificate—frequently called a SAN (Subject Alternative Name) or UCC (Unified Communications Certificate)—is a digital certificate that secures multiple different domain names and subdomains with one installation. Rather than buying and managing dozens of individual certificates, you group all web addresses into one master certificate.

An Extended Validation (EV) SSL certificate is the digital certificate offering the highest level of trust. It confirms the legal, physical, and operational identity of the website operator. While all SSL certificates provide the same level of data encryption, EV certificates require a rigorous verification process to prevent phishing and online fraud.

To receive an EV certificate, the issuing Certificate Authority (CA) must thoroughly verify the applying organization:

• Legal Standing: The company must be legally registered and active. 
• Physical address: Confirming the organization’s physical location.
• Operational presence: Evidence that the company is actively operating at the specified address.
• Identity and authority: The Certification Authority (CA) verifies the applicant’s employment status and authorization to apply for the certificate.

EV certificates are mainly used by organizations needing maximum consumer trust. Typical users include:

• Global banks and financial institutions. 
• E-commerce websites and payment gateways.
• Companies on the Fortune 500 list.
• Companies that are primary targets of phishing campaigns.

Why EV SSL Is Important

• Trust and credibility: Users immediately know that a trusted third party has thoroughly vetted the site owner. 
• Company Details: Website visitors can click the security padlock icon in their browser to view verified corporate information.
• Phishing protection: safeguarding brands from impostors, as scammers cannot bypass the rigorous EV validation process.

You probably don’t need an Extended Validation (EV) SSL certificate, because standard Domain Validation (DV) certificates provide the exact same level of data encryption. Nevertheless, an EV certificate is required if you want to reliably prove your organization’s legal identity to users, adhere to strict corporate regulations, or protect high-profile brands from phishing.

Consider getting an EV certificate if your website meets any of these criteria:

• High-value financial services: banks, brokerage firms, and payment gateways needing absolute customer trust.
• High-profile brand targets: sites, such as major e-commerce platforms, that are frequently targeted by spoofing campaigns.
• Regulatory compliance: Sector-specific mandates requiring comprehensive background checks and a verified operational existence.
• Software distribution: Organizations needing code signing certificates to validate the software publisher’s identity.

The main differences between Domain Validation (DV) and Extended Validation (EV) are the level of identity verification, issuance time, and cost. Both provide the exact same level of data encryption.

Process:

• Domain Validation (DV): confirms only that the applicant has control over the domain. The Certificate Authority (CA) verifies this using automated email or DNS records.
• Extended Validation (EV): Demands a rigorous, multi-stage verification process. The Certificate Authority (CA) validates the organization’s legal existence, physical address, and operational status using official public records.

Clients will know your site is protected by an Extended Validation (EV) SSL certificate primarily by seeing the verified company name directly in the browser’s address bar. Although modern browsers have simplified some visual indicators, EV certificates are distinguished from standard certificates by specific and rigorous indicators.

Managed SSL certificates are digital security certificates that have their full lifecycle—issuance, installation, and renewal—automatically managed by WebHostpedia. This eliminates manual configuration, which reduces the risk of website outages and browser security warnings caused by expired certificates.

Features:

• Automated renewals: The system automatically renews the certificate before expiration. 
• Zero-Touch Installation: WebHostpedia handles certificate installation and configuration, requiring no user input.
• Continuous surveillance: The service monitors certificate validity 24 hours a day.
• Domain validation: Ownership verification occurs automatically in the background.

Benefits:

• Avoid interruptions: Eliminate the risk of overlooking expiration dates, which can cause a website to go down. 
• Save time: Administrators do not have to manually generate, upload, or link keys.
• It preserves SEO positioning: search engines such as Google give priority to secure sites and penalize those lacking proper HTTPS implementation.
• Secure your data: provides end-to-end encryption for visitors without needing technical knowledge.

Managed SSL services primarily offer Domain Validated (DV) SSL certificates. This type of standard validation is fully automated, allowing WebHostpedia to continuously issue, install, and renew the certificate without requiring you to submit any organizational documentation.

Depending on your specific managed services plan, your DV certificate is available in various configurations:

• Single Site: Secures one specific domain (e.g., SecuredSite.com).
• Multi-domain / SAN: Secures one main domain and multiple additional unique domains.

After we install the SSL certificate on your website and verify it’s working, we’ll email you to confirm everything is set up. No action is required on your part.

It can take from a few minutes to several days to set up an SSL certificate, depending strictly on the type of certificate and the validation process.

Processing time by certificate type:

• Domain Validation (DV): 10 minutes to a few hours. This is the most common type of certificate. The Certificate Authority (CA) automatically verifies domain ownership, generally via a quick email or DNS verification.
• Organization Validation (OV): 1 to 3 days. The Certificate Authority (CA) manually verifies your company’s legal name, address, and registration status.
• Extended Validation (EV): 2 to 5 days. This requires a thorough and rigorous verification process of official documents and the operational status of your business.

Selecting WebHostpedia SSL certificates ensures your website has robust encryption, improved Google search rankings, and verified authenticity. These certificates create the secure HTTPS connection necessary to protect sensitive user data and stop modern browsers from flagging your site as “not secure.”

Benefits of WebHostpedia SSL Certificates:

• Data Encryption: Secures data transmitted between users and your server.
• Improved SEO: Search engines favor HTTPS sites, leading to better rankings.
• Visitor Trust: Removes browser warnings and adds secure padlock icons.
• Phishing Prevention: Authenticates your website’s true identity to users.
• PCI Compliance: Meets standard security requirements for processing online payments