What is a SSL Certificate? Why do I need a SSL Certificate? How do I get a SSL Certificate?

What is a SSL Certificate?

Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) technology secures your Web site by encrypting information and providing authentication.

A SSL Certificate consists of a public key and a private key. The public key is used to encrypt information and the private key is used to decipher it. When a browser points to a secured domain, a secure sockets layer handshake authenticates the server and the client. It also establishes an encryption method and a unique session key, thus beginning a secure session that guarantees message privacy and message integrity.

Why do I need a SSL Certificate?

Without SSL encryption, packets of information travel across networks in full view. Imagine sending mail through the postal system in a clear envelope. Anyone with access to the network can see the data. If it looks valuable, they might take it or change it.

Without third-party verification, how do you know a Web site is an authentic representative of a business you trust? Every SSL Certificate is created for a particular server in a specific domain for a verified business entity. Like a passport or a driver’s license, an SSL Certificate is issued by a trusted authority. When the SSL handshake occurs, the browser requires authentication from the server. If the information does not match or the certificate has expired, the browser displays an error message.

How do I get a SSL Certificate?

VeriSign and GeoTrust are the two primary vendors Rush Order obtains SSL Certificates from. Although there are many other viable vendors, Rush Order sticks with these two for several reasons.

VeriSign is the leading secure sockets layer (SSL) Certificate Authority enabling secure e-commerce and communications for Web sites, intranets, and extranets. Being the leader, they are also the most visible and trusted source for certificates on the internet. However, many users are content with just knowing that the site is secured. GeoTrust is the world's second largest digital certificate provider, and a leader in a wide variety of Identity and Trust services. Both provide 128 bit SSL Certificates compatible with nearly all browsers on the market.

While both Verisign and GeoTrust provide high level of encryption, there are some other factors to consider. Primarily, you should consider your target user and/or customer.

If your target user is the average end user, GeoTrust is the most cost effective and quickest way to obtain a SSL Certificate. If your target user is another Business or the Government, Verisign is highly regarded as the best provider of SSL Certificates. However, Verisign SSL Certificates take longer to obtain and may require cooperation amongst several departments within your organization in order to complete the SSL Certificate request. Some of these items may include phone records, a notarized copy of your business license, setup of a new email inbox, etc.

Ideally, your e-commerce solution should be hosted on multiple servers. Rush Order’s ecommerce systems support up to 6 servers for load-balancing and redundancy. This means that a certificate must be purchased for each server used. We ask our clients to purchase a minimum of two servers. In the event of a server failure, or if site maintenance is being performed, your site will still be available.

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For additional information or assistance regarding SSL certificates, please contact us at 1-800-522-5939, or 408-848-3525, or info@rushorder.com.