29 March, 2024 by Louisa F.

What Is SSL and Why Is It Important?

SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer. It is a standard security protocol designed to secure data transferred between two systems. This includes the connection between a browser and a website or between two servers.

When a user connects to a website, SSL helps confirm the website’s identity and creates an encrypted connection to protect the data being transmitted. Without SSL, data travels in plain text, which can be easily intercepted. SSL changes this by converting HTTP to HTTPS and making the communication channel secure.

Table of Contents

Why Do Websites Use SSL?

SSL serves two main purposes: it encrypts the connection and verifies the identity of the website. This protects sensitive information such as login credentials, credit card details, personal data, and other confidential records.

SSL helps achieve three main goals:

Privacy
Authentication
Data Integrity

Most modern browsers support SSL and display a warning when users attempt to access websites without it. SSL is also used to secure protocols such as FTP, IMAP, and SMTP.

When SSL is active, the browser shows HTTPS in the URL and a padlock icon, indicating that a secure connection is established.

Why Do You Need an SSL Certificate?

As a website owner, you need an SSL certificate to establish a secure link between your website and users. It helps protect sensitive data from unauthorized access.

Without SSL, attackers can try to intercept personal and financial data. SSL helps secure login sessions, online payments, and private information. In addition, Google may show a security warning for websites without SSL, which can lead to lower user trust and reduced search rankings. SSL is now a ranking factor in search engine results.

Where Is SSL Used?

SSL is a cryptographic protocol that is commonly used in several cases, such as:

Securing communication between browsers and web servers
Protecting email traffic and internal networks
Encrypting online credit card transactions
Securing login forms and sensitive data

SSL encrypts the information exchanged between the user and the website, making online interactions safer.

How Does SSL Work?

SSL uses encryption, authentication, and certificate validation to create a secure connection. The process usually follows these steps:

A browser or server tries to connect to a website with SSL.
The website responds by sending its SSL certificate.
The browser or server checks the certificate’s validity.
If approved, the browser or server sends confirmation to the web server.
An encrypted connection is established, and data is securely shared.

This process is known as the SSL handshake. Once it is complete, users can see HTTPS and the padlock icon in the address bar.

How to Use SSL

To use SSL, you need access to a server such as a Linux VPS or Windows VPS. If you do not already have one, you need to purchase a VPS first. Then, follow these steps:

Buy an SSL certificate from a trusted Certificate Authority.
Install the certificate on your server.
Test the connection to make sure HTTPS is working.

How to Check Which SSL or TLS Protocol a Website Uses

You can check the version of SSL or TLS that a website uses with the steps below:

Open a web browser such as Chrome, Firefox, or Edge.
Visit the website you want to inspect.
Press F12 to open Developer Tools.
Go to the Security tab.
Under Connections, you will see the SSL or TLS version (for example, TLS 1.2).

How to Check a Website’s SSL Certificate

To review the SSL certificate of a website:

Make sure the website address starts with https://
Look for the padlock icon in the address bar.
Click the padlock to view details such as:
- Certificate issuer
- Expiration date
- Encryption method

You can also use external tools such as SSL Checker to analyze the certificate.

How to Get a Free SSL Certificate

If you want to get an SSL certificate for free, the following services offer trusted options:

Let’s Encrypt

Let’s Encrypt provides free, automated SSL certificates. It is supported by major companies like Google, Amazon, Facebook, and Cisco.

You can use the installation tutorial to install Let’s Encrypt SSL on CentOS 8.

Cloudflare

Cloudflare offers free SSL and TLS support across multiple domains with built-in performance and security features.

SSL For Free

SSL For Free issues certificates using the Let’s Encrypt server. It is simple and fast to use.

ZeroSSL

ZeroSSL provides a 90-day SSL certificate free of charge. After verification, you can renew it every three months.

Popular SSL Certificate Providers

Several companies provide SSL certificates with different levels of service and support. Here are some widely used providers:

Certum: A leading Polish certificate authority serving over 50 countries.
Comodo: Offers affordable SSL certificates for small and large websites.
Entrust: An American provider known for reliable digital security services.
GlobalSign: A trusted provider for businesses and organizations using PKI infrastructure.
GoDaddy: A major hosting provider that offers SSL certificates with competitive pricing.

Types of SSL Certificates

SSL certificates are available in different types based on validation and usage.

Extended Validation (EV) SSL Certificate

This certificate provides the highest level of verification. It shows the organization name, country, HTTPS, and padlock in the browser address bar.

Organization Validated (OV) SSL Certificate

OV certificates verify the business name and help protect sensitive transaction data. Users can view the organization name when clicking the padlock icon.

Domain Validated (DV) SSL Certificate

DV certificates only validate the domain ownership. They provide basic encryption for general use.

Wildcard (WV) SSL Certificate

Wildcard certificates secure a main domain and all its subdomains. This option is cost-effective for large websites.

Multi-Domain (MD) SSL Certificate

Multi-domain certificates protect up to 100 domains and subdomains. They support the SAN (Subject Alternative Name) feature for flexibility.

Unified Communications (UCC) Certificate

Originally designed for Microsoft Exchange, UCC certificates are now used to secure multiple domains for any type of website.

FAQ

Which type of SSL is best?

While all SSL certificates provide the same level of encryption, you need to choose the type of SSL according to the specific needs of your website, validation level, and cost:

Personal bloggers, freelancers, and small websites must choose the Single Domain SSL Certificates (DV SSL).
websites with multiple subdomains must choose Wildcard SSL Certificates
Businesses with multiple distinct domains must choose Multi-Domain SSL Certificates (MDC).
Large organizations, e-commerce sites, and financial institutions must choose Extended Validation Certificates (EV SSL).

Is SSL the same as HTTPS?

No. They are not the same but they both encrypt the data transmitted between a client and a server.

SSL is a cryptographic protocol and a component of HTTPS that is responsible for data encryption.
HTTPS is the secure version of HTTP that uses SSL/TLS to encrypt and protect data transmission. HTTPS sites are recognized as secure by all major browsers and display a padlock icon in the browser’s address bar. A website with an HTTPS web address indicates that it is using SSL/TLS to encrypt data.

Difference between SSL and TLS?

SSL certificates use symmetric encryption to create a secure link between two systems. TLS protocol uses an asymmetric encryption method that makes it difficult to access information for hackers.

The TLS process is more time-consuming than SSL. So, the TLS protocol encryption algorithm is more powerful than the SSL security protocol.

The ports used in SSL and TLS protocols are different.

The main difference between these certifications is that TLS is more secure and efficient when creating public key and authentication messages.

TLS and SSL have the same function, have a glance at the SSL vs TLS table to know more:

Protocol	SSL	TLS
Definition	Secure Socket Layer	Transport Layer Security
Usage	Providing security between web servers and web browsers by encrypting data.	providing security between web servers and web browsers by encrypting data.
Security Algorithm	Message Digest	Pseudo-random function
Authentication	Basic security services	Stronger authentication mechanisms.
Supporting Fortezza algorithm	Yes.	No.
Complexity	High.	Normal.
Reliability	Uncertain.	High.
Latency	Acceptable.	Weak.
Setup	Requires Ports.	Requires Protocols.

Is SSL the same as TLS?

SSL and TLS are related. TLS is the superior choice for securing communication over the Internet.

They both are cryptographic protocols that use a handshake process to initiate an encrypted connection to encrypt data and authenticate connections. SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer and is often referred to as SSL Secure Sockets Layer.

The more recent and safe variant of SSL is called TLS. Although it is still often used, the older word “SSL” refers to the protocol’s obsolete versions.

Why TLS is better than SSL?

Let’s check why TLS is more recommended than SSL:

TLS is more secure than SSL. The most recent version, TLS 1.3, is thought to be secure and has strong security measures.
TLS provides more cipher suite options and a faster handshake process.
TLS is better in encryption, compression, and latency.
TLS is the preferred choice for working with important data and encrypting data during communication.

Do you need both SSL and TLS?

A digital TLS/SSL certificate is needed by the majority of websites that transact business over the Internet to encrypt and safeguard sensitive information while it is being transmitted.

You can be confident that your data is being transmitted securely, whether you use TLS or SSL!

TLS is taking the place of SSL due to its enhanced security features.

Is SSL for domain or website?

To improve safety and safeguard user information, The objective remains the same whether SSL is used for a website or a domain.

Web servers are equipped with SSL certificates to facilitate secure connections. A user’s browser looks for a valid SSL certificate when they visit a website.

If detected, the connection is encrypted to protect the privacy of the data while it is being transmitted.

Is free SSL good?

Yes. When using a free SSL certificate, the padlock symbol can be found in all popular browsers.

A safe connection between the browser and the website is ensured by free SSL certificates, which offer the same level of encryption as premium certificates.

You can use free SSL certificates on blogs, personal websites, and small information sites. (If safety is important but not critical)

You need to consider that if you are using a free certificate, you cannot benefit from features such as warranties, technical support, and long validity periods.

Should I Enable SSL?

Yes. By enabling SSL, you can increase user privacy and guard against ISPs and core network operators altering your website while it’s being accessed.

As a cryptographic protocol, SSL helps in securing data transmission over the Internet.

A public key and a private key are required to enable an SSL certificate on your web server. These keys enable your server to encrypt and decrypt data in addition to verifying its authenticity.

What happens if I turn off SSL?

You will have no security.

A man-in-the-middle attack is one in which an attacker can snoop on and tamper with all of your traffic by creating a self-signed certificate with the same domain name and posing as the server in question.

SSL is necessary to protect online communications and uphold user confidence.

Conclusion

Using an SSL certificate is one of the most reliable ways to ensure secure communication between a website and its users. By encrypting the data with strong algorithms, SSL protects sensitive information from unauthorized access.

In today’s digital environment, enabling SSL is essential not only for privacy but also for search engine visibility, user trust, and compliance. For better protection, secure passwords should also be used along with SSL certificates.