What is an SSL certificate for an organization? There are many digital certificates. Each of them is necessary for its purpose. So, SSL is their most common type. Why are they needed?
Destination
If you need to raise a secure connection for the site, you will need an SSL certificate for the organization. Most often they are used on those sites where there is a function to order something. The user enters personal information on them. In order to prevent it being intercepted at the time of transfer from the browser to the server, the HTTPS protocol is used, which encrypts the transmitted data. Enabling the ability to work with this protocol is what the SSL certificate is for.
Description
The abbreviation stands for Secure Socket Layer. The certificate is a standard network security technology used to provide encryption of the connection between the site (web server) and the user's browser. An SSL certificate for the organization allows the use of an encrypted protocol. This is such a secure connection, which guarantees that all transmitted data will remain private. They will be protected from intruders who want to steal information. One of the most common examples for using SSL is protection during online money transfers.
Self-signed type
The easiest way, which is also free, is to use a self-signed certificate that is generated on the web server. This feature is available in all popular hosting control panels. An SSL certificate for a self-signed type organization is good because you do not have to pay for it. But the bad thing is that all browsers will respond to it with an error about an unverified site.
For public services, this type is contraindicated.
The principle of operation and receipt
Installation of the SSL certificate begins with the fact that it is necessary to form a request for its issuance. During the formation, questions will be asked in order to clarify details about the company and the domain. Upon completion, the web server will create two cryptographic keys - private and public.
After generating the request, you can proceed to the application, which allows you to get an SSL certificate for the organization. The Certification Authority (CA) will check all entered data, if everything goes well, issues a certificate with data and gives you the opportunity to use a secure connection. The server automatically matches the document with the private key.
What does the certificate contain?
Why do we need an SSL certificate - figured it out. What data is in it? It contains the following information:
- The unique name of the owner of the document.
- Public cryptographic key.
- Date of issue and end of certificate.
- The unique name of the certification center.
- Digital signature.
What is a certification authority?
This is an organization that has the right to issue digital certificates. It checks the data contained in the request before issuing it. In the simplest documents, only domain conformance is subject to verification, and in expensive ones, a lot of checks of the organization requesting the certificate.
The difference between self-signed and paid certificates is in this verification itself, thanks to which site visitors will not receive suspicious document messages from the browser.
After the request, the certificate passes the verification procedure for all parameters, if one of them does not match, a message pops up about not using a secure connection. And this is the last thing a client should see.
There are a large number of certification centers, but the largest is Symantec.
Types of Certificates
Since there is more than one type of such a document, the question for owners of organizations arises: how to choose an SSL certificate?
Between themselves, they differ in the level of validation and properties.
According to the first parameter there are:
- Certificates confirming only a domain name.
- Certificates confirming the domain, as well as the organization.
- Certificates with advanced verification.
According to the properties there are:
- Conventional, released automatically. They are suitable for all sites and cost no more than $ 20 per year.
- Certificates with a high level of encryption, relevant for older versions of browsers. Most often not needed, but corporations with older hardware may come in handy. They cost from 300 dollars a year.
- Certificates for encrypting subdomains. Cost - from 180 dollars. It is advantageous to use when the number of subdomains is more than 9.
- SAN certificates used for multiple domain names located on the same server. They cost from 400 dollars.
- EV certificates with advanced verification. They can be used only by a legal entity, as well as commercial, non-profit or government organizations.
- Certificates supporting IDN.
Thus, for a particular type of organization, you need to select your SSL certificate. Is he needed? Undoubtedly, after all, no one wants personal information from clients to get to attackers.