When it comes to websites, only a secure one can attract visitors and turn them into customers and loyal readers. To attract an audience, your website needs to look credible, professional, and secure. A website labeled by a browser as “not secure” is surely untrustworthy. How can you protect the prospects, users, and customers as they scroll your website? SSL certificates are just the perfect layer of protection you need. Let’s get to know how you can get your SSL certificate.
The SSL certificate, known as TLS commonly is a protocol used for the verification of server identity and encryption of internet traffic. Here’s how you can get your SSL certificate like the cheap wildcard ssl.
1. Collect Appropriate Website Information
The CA, a certificate authority is responsible for issuing the SSL certificates. For an easy acquisition, you need to be equipped with the information CA requires. This includes a proper IP address, an updated WHOIS record, and organization/business validation.
2. Decide Upon your SSL Certificate
The next step is to decide which SSL certificate you require. Many SSL certificate types are divided based on two things; the validation level and secured domains. Under the validation level, you have organization validation, domain validation, and extended validation. Under secured domains, you have a single domain, Wildcard, and Multi-Domain.
3. Select Your Certificate Authority
The CA is responsible for issuing SSL certificates and there are multiple CAs operational around the world. Yet, only a few have the global SSL market share. GlobalSign and GoDaddy are the biggest players. At this stage, you need to decide which CA you want to go with. Select a CA that can offer you the SSL certificate type you require along with meeting your business objectives and budget.
4. Give in Your Certificate Signing Request
Before requesting an SSL certificate, you need to generate a CSR, or certificate signing request. With this information, the CA will then issue you an SSL certificate. The CSR generation process is based on the website’s hosting and server.
5. Submit your CSR to the Certificate Authority
After generating the CSR, you need to visit your CA website and purchase your desired SSL type. After the process of checkout is completed, you’ll be asked to submit your generated CSR file.
6. Wait for Certificate Authority’s Validation
Based on which SSL type you’ve selected, the CA may take some hours to a few days for detailed validation. After the validation is complete, you’ll get your SSL certificate. The domain validation certificate takes a few minutes, but extended validation may take some days.
7. Installing the SSL Certificate
Once your request is processed, you will receive an email with your SSL certificate where you can access it. Alternatively, you can easily download it from the account used for purchasing the certificate. The SSL certificate installation process is dependent on your web server’s operating system where the site will be hosted. For further details, contact the web host to guide you about installing your SSL certificate.
An SSL certificate is a great way to boost SEO and bring more audience to your website while aligning it with the standards of the industry. What are you waiting for!