Getting an SSL certificate in the USA: A Guide
In the digital age, securing your website is of utmost importance. One way to ensure a secure connection between your site and its visitors is by obtaining an SSL certificate. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to do that.
Choosing the Right SSL Certificate
The first step is to choose the type of SSL certificate that best suits your needs. Here are your options:
- Domain Validated (DV) SSL: Ideal for small business websites, blogs, or startups that do not handle sensitive information or payments, DV SSL provides basic encryption and only verifies domain ownership.
- Organization Validated (OV) SSL: Suitable for sites handling customer logins, transactions, or requiring industry compliance, OV SSL includes business identity verification, providing higher trust.
- Wildcard SSL: Useful if your site uses multiple subdomains, Wildcard SSL secures the main domain and unlimited subdomains.
- Extended Validation (EV) SSL: Offering the highest trust by more extensive validation, EV SSL is typically used by financial institutions and large companies.
Finding a Trusted Certificate Authority (CA)
Once you've chosen your SSL certificate type, find a trusted Certificate Authority (CA) or SSL provider who will issue the certificate. Examples include Sectigo, DigiCert, and GlobalSign. Ensure the CA is widely trusted and supported by browsers.
Generating a Certificate Signing Request (CSR)
To generate a Certificate Signing Request (CSR), you'll need to create a cryptographic key pair (public and private keys) and accurately fill in your domain name and organization details. Submit the CSR to the chosen CA for validation.
Verification by the CA
Verification by the CA varies depending on the SSL certificate type. For DV SSL, the process is quick, while for OV SSL or EV SSL, additional business verification occurs, which may take several days and can require submitting official documents or proof.
If certain business verifications cannot be met directly, the CA may require a Professional Opinion Letter—a document from a qualified third party confirming the legitimacy of the business information.
Receiving and Installing the SSL Certificate
Once issued by the CA, install the SSL certificate onto your website’s server to enable HTTPS security. This process can range from nearly instant for DV certificates to several days for OV and EV certificates with their additional identity checks.
Summary of SSL Certificate Types and Use Cases
| SSL Type | Validation Level | Use Case | Verification | |--------------------|-----------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|------------------------------| | DV SSL | Domain ownership only | Small sites, blogs, startups | Simple, fast domain check | | OV SSL | Organization + domain | E-commerce, sites handling sensitive data | Business verification needed | | Wildcard SSL | Domain + Subdomains | Sites with multiple subdomains | Similar to DV/OV per context | | EV SSL (not detailed) | Extended business validation | Highest trust, financial institutions, large companies | More stringent checks |
In conclusion, obtaining an SSL certificate requires choosing the right type for your website, generating and submitting a CSR to a trusted CA, completing verification (which may involve a Professional Opinion Letter if advanced business validation is required), and installing the SSL certificate on your server to enable HTTPS security. This process can range from nearly instant for DV certificates to several days for OV and EV certificates with their additional identity checks.
Technology plays a crucial role in the process of securing websites with SSL certificates, as the right choice of SSL certificate and a trusted Certificate Authority (CA) are essential components. Data-and-cloud-computing technologies, such as generating a Certificate Signing Request (CSR) and installing the SSL certificate onto a website’s server, are employed during the SSL certificate acquisition process.
