Setting up an e-commerce platform is an exciting move for any business owner. However, it can be challenging to choose the best SSL certificate for your platform. An SSL certificate will make it safe for you to transmit information from user’s browser to your website, by encrypting all the data. With an SSL certificate, you assure your clients that they can trust your platform, thus more visitors to your site, better site conversion, and favorable rankings in the search engines.
There are several SSL certificate levels available in the market with the highest being the EV SSL certificate. The provider of the certification will give you main and chain certificate that you will download and install on your website.
Before choosing the right SSL certificate for your e-commerce website, you need to be clear about:-
• Why you are installing the SSL certificate.
• The validation level you require.
• The number of domains you will need to secure.
• How much you want to spend, etc.
We will explore these and more factors you need to consider so that you get the best SSL certificate for your website.
Validation levels
There are three validation levels in SSL certification. All certificates come with encryption, but the level of protection will differ; the higher the level of accreditation, the safer your website. The three levels are;-
- Domain validation (DV) – DV is best for personal sites or blogs. DV is the lowest level and is best for websites that do not collect private customer data. They are easy to install, and the verification process is not complicated. The only thing you need to do is verify with the Certificate Authority (CA) that you are managing the domain name under the certificate.
- Organization Validation (OV) – OV is suitable for organizations, educational institutions, and small businesses. They are therefore applicable to both e-commerce and non-commercial websites as it verifies organization’s identity. You will get a seal which is a visual mark of security. Acquiring an OV certificate requires business registration documents and can take up to three-four days in issuance.
- Extended Validation (EV) – EV is best suited for organizations that have highly confidential or risky data, as well as an e-commerce platform; especially large businesses or agencies that wants green bar on your website and provide highest security and assurance. Your site will have a padlock and a green bar on the browser address to show that you have highest level of authentication. Your company will undergo a more stringent check by the CA, and it can take up to 4-5 days in EV SSL issuance.
Website complexity
Choosing the right SSL will also depend on how complex your website is.
Single Domain Certification – certification for single domains is the best choice if you have one website on a single domain. If your website deals with blogs or is a small one without sub-domains, then this is the best choice for you. For example, abc.com, sub.abc.com etc.
Wildcard Certificates – these are suitable for large organizations that have many sub-domains. You have the option of linking several sub-domains to the primary one four different departments. For example, *.abc.com will secure mail.abc.com, payment.abc.com etc.
Multi-domain certificate – choose this certification if you have a website that has a large number of domains; related or not or in different countries. It will secure your domain Subject Alternative Name (SAN) under one certificate. You will not require several IP addresses for your hostname as single IP is required for your certificate. You can secure multiple domains like abc.com, xyz.com, sub.abc.com, mail.xyz.com etc.
Cost aspect
The cost is an important aspect and will determine the kind of SSL certificate a website owner buys. The price will depend on the validation period, brand, and type among other factors. If you have additional security features, you may need to spend a little more money. Validation part of a certificate also plays an important role.
How long it will take to issue
As we have shared above, the validation process will vary for different levels. The simpler validation requirements, the shorter the time it will take. If you go with EV SSL then CA will verify your information, will take a longer time for you to get the certification.
Final thoughts
The type of SSL certificate you choose will depend on the kind of business you are running. The EV certificate is suitable for a company that needs to assure its clients that the website is secure. If a customer feels that you value their privacy, they’re likely to come back. You also have the advantage of getting a more extended warranty period with a high-level SSL certificate.
Finally, deal with a reputable company when you’re getting your SSL certificate. Whichever provider you go for should give you 24/7 customer support in case you run into any problems. Also make sure that they give you multiple channels for communicating with them including email, call, or even chats.
