SSL or TLS (Transport Layer Security) certificates are data files that bind a cryptographic key to the details of an organization. When SSL/TLS certificate is installed on a web server, it enables a secure connection between the web server and the browser that connects to it. The website's URL is prefixed with "https" instead of "http" and a padlock is shown on the address bar. If the website uses an extended validation (EV) certificate, then the browser may also show a green address bar.

The SSL protocol is used by millions of online business to protect their customers, ensuring their online transactions remain confidential. A web page should use encryption when it expects users to submit confidential data, including personal information, passwords, or credit card details. All web browsers have the ability to interact with secured sites so long as the site's certificate is issued by a trusted CA..

The internet has spawned new global business opportunities for enterprises conducting online commerce. However, that growth has also attracted fraudsters and cyber criminals who are ready to exploit any opportunity to steal consumer bank account numbers and card details. Any moderately skilled hacker can easily intercept and read the traffic unless the connection between a client (e.g. internet browser) and a web server is encrypted..

The following graphic explains how SSL Certificate works on a website. The process of how an 'SSL handshake' takes place is explained below: An end-user asks their browser to make a secure connection to a website (e.g.https://www.example.com) The browser obtains the IP address of the site from a DNS server then requests a secure connection to the website. To initiate this secure connection, the browser requests that the server identifies itself by sending a copy of its SSL certificate to the browser. The browser checks the certificate to ensure: That it is signed by a trusted CA That it is valid - that it has not expired or been revoked That it confirms to required security standards on key lengths and other items. That the domain listed on the certificate matches the domain that was requested by the user. When the browser confirms that the website can be trusted, it creates a symmetric session key which it encrypts with the public key in the website's certificate. The session key is then sent to the web server. The web server uses its private key to decrypt the symmetric session key. The server sends back an acknowledgement that is encrypted with the session key. From now on, all data transmitted between the server and the browser is encrypted and secure..

Implementing SSL for a website is quite easy! A typical installation of SSL certificate involves the following steps: Step 1. Acquire SSL certificate To implement SSL/TLS security on your website, you need to get and install a certificate from a trusted CA. A trusted CA will have its root certificates embedded in all major root store programs, meaning the certificate you purchase will be trusted by the internet browsers and mobile devices used by your website visitors. You should also decide which type of certificate suits you best. Single domain certificates allow you to secure one fully qualified domain name (FQDN). Wildcard certificates secure a single domain and unlimited subdomains of that domain. For example, a wildcard certificate for '*.domain.com' could also be used to secure 'payments.domain.com', 'login.domain.com', 'anything-else.domain.com' Multi-domain certificates allow website owners to secure multiple, distinct domains on a one certificate. For example, a single MDC can be used to secure domain-1.com, domain-2.com, domain-3.co.uk, domain-4.net and so on. Extended Validation certificates provide the highest levels of security, trust and customer conversion for online businesses. Because of this, EV certificates contain a unique differentiator designed to clearly communicate the trustworthiness of the website to its visitors. Whenever somebody visits a website that uses an EV SSL, the address bar will turn green in major browsers such as Internet Explorer, Firefox and Chrome..

When SSL certificate is purchased from a web host, its activation is taken care of by the web host. The administrator of the website can also activate the SSL through Web Host Manager (WHM) or cPanel. In the WHM dashboard select the SSL/TLS option and choose "Generate SSL Certificate and Signing Request". Next, generate your Private Key and fill out the form for Certificate Signing Request (CSR). Ensure that you enter your domain name in the box asking for "Host to make cert for". You will need to send this CSR to your CA in order to purchase a certificate. See https://support.comodo.com/index.php?/Knowledgebase/List/Index/19/csr-generation/ for help to generate a CSR using various webserver types.Comodo offers detailed guides for installing certificates on various webservers too. See SSL Certificate Installation on Different Web Servers for a full list. The guides provides installation instructions for different software types such as Apache, Apache on Cobalt, BEA, C2Net Stronghold, Ensim, F5, Hsphere, IBM, Microsoft, Netscape / Sun, Novell, Plesk, SSL Accelerator, Website Pro, and Zeus.

SSL Certificate Installation on Different Web Servers The final part of your Instant SSL application is the installation of your certificate. Installation of your Instant SSL Certificate will differ greatly dependent on your web server software. Select your web server software from the list after reading the following general points: General Points to remember: When you are emailed your Instant SSL certificate, two other certificates will also be attached to the email. Should they be required, you may download these certificates individually or collectively as a bundled file below. To download these files right click on the file name and select 'Save Target As'. UTN-USER First-hardware root issued certificates

Your website is now capable of HTTPS! You must now configure you website so that visitors who access this site get automatically directed to the "HTTPS" version. Search engine providers like Google are now offering SEO benefits to SSL pages, so the effort to serve all pages on your site over HTTPS is well worth it..

A certificate authority or certification authority (CA) issues SSL certificates. On receiving an application, the CA verifies two factors: It confirms the legal identity of the enterprise/company seeking the certificate and whether the applicant controls the domain mentioned in the certificate. The issued SSL certificates are chained to a 'trusted root' certificate owned by the CA. Most popular internet browsers such as Firefox, Chrome, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, and others have these root certificates embedded in their 'certificate store'. Only if a website certificate chains to a root in its certificate store will the browser allow a trusted and secure https connection. If a website certificate does not chain to a root then the browser will display a warning that the connection is not trusted.