SSL Certificate

What are SSL Certificates?

SSL stands for Secure Socket Layer. Also popularly known as TLS (Transport Layer Security), SSL Certificates are small data files that bind with any organization's details. Once it is installed on a web server (e.g. Apache, Nginx ). It activates the padlock and also the HTTPS protocol and allows secure connections from a web server to a web browser(e.g Firefox, chrome). Generally, we use SSL to secure payment-related transactions, data transfer, and logins.

SSL Certificates bind together:

• A domain name, server name, or hostname.
• Organizational identity and location.

To initiate a secure session with browsers, organizations need to install the SSL Certificate onto their web server. Once the secure connection is established, all the web traffic between the server to the browser will be secure.

When the certificate is completely installed on your server, the application protocol (also known as HTTP ) will be change to HTTPS, where s stands for secure. You will also saw the padlock in your web browser.

Why SSL?

The primary reason for using SSL is SSL keeps sensitive information sent across the internet in encrypted form so that only the intended receiver can access the information. This is important because when in a network your system communicates with another system then some other system (hacker, unauthorized user) can saw your sensitive information like payment details if it is not encrypted with SSL. When an SSL certificate used the information is unreadable to everyone except for those you are sending information to.

Types of SSL Certificates:

Types of SSL Certificates  can be further classified on :

1. Validation level
2. Number of secured domains/subdomains  

Validation level:

1. Extended Validation  (EV)
2. Organization Validated (OV)
3. Domain Validated (DV)

The number of secured domains:

1. Wildcard SSL
2. Multi-Domain SSL
3. Unified Communications

How SSL work:
SSL basically works with both concepts:

1. Asymmetric Cryptography (Public + Private Key)
2. Symmetric Cryptography (Single key)