SSL Benefits
So...what are SSL Certificates?
Secure Socket Layer (SSL) is a protocol developed by Netscape in 1996 which quickly
became the method of choice for securing data transmissions across the Internet.
SSL is an integral part of most Web browsers and Web servers and makes use of the
public-and-private key encryption system.
In order to make an SSL connection, the SSL protocol requires that a server should
have a digital certificate installed. A digital certificate is an electronic file
that uniquely identifies individuals and servers. Digital certificates serve as
a kind of digital passport or credential which authenticate the server prior to
the SSL session being established.
Typically, digital certificates are signed by an independent and trusted third party
to ensure their validity. The "signer" of a certificate is known as a Certification
Authority (CA), such as VeriSign, Thawte, and GeoTrust.
OK, so what does that mean for my website?
There are two main online security problems that SSL certificates help solve:
- Authentication - proving a company's (or server's) identity online and in so doing
create a sense of trust and confidence in using a Web site.
- Encryption - offering protection for the data submitted to a Web site (or between
servers) so that in the event of interception, it will be unintelligible without
the unique key used for decryption.
Solving these security problems allows online business to protect against the following
scenarios:
- Spoofing - The low cost of Web site design and ease with which existing pages can
be copied makes it all too easy to create illegitimate sites that appear to be published
by established organizations. In fact, con artists have illegally obtained credit
card numbers by setting up professional-looking storefronts that mimic legitimate
businesses.
- Unauthorized Disclosure - when information is transmitted "in the clear", making
it possible for hackers to intercept the transmissions and obtain sensitive information
from customers.
- Data alteration - the content of a transaction can be intercepted and altered en
route, either maliciously or accidentally. User names, credit card, and social security
numbers as well as currency amounts; indeed any information sent "in the clear"
is all vulnerable to alteration.
Does my website actually NEED an SSL Certificate?
The simple answer is yes. If you are serious about your online business and protecting
your data, an SSL certificate is an essential part of any eCommerce website.
Firstly, looking at categories of data, the most common deployment is for securing
transmission of financial information in ecommerce. However, with incidence of identity
theft on the rise, protecting the transmission of a broad range of personally-identifiable
information is becoming ever more important. This category of data would include
identity and social security numbers, e-mail addresses and demographic information
as well as account registration and login information.
In terms of applications and protocols, SSL Certificates can be used to secure the
following:
- Web Servers
- Mail Servers
- Databases
- FTP Sites
- Internet
Chat
- NNTP