SSL and TLS are both cryptographic protocols used to create an encrypted connection and establish trust. TLS is an updated version of SSL that provides advanced encryption options including Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC), Rivest-Shamir-Adleman (RSA) or Digital Signature Algorithm (DSA). When purchasing certificate solutions from SafeSSL, customers receive the most up-to-date TLS encryption even though they are more widely referred to as SSL.
An SSL Certificate is a small data file leveraging this security protocol to serve two functions:
Authentication
SSL Certificates serve as credentials to authenticate the legitimacy of a website. Certificates are issued to a specific domain and web server after a Certificate Authority performs a strict vetting process on the organization requesting the certificate. Once issued, the certificate provides information about the identity of a business or website and authenticates that the website they are on is a legitimate business and any information submitted will be secured.
Secure Data Communication
When SSL is installed on a web server, it enables the padlock to appear in the web browser and activates the HTTPS protocol to secure the connection between the web server to a browser. It does this by using encryption algorithms to scramble the data in transit into an undecipherable format that can only be read with the proper decryption key.
Web browsers only show the secure indicators for SSL certificates signed by a trusted CA, like SafeSSL. To become a trusted CA, a company must comply with and perform regular audits for the security and authentication process standards established by the leading browsers. When a trusted CA issues a certificate to an organization the browser will recognize the certificate as legitimate The browser lets the user know that the website is secure, and the user can feel safe browsing the site and even entering their confidential information.
Get your SSL certificate from SafeSSL
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