Be secure. Buy an SSL certificate.
Increase your customers' trust with SSL/TLS
What SSL does
Why you need SSL
SSL vs TLS
Package overview
DigiCert – your SSL security
DigiCert SSL Certificate
- World's largest and most well-known SSL provider
- Unique additional services such as a daily malware scan
- Global leader with vast experience in internet security
Tailored advice. Tips for online success. Technical support. Available via a direct phone number, chat and email. Free of charge for all IONOS customers.
We're always working to improve our customer support, and we're proud to have won several awards. These include Best Customer Engagement Initiative and Best Use of Customer Insight.
Types of SSL/TLS certificates
Domain Validated (DV)
If you are just starting out, or want to use the SSL certificate in order to secure your personal website or blog, then usually the domain validated SSL (DV) will suffice.
This way, all traffic is encrypted but no further validation is conducted.
DV Certificates are the right solution for simple websites like blogs, personal websites and one-page websites.
Do not use a DV SSL Certificate for eCommerce or other applications which require a higher level of trust.
Organisation Validated (OV)
If you are doing any business online you should at least use an OV SSL. When you're handling any kind of customer data, organisation validation (OV) will make sure that the certificate is really from your organisation, and that the domain belongs to you, not a third party.
This helps you to protect your business and customers from phishing websites.
Organisation validation is a great way to secure a company website, a forum, or any other website with a login page that does not transfer payment data. Customers' usernames and passwords will be transferred with end-to-end encryption.
Extended Validation (EV)
If you want to convey the highest level of security and trustworthiness on your website, choose an extended validation (EV) certificate.
EV is a must for eCommerce websites as it's the only kind of SSL certificate that guarantees the real origin of a website and the safety of payment information.
That's why banks, big eCommerce organisations and government agencies rely on extended validation certificates.
What do you want to do with SSL/TLS?
Our recommendation
- Padlock in the address bar
- Quick and easy activation
- $500,000 loss excess amount
Our recommendation
- Secure your domain and all of its subdomains
- Padlock in the address bar
- Quick and easy activation
- $500,000 loss excess amount
Our recommendation
- The highest level of authentication and security
- Padlock in the address bar
- $1,500,000 loss excess amount
Our recommendation
- Padlock in the address bar
- Verification of your business by our partner DigiCert
- Listing of your organisation's name on the certificate
- $1,250,000 loss excess amount
Benefits of an SSL/TLS certificate
Protect your data transactions
Anti-phishing
Builds trust with your site visitors
Better ranking with Google
Site Seal
Browse the internet safely
SSL/TLS certificates
In simple terms, an SSL certificate is a communications protocol that provides security for web developers and users whilst using the Internet. This type of safeguard is important since the information sent across the Internet is essentially unsecured and, in theory, could be intercepted and accessed by a third party.
SSL certificates provide a layer of confidentiality and security that ensures privacy for users when transferring sensitive information between websites or through email. For this reason an SSL, or Secure Socket Layer, is integral to the successful operation of web based business and other concerns that deal with users' personal information.
An SSL certificate is associated with your particular domain name and so, when you buy an SSL certificate from IONOS, you are ensuring that any data sent between your server and the client is secured against external threats. The user's browser decodes the data, and rather than the usual "http" prefix, users will see "https" within the address bar.
Since there are various types of SSL certificates, each website should select the most suitable certificate for the given application.
SSL certificates work by establishing a trusted connection secured by end-to-end encryption between the website's server and the client's browser. This is accomplished almost instantly as the host and the provider communicate the particular SSL certificate and verify a common key. As the Internet has developed, so too have SSL certificates, providing increased security as external threats have become more sophisticated. This means that you will always be protected, despite the changeable nature of these external threats.
It should be noted, that the level of encryption varies between 128 and 256 bits with the higher bit count providing greater possibilities for combinations of algorithms leading to greater security. In addition to this, SSL certificates are distinguished by browser compatibility, whether for single, sub or multiple domains, and the validation process of the domain or identity of the website. These safeguards ensure the security of your website and reassure your customers regarding their sensitive, personal details and data.
SSL certificates are important, not only for the safety of users, but also for search engine optimisation (SEO) and website visibility. Since August 2014, Google has communicated that SSL should be implemented to ensure both in-house, and the Internet as a whole, is a safer place. For this reason, Google prioritises websites with valid SSL certificates, with their algorithms consistently ranking websites with SSL higher up the list.
Whilst Google still recognises other aspects as important when ranking, the security of a website is paramount to its success and it is likely that even more weight will be placed on its user safety in the future. When you buy an SSL certificate, you will be able to offer your customers assurance as to their personal data and ensure that your website ranks higher than websites without SSL. Customers will appreciate the confidence your website inspires in them and return to your site again and again.
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