Increase trust with SSL
What SSL does
An SSL certificate encrypts all information transmitted to and from your website, ensuring it is protected from third parties attempting to access it.
Why you need SSL
Browsers like Google Chrome mark pages without SSL encryption as not secure. This can have a negative effect on the trustworthiness of your website. If you have an SSL certificate, your site's URL will start with the prefix "https" and a green padlock icon will be displayed in the browser bar, showing your visitors your site is secure and their data is safe. Pages that are protected with SSL receive better search engine rankings and are more likely to be trusted by visitors.
Package overview
Choose between Standard SSL (protect a domain, without subdomains) and Wildcard SSL (protect a domain, incl. all subdomains)
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Types of SSL 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 are an entity with an increased level of trustworthiness, the extended validation certificate can transfer this assurance onto your website. The symbol of this trust is the green address bar in the browser, which comes with the EV SSL.
This is why not only banks and big eCommerce organisations rely on extended validation certificates, but government agencies also use them for secured transactions.
eCommerce websites should rely on the level of trust only an EV Certificate can provide. Only extended verification can guarantee the real origin of a website and the safety of data such as customer information, credit card numbers and other payment details.
What do you want to do with SSL?
Ensure Google Chrome does not display a warning message for my site
Our experts recommend...
Our recommendation
SSL Starter
For a website that does not transmit any user data or payment information, a Domain Validation SSL Certificate is the right choice.
- Green padlock in the address bar
- Quick and easy activation
- $500,000 loss excess amount
£25/yearexcl. VAT
Get it
Protect my domain and all of my subdomains
Our experts recommend...
Our recommendation
SSL Starter Wildcard
For a website with multiple subdomains, a Wildcard SSL Certificate is the right choice.
- Secure your domain and all of its subdomains
- Green padlock in the address bar
- Quick and easy activation
- $500,000 loss excess amount
£55/yearexcl. VAT
Get it
Secure transactions on my website
Our experts recommend...
Our recommendation
SSL Premium
For online retailers, an Extended Validation SSL Certificate is the right choice.
- The highest level of authentication and security
- Green padlock in the address bar
- Green display of your company name
- $1,500,000 loss excess amount
£200/yearexcl. VAT
Get it
Show customers that my business is verified
Our experts recommend...
Our recommendation
SSL Business
For businesses that do not process payments online, an Organisation Validation SSL Certificate is the right choice.
- Green 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
£55/yearexcl. VAT
Get it
Benefits of an SSL certificate
Protect your data transactions
SSL secures the browser connection between visitors and your website with up to 256-bit encryption. This means all transmitted data is protected from third parties attempting to access it.
Anti-phishing
You can protect your site against phishing (attempting to gain sensitive data from usernames) with SSL Business/Premium. Not only will our partner DigiCert check that your company owns and has the right to use the domain, but also that your company is registered and in good standing.
Builds trust with your site visitors
You want your visitors to feel confident that you are protecting the information they submit on your website. DigiCert is a global leader in internet security, meaning you have leading SSL security standards at your fingertips.
Better ranking with Google
Google ranks websites with SSL higher compared to sites without security certification. Professionally validated sites can receive up to 6% higher rankings in search results!
Site Seal
Site Seals are tiny images that let your website visitors know that your page is encrypted and safe. Users are more likely to trust websites with this proven and well-recognised symbol for online security.
Browse the internet safely
Our SSL certificates are compatible with all major browsers and mobile devices so your visitors and customers know their data is protected and encrypted.
DigiCert – your SSL security
Together with our partner DigiCert, we offer reliable protection for your website with highly secure 256-bit SSL encryption.
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
Customers choose IONOS because, as Europe’s largest web hosting company, we not only provide everything you need to be successful online, but also best-in-class service through a free personal consultant.
SSL certificates
FAQ – Frequently asked questions
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 displays the familiar lock icon for verification, in addition to this, 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 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 displays the familiar lock icon for verification, in addition to this, 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.
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.
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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