Having an SSL certificate is vital for today’s websites. Without them, they are labelled ‘not secure’ by browsers and get penalised in search engine results. However, not all SSLs are the same. In this post, we explain the different types available, including DV, OV, EV and Wildcard certificates, to help you choose the right level of validation and trust for your website.
Contents
- Why websites need an SSL certificate
- Understanding SSL certificate types
- Domain Validation (DV): Quick and simple
- Organisation Validation (OV): Business-level trust
- Extended Validation (EV): Maximum assurance
- Wildcard certificates: One SSL, multiple subdomains
- Free vs paid SSL certificates: Key differences
- How to choose the right SSL certificate
- Where to get your SSL certificate
- Conclusion
Why websites need an SSL certificate
SSL certificates encrypt the data sent between your website and your visitors, preventing sensitive information, like passwords and financial details, from being intercepted during transit. Additionally, they also verify that your website is genuine, protecting users from phishing or spoofed sites.
Without an SSL, browsers display security warnings that deter people from visiting your site, and payment providers may refuse to work with you. Crucially, the security provided by SSL means search engines often rank HTTPS sites higher than HTTP sites.
Understanding SSL certificate types
Before issuing an SSL certificate, the certificate authority (CA) will confirm that the applicant is entitled to use the domain or represent the organisation. This validation process is essential to establish the trust that SSLs provide. The more thorough the checks, the higher the level of trust.
SSL certificates differ in two key ways: firstly, in how much validation is carried out and secondly, in how many domains or subdomains they cover.
Here are the different validation levels:
Domain Validation (DV): Quick and simple
DV SSLs are the most basic type. While the CA verifies that the person requesting the certificate controls the domain, there are no checks on business identity. DV SSLs still result in the padlock icon being displayed on a browser’s site information, and they provide the same level of encryption as higher-level certificates.
Organisation Validation (OV): Business-level trust
OV certificates verify the legal and operational existence of your business, adding an extra layer of credibility that reassures users that they are dealing with a real company.
Extended Validation (EV): Maximum assurance
EV SSLs require rigorous checks on the organisation, including legal status, physical location and operational activity. As such, they provide the highest trust signals in browsers.
Users can identify which SSL you are using by clicking on the padlock that appears after clicking the ‘View site information’ icon in the browser search bar.
Wildcard certificates: One SSL, multiple subdomains
Wildcard certificates allow you to secure a domain and all its subdomains under a single SSL certificate. This is particularly useful for growing websites or those using subdomains for services like the checkout, help centres or blog content.
You can get Wildcard SSLs for both DV and OV levels; however, they are not available for EV SSLs. By covering multiple subdomains, they can significantly reduce costs and simplify SSL management.
Find out more about SSLs, read: How Does SSL Work?
Free vs paid SSL certificates: Key differences
Free SSLs, such as those provided by Let’s Encrypt, offer encryption and basic domain validation. They are suitable for many smaller sites, and being free, are highly popular. However, they only verify domain control and do not include warranty protection from the issuer or come with technical support.
You should also note that some web hosts prevent you from installing free SSLs. This forces websites into using paid-for certificates when they might not be essential. At eukhost, free SSLs are available directly through your control panel, and you can use them on all your domains.
Keep your website data safe, read: Futureproofing Your Data with Backup Strategies
How to choose the right SSL certificate
Choosing the right SSL depends on your business type, the nature of your site and the level of user assurance you need.
- DV SSLs are appropriate for blogs and small business sites that do not handle sensitive transactions.
- OV certificates suit growing businesses that want visible legitimacy to boost user trust.
- EV SSLs offer the strongest user trust and are ideal for e-commerce or regulated industries.
- Wildcard SSLs simplify protection across multiple subdomains and reduce admin and costs.
Before deciding, it’s important to assess the information your site handles, how important user confidence is to your business, and whether you have important subdomains that you need to cover.
You should also assess the level of warranty that comes with each SSL and check that it meets your needs. The warranty protects your business against losses from fraud, data breach or misuse that are a direct result of the certificate being incorrectly issued.
Strengthen your website defence, read: Battling Digital Threats – Preventing Malware Infections
Where to get your SSL certificate
At eukhost, we provide both free and fully validated SSL certificates, backed by GlobalSign. These are:
- Free Let’s Encrypt SSLs for basic site protection
- DV and OV Wildcard certificates for multi-subdomain coverage
- EV SSLs for maximum business assurance and visibility
Our GlobalSign DV, OV and EV certificates come with:
- 256-bit encryption with 2048-bit root keys
- Browser compatibility across all major platforms
- Warranty protection of up to $1.5 million
- Unlimited re-issues and 24×7 UK-based support
- Free installation and testing
Whether you need basic encryption or full-scale organisational validation, we have the right certificate for your needs.
Conclusion
While SSLs play a vital role in encrypting data and protecting your users, the type of certificate you choose is important for building online trust with both visitors and search engines. Your choice also affects the level of warranty you have. Whether you opt for a free or paid version, installing an SSL will improve visitors’ confidence in using your site and contribute to higher search engine visibility.
Not yet installed an SSL certificate? With free and paid options available, including full support and installation, eukhost has an SSL for every business. For more information about our DV, OV and EV options, visit our SSL Certificates page.
