Introduction to SSL certificates: their role and usefulness
An SSL certificate is an essential digital document that provides a unique identification for a website and establishes a secure connection between the server and the user’s browser. It uses the SSL (Secure Socket Layer) protocol to encrypt transferred data, ensuring that sensitive information such as payment details and login credentials remains private and protected from unauthorized access.
Businesses and users should add SSL certificates to their websites to protect online transactions and maintain the privacy and security of customer information. This data includes potentially sensitive information such as names, addresses, credit card numbers, or other financial details.
In short: an SSL certificate keeps connections secure and prevents criminals from reading or modifying the information transferred between two systems (browser and server).
If you are a new cdmon user or have purchased a new hosting plan, we recommend following the Instructions to configure the site’s secure connection
How an SSL certificate works
The steps of a connection to a website with an SSL certificate are as follows.
- A user connects to the website through their browser, which is protected by SSL certificates.
- The browser requests that the web server identify itself.
- In response, the web server sends a copy of its SSL certificate to the browser.
- The browser checks whether the SSL certificate is trustworthy. If the certificate is valid, a message is sent to the web server.
- The web server returns a signed acknowledgment.
- An SSL-encrypted connection is established between the browser and the web server.
How to identify a certificate and view its information
We can identify a website with an SSL certificate when we see a padlock icon in the browser’s address bar.
If we click on the padlock, we can view detailed information about the issuer and the details of the website we are visiting.
You can even view additional information about its validity, the type of certificate, and other details by clicking on The connection is secure and then on The certificate is valid:
Depending on the needs of your project, you may require a specific type of certificate. We recommend visiting our commercial website or checking our guide on the Comparison of SSL security certificates to see the different types of certificates we offer, in addition to the free Let’s Encrypt certificate included with the vast majority of our hosting plans.
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