Knowledgebase

What is SSL/TLS?

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is the standard security technology for establishing an encrypted link between 2 devices for example your web browser on your pc/phone/table and the web site you are visiting.

The SSL connection between the devices ensures that all data passed between them is encrypted and remains private, as SSL is an industry standard it is used by many millions of devices and websites to protect data in transit (from your browser to the server).  To address a common misconception an SSL/TLS certificate does not protect your site from malware, viruses or being compromised it will only secure the data in transit. For malware protection you would need another form of protection which we do have on our shared hosting servers by default.

Modern systems now use TLS (Transport Layer Security) which has replaced the traditional and deprecated SSL technologies, most people still refer to TLS as SSL.  For example you don't often see a site selling TLS Certificates they still refer to them as SSL Certificates which is the widely accepted term even if it is using TLS.

How do I get an SSL certificate?

The simplest way to obtain an SSL certificate for your site is to order one from your client portal or our website.  If you are unsure on what type of certificate you need you can contact our support department for assistance.

What are the benefits and differences between paid and free certificates?

When comparing the differences between the paid and free SSL certificate options you will need to consider what you expect to gain from securing your site with an SSL/TLS certificate. As most browsers now prefer secure sites over non secure and default to loading a secure site an SSL/TLS certificate is basically a requirement for any modern site.  The effect of this is that any site that is not secured with a certificate will show a warning in the browser alerting the visitor that the site as not secure for a commerce site this would often mean the lose of a sale, having a secure site can also affect how well your site will rank in the search engines.

Paid for SSL certificates come with a number of additional extras that are not available with a Free certificate.