Why do I need an SSL certificate?

What is SSL?

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificates are a key for secure Internet communications. They increase the confidence of visitors in the credibility of your website.

SSL certificates guarantee the authenticity of a website identity through a specific validation process executed by a certification authority. SSL certificates demonstrate that you have incorporated high security standards in the Internet communication. The certified SSL encryption assures that information is kept private between your server and the clients' browsers.

There are three categories of validation

1. Validation through domain authentication (DV - Domain Validation)
The authentication and issuance process verifies that the applicant either owns the respective domain or that he has the right to use that domain name. This is usually done by sending an approver email to an email address located under the respective domain.

2. Validation through full organization authentication (OV - Organization Validation)
Validation includes business identity authentication, domain name verification and verification that the organizational contact applying for the certificate on behalf of the company or organization is an employee of that organization.

3. Authentication through Extended Validation (EV - Extended Validation)
This is the highest level of authentication available with an SSL Certificate; a signed acknowledgement of the agreement from the corporate contact is required. With Extended Validation visitors using see the address bar turns green when they visit the website, a visible sign that the site is highly authenticated, trustworthy and that the customers information is secure. In addition to the Green Address Bar, browsers display the authenticated organization name and the CA that issued it. These features are immediately visible and give customers the confidence to complete their transactions.

Please note
The integration of SSL certificates requires a server to host the certificate on. You need some prior knowledge, for example how to create a CSR file.

Example: How to create a CSR file
Please replace „www_example_com“ with your domain name in the following example how to create a CSR file.

If you use Linux, please enter the following command in order to create a CSR:

Details for the CSR
Now the details for the CSR are requested.

Please note: We recommend to enter the approver e-mail here.

Please skip the last two input fields by using the Return key:

A challenge password []:
An optional company name []:

Example: Content
After you have created the CSR file, please enter its content in the lower text field. The content of the file www_mydomain_de.csr should look similar to the following example:

-----BEGIN NEW CERTIFICATE REQUEST-----BUIJKODQSFDr0CAQAweTEeMBwGA1UEAxMVd3d3Lmpvc2VwaGNoYXBtYW4uY29tMQ8w DQYDVQQLEwZEZXNpZ24xFjAUBgNVBAoTDUpvc2VwaENoYXBtYW4xEjAQBgNVBAcT CU1haWRzdG9uZTENMAsGA1UECBMES2VudDELMAkGA1UEBhMCR0IwgZ8wDQYJKoZI hvcNAQEBBQADgY0AMIGJAoGBAOEFDpnOKRabQhDa5asDxYPnG0c/neW18e8apjOk 1yuGRk+3GD7YQvuhBVS1x6wkw1D2RnmnZgN1nNUK0cRK7sIvOyCh1+jgD7u46mLk 81j+b4YSEmYZGPLIuclyocPDm0hXayjCUqWt7z6LMIKpLym8gayEZzz9Gn97PsbP kVFBAgMBAAGgggGZMBoGCisGAQQBgjcNAgMxDBYKNS4xLjI2MDAuMjB7BgorBgEE AYI3AgEOMW0wazAOBgNVHQ8BAf8EBAMCBPAwRAYJKoZIhvcNAQkPBDcwNTAOBggq hkiG9w0DAgICAIAwDgYIKoZIhvcNAwQCAgCAMAcGBSsOAwIHMAoGCCqGSIb3DQMH MBMGA1UdJQQMMAoGCCsGAQUFBwMBMIH9BgorBgEEAYI3DQICMYHuMIHrAgEBHloA TQBpAGMAcgBvAHMAbwBmAHQAIABSAFMAQQAgAFMAQwBoAGEAbgBuAGUAbAAgAEMA cgB5AHAAdABvAGcAcgBhAHAAaABpAGMAIABQAHIAbwB2AGkAZABlAHIDgYkAk0kf HSkr4jsEVya3mgUoyaYMO456ECNZr4Cb+WhPgexfjOO5qwOG1oDOTaKycrkc5pG+ IPBQnq+4cotT8hWJQwpc+qGb8xUETpxCokhrhN5079vFXq/5dsHkmtOTwkSqSnz9 yruVoxYeDQ8jI3KG3HTgxwFto8oZnm+E+Y4oshUAAAAAAAAAADANBgkqhkiG9w0B AQUFAAOBgQAuAxetLzgfjBdWpjpixeVYZXuPZ+6jvZNL/9hOw7Fk5pVVXWdr8csJ 6JUW8QdH9KB6ZlM4yg8Df+vat1/DG6GuD2hiIR7fQ0NtPFBQmbrSm+TTBo95lwP+ ZSZTusPFTLKaqValdnS9Uw+6Vq7/I4ouDA8QBIuaTFtPOp+8wEGBHQ==
-----END NEW CERTIFICATE REQUEST-----

Important:
Keep both created files without fail!