One of the most common methods for protecting information on the Internet is the SSL (Secure Socket Layer) data encryption protocol used by the client and server for exchange. It was developed by Netscape. Exchange security is provided by encryption and authentication of a digital certificate.
Server identification is carried out in a unique way using this file. Signing and certification of the certificate is carried out by specialized centers. They are called certification authorities or certification authorities.
What is an SSL certificate?
The concept of SSL certificates is familiar to everyone, but not everyone knows what it is and why they are required. In fact, this is a digital signature of the site, confirming its authenticity. Using the certificate protects both visitors and the owner of the web resource. It allows you to apply SSL encryption technology to a particular site.
The main objective of a digital certificate is to provide a secure connection between the server and the client’s browser, and protect data from spoofing, interception, and theft. The certificate is used when establishing a secure HTTPS connection in order to identify the site and encrypt data.
SSL working principle
Information transmitted in a protective form is decrypted only using a special key of a digital signature certificate. This approach guarantees the safety of data. Protection of information of visitors to a web resource, even if it is not important, is ensured by an SSL certificate. If the site is not secure, then customers can leave it. The presence of the certificate is displayed in the browser line with the lock icon.
Digital certificate validation scheme:
- The user logs on to a secure resource.
- It checks DNS and determines the IP address of the hosting site.
- A specific web resource record is found, and a transition is made to the host server.
- A secure SSL connection is requested from the site host.
- In response, the host sends a valid SSL certificate.
- A security connection is established, all transmitted data is encrypted.
Customer and business protection
SSL protection is required by almost all sites, especially those that are often attacked. Digital certificates are used not only by financial and credit organizations, but also payment systems, and state portals, even individual entrepreneurs and online stores.
The use of SSL certificates is beneficial for business, as received and sent data is encrypted, passing through the authentication procedure, which gives visitors the confidence that their personal data will be protected from falling into the wrong hands. The uniqueness of certificates becomes an obstacle for cyber fraudsters working under phishing schemes.
The existence and reputation of the company owner of the site also remains protected, since customer data is not at risk of being intercepted, attacked or stolen. The storage of information exchanged between the client’s browser and the site is guaranteed by an SSL certificate and is aimed at protecting the business, which is important when conducting online transactions and financial transactions. Indirect benefits include increasing confidence in the business and increasing sales.
Search Engine Results
Confirmation of the security of the web resource was the icons of the abbreviation HTTPS and the lock in the site URL. The Extended Validation SSL certificate in the green address period indicates high reliability. The color designation allows users to identify secure sites.
An additional advantage of certificate confirmation is a higher position in the search engine results compared to similar resources without SSL. Google announced back in 2014 that HTTPS would be taken into account when ranking sites, with the last letter S just indicating the use of an SSL certificate.
How to get a digital certificate?
SSL certificates are not distributed by specialized centers, but by their partners. On the territory of Russia, certificates of the most famous certification centers are sold by many companies; their root certificates are preinstalled in almost all browsers.
Partners conclude agreements with various CAs, which expands the list of certificates offered, allowing you to choose the best option, get discounts and help specialists install SSL on the server.
Not all certificates are provided for a fee. The duration of use of a free certificate does not exceed one year.
In different manufacturing companies, the cost of certificates can vary greatly depending on the specific conditions of development, implementation and the agreement concluded with partners.
CAs are considered an independent party whose activities are aimed at verifying the accuracy of the information specified in the certificate.
Classification
There are several types of certificates according to the level of verification. Let's consider each of them in more detail.
DV certificates
Certificates with simplified verification - Domain validation - are suitable for protecting personal data of users. Considered the most inexpensive and low level, involves domain verification. It can be used by legal entities or individuals, issued by centers to administrators or owners of a domain name and confirms it.
OV certificates
The next level of certification is Organization validation. They are used by organizations and check the relationship between the domain name, its owner and the company that uses the certificate. It confirms not only the domain name, but also its belonging to an existing organization.
EV certificates
Extended validation - certificates with extended verification - are used to more thoroughly verify the company and its authority. The most prestigious variety, causing more trust among users. OV and EV certificates, for example, are sold by DigiCert, one of the leading certification authorities.
After installing the advanced certificate, the address bar of the browser changes color to green, which visually confirms the reliability of the web resource. The certificate shall indicate the name of the organization and the certification center that sold the certificate.
An indicator of the legality of the business of the site owner is the green address bar. EV certificates provide protection against fraudulent sites and act as confirmation of the legitimacy of the business conducted for customers. During their production, the organization is carefully checked, including its activities, the conformity of official documentation and the availability of rights to use a domain name. This explains the success of enterprises using advanced verification certificates in the market.
Allocate certificates for one, several, and all subdomains of a particular domain, public key certificates, and others.
SSL certificates in Russia
According to analytical services, out of more than three million sites located in the .RU zone, only 60 thousand resources have SSL certificates that have passed the verification of certification authorities. The rest have only invalid and self-signed certificates, or they are completely absent.
The GlobalSign International Center, together with REG.RU, launched a program aimed at popularizing digital certificate standards and secure transmission of information on the network. It was created specifically for owners of Internet resources and ordinary users of Russia and the CIS countries.
A key element of the developed program is to increase the availability and popularity of SSL technology and spread among relevant security tools among site owners. The main task is the formation of a culture of protection of transmitted information.
The attention of the country's leadership was also drawn to SSL certificates. According to information provided by the media, the creation of a state certification center is planned in Russia. Work on its formation is already underway. But in order to realize this idea, it is required to oblige browser developers to preinstall a unique root certificate into the software.
Conclusion
What is the value of SSL and HTTPS? Minimum - to increase the position of the web resource in the results of search engine results. In addition, you should not discount such a factor as user confidence. From a technical point of view, it’s easy to install SSL on a site, similarly with financial. SSL-certificate - an economical and easy way to protect the site and ongoing online transactions, making them more secure for customers. Today, SSL is considered the most important measure of ensuring Internet security and an industry standard recognized internationally.