What is an SSL Certificate?

SSL Certificates are small data files that digitally bind a cryptographic key to a company's details. When installed on a web server, it activates the padlock and the https protocol, allowing secure connections from a web server to a browser. Typically, SSL is used to secure credit card transactions, data transfer and logins, and more recently, is becoming 'the norm' when securing browsing of social media sites.

SSL Certificates bind together:

• A domain name, server name or hostname.
• An organizational identity (i.e. company name) and location.

Here at DigitalFlare, we can install SSL Certificates for clients who require this facility (charged annually). Some card processors, such as 'Stripe' require an SSL certificate to be installed before we can integrate with a payment gateway.

Once a secure connection is established, all web traffic between the web server and the web browser will be safe.

When a certificate is successfully installed on your server, the application protocol (HTTP) will change to HTTPs, where the 'S' stands for 'secure'. Depending on the type of certificate you purchase and what browser you are surfing the internet on, a browser will show a padlock or green bar in the browser when you visit a website that has an SSL Certificate installed.