What Is an SSL Certificate?
An SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate encrypts the connection between your visitors' browsers and your web server. This ensures that sensitive data such as passwords, credit card numbers, and personal information cannot be intercepted by third parties.
How SSL Works
When a visitor accesses your site over HTTPS, the following process occurs:
- The browser requests a secure connection from your server.
- Your server responds with its SSL certificate, which contains a public key.
- The browser verifies the certificate is valid and issued by a trusted Certificate Authority (CA).
- A secure, encrypted session is established between the browser and the server.
This entire process, known as the TLS handshake, happens in milliseconds and is invisible to the user.
Why SSL Matters
- Security: Protects data in transit from eavesdropping and tampering.
- Trust: Browsers display a padlock icon for HTTPS sites, giving visitors confidence.
- SEO: Google has confirmed that HTTPS is a ranking signal. Sites with SSL rank higher than those without.
- Compliance: Many regulations (GDPR, PCI DSS) require encrypted connections for handling personal or payment data.
- Browser warnings: Modern browsers mark HTTP sites as "Not Secure," which can drive visitors away.
Types of SSL Certificates
- Domain Validation (DV): Verifies domain ownership only. Issued quickly and included free with SillyHost hosting.
- Organisation Validation (OV): Verifies the organisation behind the domain. Shows company details in the certificate.
- Extended Validation (EV): The highest level of validation. Requires thorough verification of the organisation's legal identity.
- Wildcard SSL: Covers the main domain and all subdomains (e.g.,
*.yourdomain.co.uk).
SSL at SillyHost
All SillyHost hosting plans include free AutoSSL certificates powered by Let's Encrypt or Sectigo. These are automatically installed and renewed, so you do not need to manage them manually. If you need an OV or EV certificate for business purposes, you can install a custom certificate through cPanel.