What is SSL Secure Hosting?

  • What is SSL Secure Hosting?
  • SSL Secure Hosting is the Internet Webmaster's method to secure their web site. If you look at Internet Explorer 7, when a web site is protected by a SSL Certificate, they get the green address bar indicating this web site is uing SSL Secure Hosting. What this tells your customers is "hey, my site is protected so when you enter your confidential information, and even your credit card, I've made it secure so no one can steal your information."

  • What does SSL stand for?
  • The acronym SSL stands for "Secure Sockets Layer".

  • What are the Benefits of SSL?
  • SSL provides the most greatest benefit of all — ensuring your customers feel their data is safe! More and more web site users are wary of entering their credit card information online. They think it will be stolen! SSL encrypts this information to make it secure. A customer who feels safe and secure on your web site is a happy customer. A happy customer makes repeat purchases.

  • Who are the SSL Certificate providers?
  • Domains at Retail, VeriSign and Thawte all provide SSL Certificates.

  • What encryption types exist for SSL
  • Most commonly, all SSL Certificate providers have up to 256-bit Encryption. You will normally find either 128-bit or high grade 256-bit encryption.

  • Is Secured Hosting meant for only E-Commerce Web Sites?
  • The most common application for SSL certificates is for E-Commerce web sites taking payment and protecting credit card data. This is NOT the only use of Secure SSL Hosting. Many users look for the padlock icon and "https" in the URL even if they are entering subscription information. Visitors may leave before making a purchase, creating an account or even signing up for a newsletter. If you collect any type of data, including their Name and Location, Secure SSL Hosting will provide confidence their information will not be stolen and subject to Identity Theft.

  • Does having a SSL Certificate mean Secured Hosting?
  • Simply, yes! Without an SSL certificate you will never get that green bar in IE7 telling you, this site is secure! You will never see the padlock in the browser window. Your page will not show https. All indicators to Web Site visitors that they are on Secured Web Page. While hosting may have an SSL certificate which protects data entered in the browser, the actual hosting server also needs to have all security updates and patches to ensure the server your pages are on are secure.