What’s SSL and Why Your Website Needs It
by Larry Slusser on April 2nd, 2008
SSL simply means secure sockets layer. It is the security that eCommerce businesses use when gathering credit card information. The SSL uses port 443 to connect to your computer ensuring a secure connection on the server. In essence, SSL is the most often used for transmitting credit card, banking, tax or personal information on the internet.
Ensuring that your customers feel safe when purchasing from your site will help to ensure that you will first, have customers, and second that you will keep and continue to receive customers. With the threat of identity theft so real in today’s world, consumers try to take as much care in the information that they give out and are appreciative when businesses take the extra precaution to ensure that their information is not jeopardized.
There are a variety of SSL providers to choose from-it is wise to evaluate the needs of your business before you start looking so you know exactly what you need and want. Different providers offer different options. SSL Certificate Wizard will guide you to help make a decision. Below are providers that are the most popular at this time.
First, the SSL provider GoDaddy has been successful in branding their product and is a very popular provider and a name that people trust. Some of their options are also more affordable to the smaller businesses.
Verisign is also a well-known and probably one of the most trusted providers in the business, which is what both businesses and consumers rely on. However, Verisign can also be a little bit more expensive.
Comodo is another provider and provides less expensive support with some free offers. One thing that they do offer that is enticing is that there are not any renewal or update fees.
Digicert is well-known for its customer service and support, which can be very important to a business owner. Subsequently, the popularity for Digicert is growing and provides a money back guarantee to ensure satisfaction for their services.
Thawte is not a cheap SSL certification site, but prides itself on being a trustworthy provider, hence their company slogan boats “It’s a trust thing.” Thawte is becoming more popular and is seen by their customers as security for their sites.
As with any of the products, ensure that you have thoroughly reviewed each of them, choosing the provider that gives you the products you need to ensure your customers can safely process their transactions.