Getting Started with SSLs

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How can we help you with your SSL?

     I need to buy an SSL, which one should I purchase?

     I purchased an SSL, how do I get it working?

     I need to renew an SSL, what do I have to do?

Selecting the Correct SSL to Purchase

There are different types of SSLs which serve unique purposes.

Higher assurance levels use more checkpoints to ensure the legitimacy of the individual or entity requesting the SSL. Premium assurance gets preferential treatment in popular browsers—a green bar with corporation information displays next to the URL.

Premium assurance is the best, and most recognized way, of ensuring your customers feel secure.

Some hardware configurations require the purchase of a specific SSL:

Intel® vPro requires a Standard or Deluxe SSL.
Deluxe SSLs can only be purchased through Customer Support.
Microsoft® Exchange Server 2007 and Exchange Server 2010 work best with a UCC SSL.
Quick Shopping Cart® requires a Single Standard SSL.

Single SSL

If you need to encrypt information for only one Web address, coolexample.com for example, use the Single SSL. The single SSL works well for shopping cart Websites.

A single SSL is also a good way to encrypt log ins on your Website. For example, WordPress® has a plugin called Admin SSL that will use an SSL (if one is present) to encrypt your log in information. Otherwise you log in using plain text and a hacker could intercept it.

Wildcard SSL

Without a wildcard, you need a separate SSL certificate for each subdomain you want to secure. A subdomain is the prefix before your domain name. For example, the subdomain for test.coolexample.com is test.

The Wildcard SSL saves time and money. Imagine having to install five different SSLs because you had five different subdomains.

With a wildcard, you can use *.coolexample.com as your common name and protect shop.coolexample.com, blog.coolexample.com, email.coolexample.com, intranet.coolexample.com, and more.

UCC SSL

The UCC Certificate is ideal for Communication Server, Exchange Server and other Enterprise Applications, as well as for single companies or entities with many related URLs. When you purchase a UCC, you select how many additional domains you are intending to secure, up to 100.

This certificate is not recommended for use with Websites completely separate from each other. For example, a network provider who builds Websites for competitors would not want to use a UCC SSL to secure all their hosted Websites because the certificate information shows all the other hosted Websites that the UCC protects.

This certificate is also not recommended for virtual dedicated or dedicated servers with Simple Control Panel.

Tip: You cannot upgrade a UCC certificate to include more names. If you bought the UCC with up to five domains, you need to purchase a new certificate to secure six domains.

Getting Your SSL to Work

After purchasing an SSL, getting it to work requires you to request and then install it.

Requesting the SSL

Requesting your SSL varies according to where you're going to install your SSL:

NOTE: Third party, virtual dedicated, and dedicated hosting require a separate installation process.

Installing Your SSL

If your certificate request is approved, we send an email to let you know.

What happens next depends on where you're hosted:

If you are not hosted with us or using one of our virtual dedicated or dedicated server solutions, we include instructions for downloading the certificates needed to establish a secure connection. Use our installation instructions to install them on your server.
If you are using web hosting or a virtual dedicated or dedicated server with Simple Control Panel, we install the certificate.

NOTE: For third party hosting or a virtual dedicated or dedicated hosting plan you must reinstall a UCC certificate every time a SAN is added or removed. Therefore, when possible, we recommend assigning all your SANs before you install the certificate. For information on adding or dropping SANs, see Adding or Dropping Subject Alternative Names from UCC Certificates

Renewing Your SSL

In addition to paying for a renewal credit, there are extra steps to follow when renewing your SSL.

After following the instructions in How do I renew my certificate?, do the following:

Do nothing if you are using the SSL on any of the following:
- Standard Web Hosting
- Quick Shopping Cart
- Website Builder
Follow the renewal instructions if your SSL is installed on third party hosting, virtual dedicated, or dedicated hosting. The SSL renewal instructions are similar to the installation instructions you followed when you first set up the SSL.