Demystifying SSL Certificates: Buying & Installing for a Secure Website

Navigate the world of SSL certificates with ease! Learn where to buy them (CAs vs Resellers), follow a step-by-step purchase guide (using TheSSLStore.com as an example), and understand certificate formats for installation. Secure your website with confidence!

Obtaining an SSL Certificate

You have two primary options for acquiring an SSL certificate:

  • Certificate Authorities (CAs): Reputable CAs like Symantec, GeoTrust, and RapidSSL directly issue certificates.
  • Authorized Resellers: These companies offer certificates from various CAs, often at competitive prices. TheSSLStore.com is an example of a well-known reseller.

Steps to Buy from a Reseller (TheSSLStore.com Example)

  1. Navigate to the "Products" menu and choose your certificate type (e.g., Domain Validation SSL).
  2. Browse available options and select the certificate and CA that best suit your needs.
  3. Add the chosen certificate to your cart.
  4. Proceed to checkout, provide billing and payment details.
  5. Review the information, paste your CSR (if required), and submit the order.
  6. Upon verification, you'll receive the certificate via email as a ZIP file containing the certificate and intermediate certificates.

Important Considerations

  • Certificate Cost: Prices vary depending on the CA, validation level, and features like wildcard functionality.
  • CSR (Certificate Signing Request): Your web server might require a CSR during purchase. Check your server documentation for generation instructions.

Understanding SSL Certificate Formats

Different web server platforms require specific certificate formats:

  • PEM (Privacy-Enhanced Mail): Text-based format, commonly used by Apache and Nginx servers. It may contain cert and private key in one file.
  • DER (Distinguished Encoding Rules): Binary format used in some Java environments.
  • PKCS#12 (PFX): Secure format that stores the certificate, private key, and CA certificates. Often used on Windows servers.

Choosing the Right Format

  • Consult your web server documentation to determine the required format.
  • Download and install the certificate in the appropriate format on your server.

Additional Resources

Remember

  • Choose a reputable CA or reseller.
  • Select the right certificate type for your needs (DV, OV, EV).
  • Understand certificate formats and choose the correct one for your server.
  • Refer to your web server documentation for installation instructions.