When you visit a website and see the padlock symbol in your browser’s address bar, you’re seeing HTTPS in action. But what does this actually mean? This article explains the role of HTTPS and SSL certificates in securing modern websites.
What Is HTTPS?
HTTPS stands for HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure. It’s the secure version of HTTP, the basic protocol used for transferring data between a website and your browser. The “S” in HTTPS indicates that the data to and from the server is being encrypted for security.
Without HTTPS, data exchanged between you and a website, can potentially be intercepted or tampered with by malicious actors. This could include login credentials, payment information or any other personal details. This could happen if they have access to your local network or, more commonly, if they’re monitoring the same Wi-Fi network you’re using.
What Is an SSL Certificate?
An SSL certificate — sometimes referred to as a digital certificate, and more accurately, known as a TLS certificate — is a file that contains verified details about a domain and its ownership, and is cryptographically signed by a trusted third party known as a Certificate Authority (CA).
These certificates serve two main purposes:
- Authentication — Verifies that a website is legitimately owned by the organization it claims to represent
- Encryption — Enables secure, encrypted data transmission between the user’s browser and the server
When a website has a valid SSL certificate, your browser can establish an encrypted connection and display the HTTPS padlock.
How It Works
Here’s a simplified overview of how SSL/TLS works:
- A user visits a secure website such as https://www.example.com
- The server presents its SSL certificate to the user’s browser
- The browser checks that the certificate is valid and issued by a trusted Certificate Authority (CA)
- If everything is verified, the browser and server agree on an encryption method and establish a secure connection
- From that point on, all data transmitted between browser and server is encrypted
Why HTTPS Matters
- Privacy — HTTPS encrypts user data, preventing it from being viewed or modified in transit
- Trust — Websites with HTTPS appear more trustworthy to users and browsers
- SEO Benefits — Search engines like Google favor HTTPS websites in their rankings
- Compliance — Many privacy laws and industry standards require the use of HTTPS to protect sensitive information
Types of SSL Certificates
- Domain Validated (DV) — Verifies domain ownership
- Organization Validated (OV) — Also includes verified business information and provides higher trust
- Extended Validation (EV) — Displays company name in the address bar on some browsers, offering the highest level of assurance
Multi-Domain and Wildcard Certificates
SSL certificates can cover:
- A single domain name, such as example.com
- Multiple domain names (SAN/UCC certificates), such as example.com, example.net and example.org under one certificate
- Subdomains (Wildcard certificates), such as *.example.com, which covers all subdomains under example.com, like www.example.com, shop.example.com, etc.
Multi-domain and wildcard certificates are useful for managing multiple secure sites or subdomains with one certificate, simplifying administration and reducing cost.
Getting an SSL Certificate
Setting up HTTPS for a website requires obtaining an SSL certificate, which is then installed on the hosting server for the domain.
The basic process includes:
- Selecting the right certificate type
Based on your needs, this may be a DV, OV or EV certificate, and optionally a multi-domain or wildcard version. - Generating a Certificate Signing Request (CSR)
This involves providing relevant information about your domain(s) and ownership. - Submit CSR to Certificate Authority (CA)
The CSR is sent to the CA along with any required documentation to verify domain and business ownership. - Wait for Validation
Most DV certificates are issued automatically within minutes. OV and EV certificates typically require an in-depth manual review and can take a few days.
At ISG Development, Domain Validated (DV) certificates are included with all hosting plans and are set up automatically using a streamlined provisioning system. These are setup as multi-domain certificates to cover both your primary domain and the “www” subdomain — for example, domain.com and www.domain.com.
For businesses require Organization Validated (OV), Extended Validation (EV) or wildcard certificates, we offer those as well at competitive prices.
Certificate Duration and Renewal
Traditionally, SSL/TLS certificates were valid for up to 12 months, and in the past, some were issued for even longer. However, the industry is moving toward shorter certificate lifespans, with many now expiring after just 90 days. This shift improves security but requires more frequent renewals.
It is essential to renew certificates before they expire. An expired certificate will cause browsers to display security warnings to visitors and may prevent access to your site. ISG Development monitors and automatically renews the DV certificates for our hosting clients to ensure uninterrupted protection. For OV, EV and wildcard certificates, we provide personalized support to ensure timely renewals and continued validation.
Conclusion
Using HTTPS and an SSL certificate is no longer optional — it’s a critical part of running a secure and trustworthy website. Whether you’re protecting a simple contact form or an entire e-commerce platform, SSL ensures that your visitors’ data stays private and secure. At ISG Development, we make it easy to implement and manage SSL, so you can focus on growing your business with confidence.