Secure Your Website With an SSL Certificate
An SSL certificate enables encrypted HTTPS connections between a website and its visitors. It helps protect information exchanged through the connection, such as login credentials, contact details, payment information, and other data submitted through a website.
Onlive Server offers SSL certificates for websites, business applications, ecommerce stores, multiple domains, subdomains, and software signing requirements.
What Does an SSL Certificate Do?
When someone visits an HTTPS website, the browser establishes an encrypted connection with the server.
The certificate also helps the browser verify that the certificate was issued for the requested domain by a trusted Certificate Authority.
In practical terms, an SSL/TLS certificate helps provide:
Encrypted communication
Domain authentication
Protection against data interception
HTTPS access
Browser trust indicators
Secure transmission of website information
An SSL certificate protects the connection. It does not, by itself, secure an outdated application, prevent every type of cyberattack, or replace server and website security controls.
Choose the Certificate for Your Website
Different websites have different certificate requirements. A personal website may only need domain validation, while a business handling several domains or requiring organization verification may need another certificate type.
Onlive Server’s SSL catalog includes several options.
Domain Validation (DV)
DV certificates verify control over the domain. They are commonly used for websites, blogs, landing pages, applications, and other services where domain-level validation is sufficient.
Some available DV products include:
Availability, validation method, coverage, and pricing depend on the individual certificate.
Organization Validation (OV)
OV certificates involve organization validation in addition to domain validation.
They can be suitable for businesses and organizations that want a certificate with organizational identity verification.
Available OV options include products such as:
- Enterprise Single OV
- Enterprise Pro OV
- Enterprise Pro Wildcard OV
- PremiumSSL Single OV
- InstantSSL Single OV
- InstantSSL Pro OV
The validation process and issuance time vary by certificate.
Extended Validation (EV)
EV certificates involve a more extensive validation process than standard DV certificates.
They may be considered by organizations with specific identity and trust requirements.
The catalog includes EV products such as:
- Sectigo EV
- PositiveSSL Multi EV
- Sectigo MDC EV
- Enterprise SSL Pro with EV
- Enterprise SSL Pro with EV Multi-Domain
Validation requirements and domain coverage depend on the selected certificate.
Protect Multiple Subdomains With a Wildcard Certificate
If one domain has several subdomains, purchasing a separate certificate for every subdomain may not be necessary.
A Wildcard SSL certificate can secure the primary domain and its eligible subdomains covered by the certificate.
For example:
Wildcard coverage varies by certificate, so check the exact product terms before ordering.
Onlive Server’s catalog includes Wildcard DV and Wildcard OV certificates from providers such as Sectigo and related product lines.
Secure Multiple Domains With Multi-Domain SSL
Businesses often operate more than one domain.
A multi-domain certificate can be useful when several eligible domain names need to be secured under one certificate.
Depending on the product, multi-domain certificates may support:
- Multiple domain names
- SAN entries
- WWW and non-WWW versions
- Different website addresses under the same certificate
The number of domains supported varies by certificate. Some products in the current catalog support significantly larger domain counts.
SSL for Ecommerce Websites
Online stores handle information that should be transmitted over an encrypted connection.
This can include:
- Customer login details
- Contact information
- Checkout information
- Account data
- Order information
HTTPS should be used across the ecommerce website, not only on the checkout page.
An SSL certificate is one part of a secure ecommerce environment. Website software, payment processing, server configuration, access controls, database security, and regular updates also need attention.
SSL for Business Websites
A company website may not process payments, but visitors still submit information through forms, login pages, customer portals, and other interactive features.
Using HTTPS protects data exchanged between the visitor and your server and prevents browsers from treating the site as an unsecured HTTP connection.
This makes SSL relevant for:
- Corporate websites
- Service websites
- Customer portals
- Membership websites
- WordPress websites
- Web applications
- Online stores
- Internal web tools
SSL Certificate Installation
The certificate needs to be installed on the server hosting the website.
Depending on the hosting environment, installation can involve:
SSL Renewal and Certificate Management
SSL certificates have a defined validity period.
Renewal should be planned before the existing certificate expires. An expired certificate can cause browsers to display security warnings and may interrupt normal HTTPS access.
Certificate management should include:
- Expiration monitoring
- Renewal
- Reinstallation when required
- Certificate chain checks
- Domain verification
- HTTPS testing
The exact validity period and renewal process depend on the certificate and Certificate Authority.
SSL Certificates for Different Server Environments
SSL can be installed on many types of hosting environments, including:
cPanel
Install and manage certificates through cPanel’s SSL/TLS tools or supported automated certificate systems.
Plesk
Configure certificates for domains and services through the Plesk interface.
Apache
Install the certificate and configure the appropriate HTTPS virtual host.
Nginx
Add the certificate and key to the server configuration and configure the HTTPS server block.
IIS
Windows Server environments can use IIS certificate management for HTTPS websites.
VPS and Dedicated Servers
Administrators with root or administrative access can install and configure certificates directly on the server.
The certificate itself doesn’t determine the server configuration. The web server and hosting environment determine how it is installed.
Why Buy SSL Certificates From Onlive Server?
Multiple Certificate Options
Choose from DV, OV, EV, Wildcard, Multi-Domain, UCC, and Code Signing products based on your requirements.
Single and Multi-Domain Coverage
Secure one domain or select a certificate designed to cover multiple eligible domains.
Wildcard Options
Use eligible Wildcard certificates when multiple subdomains need protection.
Different Validation Levels
Select domain, organization, or extended validation according to the certificate and business requirement.
Server Compatibility
SSL certificates can be deployed across common web server and hosting environments when the selected certificate and server configuration support them.
Technical Assistance
If you need help with certificate installation, HTTPS configuration, renewal, or troubleshooting, our technical team can assist with the server-side setup.
SSL Certificate Selection Guide
| Requirement | Suitable Certificate Type |
|---|---|
| One website and basic domain validation | DV |
| Business identity validation | OV |
| Higher organizational validation requirements | EV |
| One domain with multiple subdomains | Wildcard |
| Several domain names | Multi-Domain / SAN |
| Software or application signing | Code Signing |
The table is a starting point rather than a substitute for checking the individual certificate’s validation, domain coverage, warranty, issuance process, and other terms.
SSL Certificate FAQs
What is an SSL certificate?
An SSL/TLS certificate enables an encrypted HTTPS connection between a website and a visitor’s browser. It also helps verify that the certificate is associated with the requested domain.
Why does my website need HTTPS?
HTTPS protects information exchanged between the visitor and website from being transmitted as plain HTTP traffic. It is particularly important for login pages, forms, ecommerce websites, and applications that handle sensitive information.
What is the difference between DV, OV, and EV?
DV validates control of the domain. OV includes organization validation. EV involves a more extensive validation process. The appropriate type depends on your identity and business requirements.
What is a Wildcard SSL certificate?
A Wildcard certificate is designed to secure a domain and eligible subdomains covered by the certificate.
What is a Multi-Domain SSL certificate?
A Multi-Domain certificate can secure multiple eligible domain names through one certificate, depending on the product’s supported domain limit.
Can one SSL certificate cover multiple subdomains?
Yes, a suitable Wildcard certificate can cover the primary domain and eligible subdomains within its scope.
Can SSL be installed on a VPS?
Yes. An SSL certificate can be installed on a VPS when you have the necessary server access and the web server is configured for HTTPS.
Can I use SSL with cPanel?
Yes. SSL certificates can be installed and managed through cPanel. cPanel also supports automated SSL installation through AutoSSL when the hosting environment supports it.
Can I use an SSL certificate with Nginx or Apache?
Yes. Both Nginx and Apache support HTTPS certificate configuration. The installation steps differ between the two web servers.
Does an SSL certificate protect my website from hacking?
No. SSL protects the connection between the client and server. It does not replace application security, server hardening, malware protection, software updates, firewalls, or access controls.
Does SSL improve SEO?
HTTPS is a ranking signal used by Google, but installing an SSL certificate alone does not guarantee higher rankings. Website quality, relevance, performance, technical SEO, and many other factors also affect search visibility.
What happens when an SSL certificate expires?
Browsers may display security warnings when visitors access a website with an expired certificate. The certificate should therefore be renewed and installed before its expiration date.
How quickly can an SSL certificate be issued?
Issuance time depends on the certificate and validation method. Some DV certificates in the current Onlive Server catalog list issuance in minutes, while certain OV and EV products require additional validation and can take longer.
Do SSL certificates work on mobile devices?
Certificates issued by trusted Certificate Authorities are designed for use across supported browsers and client platforms. Exact compatibility depends on the certificate chain, browser, operating system, and server configuration.
Do I need a separate SSL certificate for every domain?
Not always. A Multi-Domain certificate may cover multiple domains, while a Wildcard certificate can cover eligible subdomains of a domain. The certificate’s specific coverage should be checked before purchase.
What is a Code Signing Certificate?
A Code Signing Certificate is used to digitally sign software or code. It is different from a website SSL certificate and is intended to help users and systems verify the publisher and detect tampering.
Secure Your Website With the Right Certificate
The right SSL certificate depends on what you need to protect.
A single business website may only require a DV certificate. A company with several domains may benefit from a Multi-Domain option, while an application using multiple subdomains may need a Wildcard certificate.
Review the domain coverage and validation requirements before ordering.