It is no doubt that we will spend most of our lives online in 2021. Especially after the recent COVID-19 pandemic, people from all walks of life have discovered the unimaginable power of the internet, whether in working remotely, keeping in touch with loved ones, shopping, or going on with your regular daily routines and transactions. This gives us access to different websites and web applications daily. During most of these online visits, we are usually required to enter some form of personally identifiable information like usernames and passwords, credit card info, social security numbers, home addresses and places of work, and so on. But what if this sensitive info falls on the wrong hands?
This brings us to the most sensitive matter of the 21st century: Cyber Security. Just like you are discovering the vast opportunities that you can tap into in the online space and earn some income or enjoy more convenience, so are cybercriminals who are dancing to fatter and healthier loot than ever before. Hackers are smiling their way to the bank by duping unsuspecting online users who fall victim to traps such as phishing and end up disclosing sensitive details like bank info to thugs and losing a fat penny in the process. This is why the use of EV SSL certificates has grown in popularity, especially in big eCommerce sites, banks and financial companies, healthcare and government websites, etc.
SSL stands for Secure Socket Layer. When you install an SSL certificate on your website, this offers encryption to all information being exchanged between your web server and a client browser. This means that any intruder attempting to perform a man in the middle attack will only see encrypted info and not the actual details, which only the intended recipient can decode. These certificates also offer validation or authenticity that the website owner is actually who they say they are. It is no wonder then that leading browsers like Firefox, Chrome, Safari, Internet Explorer, Opera, and others have all come together in the HTTPS Everywhere initiative to ensure that any website without SSL encryption is marked as Not Secure.
Many types of SSL certificates available vary based on the level of validation involved or the number of covered domains. The reason why most cybersecurity experts recommend that you use EV SSL Certificate, especially for sites involving financial transactions or those handling sensitive personal information like health records, is because EV SSL certificates are the mother of them all when it comes to offering the highest level of trust and security.
Verification Process for EV SSL Certificates
There are three levels of validation for SSL certificates:
- Domain Validation (DV)
- Organization Validation (OV)
- Extended Validation (EV)
While DV certificates only require the domain owner to prove ownership of the domain, OV certificates take the verification process a notch higher by requiring the domain owner to provide more personal details. The verification process for EV SSL Certificates is a whole new topic altogether.
The issuing Certificate Authority (CA) first seeks to ensure that you have the right to ownership of the domain, the business's legal ownership, physical address, specific details like tax details, registration certificates, and so on.
Being the most trusted SSL certificate in the market, not all CAs are licensed to offer you a Cheap EV SSL by the CA/Browser forum. This is to ensure a high level of accuracy and integrity in the issuance of such certificates.
Seeing that most cyber threats happen through phishing, where you are tricked into accessing a fake website that looks almost like the one you are looking for, CAs seek to thoroughly establish the background and legal framework of a business before awarding them with an EV SSL certificate.
Therefore, the verification period for such a certificate may take longer than for other certificates as you submit the documents and all information required. You will also need to pay more for this advanced level of security.
Benefits of using EV SSL certificates
There are immense benefits to being the most protected man in the room.
- Increased Customer Trust
Trust is the most critical aspect of a business. The more your customers trust you, the more they will buy from you. When you purchase a Cheap EV SSL, customers can access your company details by simply clicking on the padlock on the URL bar. This enables them to know that you are the original entity and not a fake website and so they can shop freely.
- Compliance with Industry Regulations
If you plan to accept any online payments in your site, there are the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS) regulations to consider. One of their mandatory rules is that you must have an SSL certificate installed. For healthcare websites, there are HIPAA laws to consider, as well. The EV SSL Certificates lead in this regard.
- Improved Security on Your Site
A lot of harm can result from a security breach happening on your site. When your customers' details fall on the wrong hands, their privacy is breached, and they could end up losing money when their credit card details, for instance, are used to make fraudulent purchases. You can also attract hefty fines from regulatory bodies, especially if it emerges that you were not using SSL encryption. Not forgetting your tainted reputation. That is why you need to acquire a cheap EV SSL right away!
- Parting Shot
Having an SSL certificate on your site is no longer some convenience you get to choose; it's mandatory. Although some people tend to shy away from EV SSL certificates mainly due to their higher costs, longer verification processes, and even shorter expiry periods, the industry bigwigs that use them can tell you that they are worth every penny. More so, you can get a good deal on a Cheap EV SSL by using a Cheap SSL Coupon Code. Once you have the most trusted and dependable guard on your door, customers will trickle in without a single care in the world, and the rest can only be history. Yes, and lots of dollars!
