Get Started with SSL

What is an SSL Certificate?

An SSL certificate is a bit of code on your web server that provides security for online communications. When a web browser contacts your secured website, the SSL certificate enables an encrypted connection. It’s kind of like sealing a letter in an envelope before sending it through the mail.

SSL certificates also inspire trust because each SSL certificate contains identification information. When you request an SSL certificate, a third party (such as Thawte) verifies your organization’s information and issues a unique certificate to you with that information. This is known as the authentication process.

Learn more: How SSL Works

Which SSL Certificate is right for Me?

The right SSL certificate for your organization depends on your web site and your audience.

• For public web sites where customers enter credit cards or other high value information, you need to quickly show users proof of your web site’s identity and encryption. An SSL Web Server Certificate with EV turns the address bar green in high-security browsers and displays your verified organization name, making it easy for users to trust your site. Learn more: Extended Validation FAQ.
• If your site requires sign-in or log-in, SSL Web Server Certificates provide assurance of your site’s identity and security. The encryption is as strong as an EV certificate, however, without the visibility and assurance of the green address bar. Learn more: SSL FAQ.
• To keep internal communications and intranets private, an SSL123 Certificate provides encryption for employees and on-site users. Only the domain name is verified.

If you cannot risk losing a single user for lack of trust, choose SSL Web Server Certificate with EV to inspire the highest level of trust among your site’s users.

How Do I Get Started?

1. Generate a Certificate Signing Request (CSR) for the web server you plan to secure. If you do not manage your own web server, contact your web host or Internet service provider to request a CSR.
2. Select an SSL Certificate and click buy.
3. Pick up your certificate in to your Thawte® Certificate Center Account.
4. Follow installation instructions for your Web server.
5. Download the Thawte® Trusted Site Seal to display on pages within your secured domain.

Why choose Thawte?

Thawte is trusted by millions of people worldwide. When we issue an SSL certificate, we know that our name will appear next to yours as the trusted third party who verified it. We take that trust seriously and lead the industry with rigorous authentication methods and a global infrastructure to support real-time certificate look-ups.