Need SSL? KellyITS works with all of the major encryption companies

KellyITS offers SSL solutions from VeriSign®, COMODO® AND GeoTrust®. This provides great flexibility in providing the SSL Certificate that fits your needs and your budget.

Far beyond most hosts that may offer just one SSL option, KellyITS can provide security ranging from basic SSL to top-of-the-line encryption and site trust with the coveted “green browser bar”.

What is SSL?

Secure Socket Layer techology is the industry standard in encryption security. When you see https in your browser bar, it is an encrypted connection.

When you are viewing any web site, there is data communication going on between the host server and your computer (or phone or whatever). This data is sent back and forth in a rather plain format, which if intercepted, can easily be read. Most of the time, this is not a big deal. For sensitive data, such as credit card numbers, personal information, or other private data, access to this information would preferably be limited to just the authorized user.

This is where SSL comes in. Data that is sent over a secure (https) connection is encrypted during transit. Sophisticated algorithms are used to translate the data into something that would be indecipherable to humans, even savvy hackers with code-cracking software.

Cost differences between SSL Certificates

All SSL certificates are designed to do that same basic thing, protect data via encyption. So why such large variations in the price between different types of SSL? The main cost variations have to do with user recognition and warranty insurance. The most widely recognized SSL certificates (and presumably most trusted by the most users) cost more. Additional features are also considered, like the “green bar”, dynamic seals, etc. Also some SSL certificates are warrantied against the ability to be cracked, from $10,000 to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

More on SSL and Dedicated IP

SSL Security and a Dedicated IP address go hand-in-hand The most common instance where security is a major concern is the realm of E-Commerce.

When you go the SSL connection route, one of the security advantages is that EVERYTHING is encrypted. SSL can be set up to kick in only on certain functions (like credit card input or login) or if necessary, for the entire site. Whenever the connection is handled via https, every bit of data - from the specific sensitive information, down to the page layout and images - is encrypted.

It should be noted that there are some alternatives. When you are not dealing with an E-commerce-type site, the only sensitive data worth protecting is probably the login. If this is the case, it may not be worth going the extra step of all-out SSL encryption security. Single specific data entries (like a login) can be encrypted by server-side programming and/or client-side javascript, which is usually sufficient without having to apply a full SSL security solution to the whole site.

Of course, if your site does not handle any type of sensitive information, or even a login, than SSL is a concern you don’t have to worry about.