SSL can, at first, seem confusing to newbies. The terminology and the vast array of SSL types and SSL sites available doesn’t help matters. Another confusing thing is the general cost of an SSL certificate. Because there isn’t one. SSL cost can run the gamut, from incredibly cheap to kind of expensive. What price is worth it? Is an SSL the type of product you should pay more for, or is a cheap one just as good?
That’s exactly what this post will address. Our top tip?
Don’t spend a fortune on an SSL certificate
Sometimes paying a little extra for a product is worth it, but SSL isn’t one of them. SSL certificates may come at varying price points, but the product itself is the same as any other on the market. But they are available at different range from standard SSL, Wildcard SSL Certificate, Multi-Domain SSL, OV, EV, DV SSL etc. All modern SSL certificates have a potential 256-bit encryption strength. This means the cryptographic key for encrypting and decrypting the connection to your site is 256-bits long. In simple terms, it’s impossible to crack by the world’s strongest supercomputer. So a run-of-the-mill hacker certainly won’t be figuring it out. The potential lies in your server settings. If your SSL isn’t running to full capacity, check that your server is optimized to support its full potential.
So you see, if it’s the same product in the end, why would you pay more than you have to? You should never pay anything based on price alone, especially not SSL.
So, how should you choose an SSL?
The same as any other product you want to buy. See what people are saying and check the reputation of the store itself. As we mentioned at the top, SSL certificates are confusing to anyone unfamiliar with them. You’ll need a lot of explanatory content, how-to guides, and attentive customer support along the way. So you’re going to want an SSL store who provides that. So do your research and read third-party reviews before choosing where to buy your SSL.
Apart from that, the issuing Certificate Authority (CA) is also a big deal. You want your site to work in major browsers, right? Well, for that to happen, the CA that’s issued your SSL needs to be trusted. If not, the browser will reject SSL encryption, rendering it useless. So research a store’s partner CA before committing and ensure it’s trusted across the web.
