Alpha1: SSL Certificates

What is SSL?


	The Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol has become the universal standard on the web for authenticating sites and for encrypting communications between users and the Web servers. Simply installing a digital certificate or Server ID emables SSL capabilities because all major browsers and web servers now have SSL built into them.

	SSL server authentication allows users to confirm a Web server's identity. SSL-enabled client software, such as a Web browser, can automatically check that a server's certificate and public ID are valid and have been issued by a certificate authority (CA) — such as VeriSign — listed in the client software's list of trusted CAs. SSL server authentication is vital for secure e-commerce transactions in which users, for example, are sending credit card numbers over the Web and first want to verify the receiving server's identity.

How SSL Works

	A customer contacts your site and accesses a secured URL: a page secured by a Server ID (indicated by a URL that begins with "https:" instead of just "http:" or by a message from the browser).

	Our server responds, automatically sending the customer your site's digital certificate, which authenticates your site.

	Your customer's Web browser generates a unique "session key" (like a code) to encrypt all communications with the site.

	The user's browser encrypts the session key with the your site's public key so only your site can read the session key. Depending on the browser, the user may see a key icon becoming whole or a padlock closing, indicating that the session is secure.

	A secure session is now established--all communications will be encrypted and can only be decrypted by the two parties in the session. It all takes only seconds and requires no action by the user.

An official partner of XRamp Technologies, we offer our members the highest class of SSL certificates available at reasonable costs.

SSL Certificates are easy to install, provide your domain with secure web pages (that little yellow lock at the bottom of the browser) and are a necessary requirement for any websites choosing to do secure transactions like personal information, credit card data and E-Commerce.

Confused? No way! - We offer 2 type of certifcates, Web Server and Wild Card, both in One (1) year and Three (3) year intervals. The most COMMON kind of certificate is the Web Server certificate. The wild Card certificate is for one domain with many hosts like https://server1.domain.com and https://server2.domain.com. If you don't know what one you need, you are definately after the regular Web Server cert!

Hosting Package: SSL Certificates require that you have an Advanced or higher hosting package, one step higher than our "lowest priced" hosting package. Adding SSL capability to your domain may require an upgrade in your current package/service.

It's So Easy: Installation is easy - we do all the certification installation and configuration. You'll need to make minor adjustments to your website on pages you want to secure by making sure visitors go to "https" pages instead of "http".

Certificate Costs: The costs of the certificate(s) are in ADDITION to your current Alpha1 hosting services. The SSL certificate, once purchased is then valid for 1 or 3 years, depending on which certificate you choose. After it expires, it will come up for renewal - similar to how registration on your domain name works.