SSL Certificate
Before I explain how to install SSL, let’s take a look at what it is. SSL certificates contain cryptographic keys that identify the organisation.
Using SSL, or Secure Sockets Layer, web browsers and servers are able to communicate encrypted.
In the past, SSL certificates were only available on websites that handled financial transactions and collected personal information. This way, the web server and browser could communicate securely. Installing it on your website (webserver) activates the padlock and HTTPS protocol.
As SSL certificates became increasingly popular, social media sites embraced them. Google began urging all sites to have them. An SSL certificate binds two things:
- Hostnames, domain names, or server names.
- Name and location of an organization (like a company name).