Domain Validation SSL Certificate
DV SSL Certificate: Who Should Choose Them and How Are They Different From OV and EV Certificates
Are you considering purchasing a Domain Validation SSL Certificate? Do you want to know more about it before making the final decision? Well, you’ve come to the right place.
In this blog, we will go deeper into domain validated SSL certificate. However, we’ll begin with a basic understanding of SSL certificates. Let’s get started!
What is an SSL Certificate?
An SSL certificate is a digital certificate that proves that a website is who it says it is and makes an encrypted connection. SSL is an acronym for “Secure Sockets Layer.” It is a security protocol that links a web browser and a web server with an encrypted link.
SSL certificates need to be added to websites so that online transactions are safe and private information about customers is kept private.
SSL helps keep internet connections safe by preventing criminals from accessing or modifying the information sent from browsers to servers. The padlock icon on the side of the URL in the address bar means that the website you are surfing is protected by SSL.
What is Domain Validation SSL Certificate?
A domain validation SSL certificate is an affordable option for websites that only need to fulfill the most fundamental security standards.
The name and the domain ownership are the only things the Certifying Authority (CA) checks for before it issues the domain validated SSL certificate. Because the validation level is basic, the DV certificate can typically be issued within minutes.
It frequently comes packed as a freebie along with premium web hosting plans or is made available at a reduced cost. Alternatively, it may be purchased separately. Websites that take sensitive data such as credit card details, user information, or medical data are not the ideal candidates for the Domain Validated SSL (DV SSL) certificate, even though it is more affordable than other SSL options.
It is important to remember that legislation about data privacy, such as the GDPR, HIPAA, and others, protects the information in question. Therefore, it is recommended to be traded using encrypted subdomains independent of one another.
Domain Validated Certificate Example
- yourwebsite.com
- www.yourwebsite.com
Why Choose DV SSL Certificate? Who Should Buy It?
Here are some reasons you should choose a DV SSL certificate:
Economical
A Domain validated SSL costs less than Organization Validation SSL Certificate and Extended Validation SSL Certificate.
Issued in minutes.
Once the domain verification process is done, the Certificate Authority (CA) issues domain validated (DV) SSL certificates in minutes.
No paperwork is needed for validation.
Certificate Authority does not demand for any paperwork during the process of domain name verification.
SEO ranking benefits
Recently, Google said that sites that use SSL would get better rankings. A DV SSL helps you get more people to visit your website, which is great for your business.
Increased trust
HTTPS and secure site seals are trust indicators that make your website visitors feel safe and confident while entering their information on your website.
Domain Validation SSL Certificate: Verification Methods
The following is a verification process for a Domain Validation SSL (DV SSL) certificate.
Email Verification
In this vetting process, you should have a pre-approved email address from the ones listed below OR an email address that is listed in your domain’s WHOIS directory. If you need to know what’s on your domain’s WHOIS page, you can ask your domain registrar for help.
For email-based verification, ONLY the email addresses listed below or any one of the public WHOIS email addresses can be used.
NOTE: The system of the certificate authority must be able to automatically find your information from the WHOIS record of your website. Due to the EU’s data privacy laws, many domain registrars have modified or axed all information about registered domain users so that the public can’t see it.
Please ask your domain registrar if the public can still see your WHOIS information on their website. Your domain’s WHOIS record can’t be used for Domain Validation if it can’t show the public your contact email address.
HTTP/HTTPS File Verification
In this vetting process, you will need to make two new subfolders in your public directory for each domain that you are requesting and put a unique file in each subfolder. You must log in to your hosting control panel or server to make the changes.
DNS Verification
In this method, you must create a CNAME record (for Sectigo/Comodo Products) or a TXT record (for RapidSSL/Thawte/GeoTrust/Digicert/Symantec Products) in your DNS Manager and wait for it to disperse throughout the internet. This can take around 24 hours to finish. To make the following changes, you must log in to your hosting control panel or server to make these changes.
If you bought a domain-validated SSL, you’d soon get your certificate once ownership of your domain has been approved. You’ll now be able to install your DV SSL certificate on any of your servers.
If you bought an EV or OV certificate, you’d need to go through the steps for validating your organization to get your certificate files.
Do I Get a Lower Encryption Level When I Buy DV SSL?
No, you don’t. The encryption levels are the same for each certificate. Only the validation levels differ.
During the verification process for a Domain Validation (DV) SSL certificate, information like the domain name, the owner of the domain, and other personal information is checked automatically.
When compared to DV, OV is a step up. The CA will check the information about the business owner. They will make sure the company is registered and write the name of the company on the certificate. Also, the CA will try to ensure that the organization asking for the certificate owns the domain in question.
During the verification process, the CA will contact the company and ask for information and proof of existence. The CA will also ensure that the request comes from a person directly connected to the company and has permission to speak for it.
DV SSL vs. OV SSL vs. EV SSL: What’s the Difference
The following are the major differences between the three primary types of SSL certificates.
| Parameters | DV SSL | OV SSL | EV SSL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Validation Process | It can be verified by putting the required files on the server, clicking the CA’s validation link, or sending an email to the registered email address to verify the email address. | Validation includes the DV validation process and sending in information about the business’s registration, such as its physical address, phone number, etc. | Like DV + OV validation procedures, one needs valid proof that the business has been open for over three years + third-party business directory verification, |
| Ideal for | Time is taken to issue | Large and medium-sized businesses and nonprofits. | Large corporations, businesses, financial institutions, and industries dealing with health care. |
| Time taken to issue | Few minutes | 1-3 Days | 1-5 Days |
| Name of the company | Upon clicking on the padlock, it doesn’t show the organization’s name. | Upon clicking on the padlock and selecting “Details of a certificate,” the company name will appear. | Upon clicking on the padlock you can see the organization’s name right away. |
Should I get a DV SSL Certificate?
Domain Validation is great for blogs, small personal websites, and landing pages that don’t deal with sensitive user information. After all, SSL is almost a requirement these days. DV can be given out in just a few minutes, validation is easy, and it does offer strong encryption that meets industry standards. With a domain-validated SSL certificate, you’ll be safe. You’ll also be taking advantage of a chance to build trust.
Websites that don’t sell anything or take credit card payments often use DV certificates.
You must note here that domain validated SSL certificate is the most basic level of encryption because it only checks that the domain owner is who they say they are. So, sites that use DV SSL don’t have trust signals like the company name in the URL. Even though your connection to the server is safe, you cannot know if the website is real.
By installing a Domain Validated (DV) SSL certificate, any Tom, Dick, or Harry can make a fake website for a company and trick users into giving them sensitive information. The word for this is “phishing.” You might think you’re on the website of company ABC, but this site could just be a scam.
Organization Validation SSL and Extended Validation SSL certificate come into play at this point.
Organization Validation (OV) SSL Certificates
In addition to validating your domain, the CA verifies your business by getting in touch with you or your business. The CA checks to see if you own the domain and if it is for a business registered with the government. These certificates are thought to be very trustworthy.
OV certificates are often needed for business and public websites that collect and store customer information (e.g., web apps).
SSL certificates with extended validation (EV)
Most business websites use EV, which gives the highest trust and reliability. It means that your business will be fully checked out. The CA has very strict rules about who can get this certificate.
EV certificates are expensive and require a long verification process. Because of this, they are mostly used by well-known websites that ask visitors for personal information or often collect online payments (e.g., banks or medical providers).
Conclusion
To ensure a private and safe connection to the internet, practically every website today uses secure socket layer (SSL) certificates. It should be no surprise that this policy is enforced stringently by famous search engines, given the rise in cyber risks.
You should now have a good understanding of the Domain Validation SSL certificate, its numerous varieties, and its varying validation levels. We sincerely hope that it assists you in selecting the SSL certificate that is best suited for your website.
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