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 Web servers. Because SSL is built into all major browsers and Web servers, simply installing a digital certificate or Server ID enables SSL capabilities.

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.

An encrypted SSL connection requires all information sent between a client and a server to be encrypted by the sending software and decrypted by the receiving software, protecting private information from interception over the Internet. In addition, all data sent over an encrypted SSL connection is protected with a mechanism for detecting tampering — that is, for automatically determining whether the data has been altered in transit. This means that users can confidently send private data, such as credit card numbers, to a website, trusting that SSL keeps it private and confidential.

	Rapid SSL	QuickSSL™	Quick SSL Premium ™
Verification of Entity	Domain	Domain	Organization & Domain
Documentation Required for Authentication	Domain Authorized E-mail	Domain Authorized E-mail	Proof of Organization or DUNS Number and WHOIS
Delivery Time	10 Minutes	10 Minutes	10 Minutes
Example Uses	Require rapid security for corporate and e-commerce websites - ideal for internal networks	Ideal for small business e-commerce website and secure logins	When corporate identity verification is important
Included in Product	Certificate & Seal	Certificate & Smart Seal	Certificate & Smart Seal
Name in Seal	None	None	Domain Name
Example Seals
Terms	1 yrs	1 yrs	1 yrs
Retail Price (per year)	$69	$99.95	$169.95
AN Price (per year)	$24.95	$54.95	$99.95