By installing a thawte or VeriSign SSL Web Server certificate, you immediately open yourself up to doing more business with more people. You are effectively sending out a signal that you are aware of the pitfalls of doing business online, and have taken measures to minimize them.
That's what a thawte or VeriSign certificate will do for you. But the real benefits lie with your customers. Straight away, they will know 2 things:
- You are who you claim to be and thus the risks of doing business online are minimized (because you have come through the trusted and comprehensive thawte authentication process).
- Information exchanged with you is private and entirely protected from being viewed or tampered with.
Other benefits to you
- Interoperability and support for all standard applications and browsers.
- Ease of use - a simple installation process that requires no new software, no add-ons and unmatched customer support.
- thawte or VeriSign certificates are compatible with 99% of all Browsers.
- Technical support teams are available 24 x 5.
- In thawte or VeriSign, you are dealing with a 'root' Certification Authority. This means that we are not reliant on any other entity to issue digital certificates. We are one of few licensed Certification Authorities worldwide.
Do you need a Web Server certificate?
Well, absolutely, if you wish to:
- Offer secure online transactions
- Guarantee information privacy
- Protect information between yourself and your online customers while it is being transmitted
- Prove your company's identity online
You may simply want to send out a general message to all
who access your web site that you are serious about what
you are doing, and that it is important to you that they
feel safe and comfortable that they are protected within
your environment. thawte has worked hard
over the years to instill peace of mind that a thawte SSL
Web Server certificate signifies a verified, legal, real-world
entity, and that all information being submitted or transmitted
via this entity is both unreadable and untouchable to outside
parties.
So, you've established that you need a Web Server certificate. Which one do you go for?
The type of certificate you acquire should be determined predominantly by whom you communicate with via your web interface. If your interaction with customers/potential customers extends beyond US shores, you should consider a SGC SuperCert. Why?
In the past, browser versions developed for export from the US were not automatically enabled to use 128-bit encryption. These browsers used 40-bit or 56-bit encryption, which is much more vulnerable to the interception of information while in transit.
The SGC SuperCert offers special automatic step-up technology that allows you to extend 128-bit encryption to all your clients, even if they use browsers limited to 40-bit or 56-bit encryption capabilities. SGC SuperCerts are recognized by Internet Explorer 5.01, and Netscape 4.7, and later. Older browsers will still create a secure SSL connection to your server at 40, 56, or 128 bits depending on the browser support. Cryptographers consider 128-bit encryption virtually 'unbreakable.'
There is a broad notion that the sole purpose of a digital certificate is to encrypt and protect information that is transmitted between a web server and connecting browsers. What is often overlooked, however, is the fact that this is actually only half the job of any worthy digital certificate…
Virtual Reality
Ever heard the saying perception is reality? In the old days we had our senses to rely on. If it didn't feel or look good, we simply moved on. Now we have the Internet, and with it, infinite possibilities for business and communication. Yes, it is undoubtedly one of the greatest revolutions of our time. Yet, there are always those questions that keep coming up:
- How do I know that these guys are who they say they are?
- I wonder if they actually have a "store/shop"?
- Do those products really look like that?
- Can anyone else see what I am doing right now?
There are more unsettling questions. The bottom line is that in cyberspace perception has to be reality. Right?
Wrong
Reality is reality. This is where we get to the other half of what a digital certificate does. This is also where a thawte SSL Web Server certificate emerges as the digital certificate of choice for any discerning individual or company. You've seen our catch phrase… it's a trust thing. And it is simply that.
When one applies for a thawte SSL Web Server certificate, the verification and authentication procedure that that particular individual/group/company is subject to is of the very highest standard. In fact, a stringent checklist of activities is undertaken to ensure that you really are who you claim to be. The value of this process cannot be underestimated, and it is this that has been the foundation of thawte's enviable reputation as a rock-solid independent Certification Authority (CA).
So, let's ask the question again.
What does a thawte SSL Web Server certificate do?
- It inspires trust in those who are considering communicating/transacting with you, by verifying that you are the real deal.
- It guarantees information privacy and protects information in transmission between your web server and your clients' web browsers.
For the technical summary of what a thawte or VeriSign SSL Web Server certificate really does, see technical details.
1. What information is displayed on a thawte SSL Web Server certificate?
When you install a thawte or VeriSign SSL Web Server certificate on your server, your customers will be able to view the following information:
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The domain for which the certificate was issued. This allows them to check that the certificate was issued for your domain (URL).
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The legal owner of the certificate. This acts as further reassurance, since customers are able to see whom they are doing business with.
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The physical location of the owner. Once again this reassures customers that they are dealing with an actual entity.
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The validity dates of the certificate. This is extremely important, since it shows users that your SSL Web Server certificate is current.
2. Why is authentication such an important part of a digital certificate?
One of the major obstacles to communicating via the Internet is the lack of certainty about who is actually on the other side. There have been many instances of fraud whereby individuals/groups have posed as others on the Web. thawte or VeriSign stringent verification and authentication procedures when issuing digital certificates ensure that you are in fact dealing with exactly who you think you are when doing business on the Web. In this manner, thawte or VeriSign promotes trust between companies and consumers on the Internet.
3. What is SSL?
Originally developed by Netscape, SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer. It is the leading security protocol on the Internet.
4. Is thawte's or VeriSigns SSL Web Server certificate the right product for me?
If you wish to ensure that the information exchanged between you and your users remains private and confidential while in transit, thawte or VeriSign's SSL Web Server certificate is the proven way to assure customers that they are not exposed to the risks associated with sending data over the Internet.
5. How do I extend SSL security to my customers?
The beauty of a thawte or VeriSign SSL Web Server certificate is that your customers are automatically protected when they access your secure server, which means that they do not need to install any additional software to ensure safe information transmission.
