Today’s customers are looking for security assurances before they make an online purchase, sign up for a newsletter, or join a networking group. That’s why a GlobalSign SSL certificate from HostPapa is crucial if your website collects any customer data – whether that be a simple login name or full credit card details.
Make sure you fully understand the importance of an SSL certificate. Read on for answers to some of your most frequently asked questions.
What is SSL?
SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer. An SSL certificate offers your website and your customers an added layer of protection in two key ways. First, an SSL certificate will authenticate your website’s identity, assuring your customers you are who you say you are. It will also encrypt the information visitors enter on your site, keeping it safe during transmission and storage. If you have a GlobalSign SSL certificate from HostPapa on your site, your customers know they can fully trust you to take care of their data.
What are the benefits of having an SSL certificate on my website?
Having an SSL certificate is critical for your online reputation. It lets your website visitors know they can trust you – that you value their privacy and are making the extra effort to ensure all their data is encrypted during transmission from their computer to yours. A GlobalSign SSL certificate from HostPapa will protect all customer information you collect, including names, addresses, passwords, and credit card numbers.
An SSL certificate is the standard for web security. You will be required to have one if you plan to accept credit cards or other payment options on your site. In other words: if you are running an online business, you will be required to have an SSL certificate.
How will people know my website is safe?
Once a GlobalSign SSL certificate has been purchased, installed, and is active on your website, visitors will be able to see a number of recognizable signs that your site is secure. When visitors enter an SSL-protected page on your website, they will see a locked padlock and the “https” in their browser address bar. You will also have the option (recommended!) to add a security seal on your web pages. This seal will clearly communicate that your website has been verified and is secure. A visitor may click on this SSL seal to view the details and status of your website’s SSL certificate.
Who uses SSL Certificates?
Ideally, any website that accepts or transmits sensitive information should be protected by SSL. These include, but are not limited to:
- Ecommerce operations and retailers
- Service providers
- Banks and financial institutions
- Educational institutions
- Government organizations
- Organizations with intranets
- Any website with a “members-only” area
- Many others
Why should I buy an SSL certificate from HostPapa?
HostPapa has partnered with GlobalSign to offer our customers a highly recognized name brand SSL certificate. Your SSL certificate will be recognized by 99% of all browsers on the market today, ensuring your visitors will not be disappointed. This high-level security layer offers up to 256-bit encryption and website verification – giving your customers complete confidence in your security reputation.
HostPapa’s SSL certificates also cost less than many others on the market. And, of course, they’re all backed by HostPapa’s reliable 24/7 support!
Which SSL do I need?
HostPapa offers two SSL options: a single SSL, and a Wildcard SSL. A single SSL is all you need if you’re looking to secure 1 domain only – no subdomains. A Wildcard SSL is an excellent option if you have subdomains, as it will actually secure and protect unlimited subdomains.
If you have further questions about your SSL requirements, please contact HostPapa support by opening a support ticket at: http://www.hostpapasupport.com/go/submit-ticket.shtml
What happens after I purchase an SSL certificate?
It takes a few minutes to activate your SSL certificate. After your order has been completed, the software will authenticate and verify your website. When the SSL certificate is issued, you will receive an email from HostPapa with details for completing the installation. Your website will soon be secure!
Can I secure multiple subdomains with a single certificate?
A GlobalSign Wildcard SSL certificate from HostPapa will secure unlimited subdomains. A Wildcard SSL certificate is a great way to protect multiple subdomains – with just one certificate to manage, you’ll save time and money! Please note that all subdomains must be under the same domain name in order to be protected by one Wildcard certificate.
Can I have more than one secured domain per certificate?
SSL certificates from HostPapa are for single domains only. A single SSL certificate will secure pages on one domain; a Wildcard SSL certificate will secure unlimited subdomains, as long as they all fall under one domain name.
What is the warranty?
We provide a $1,000 warranty on all SSL certificates purchased through HostPapa. This warranty is designed to protect the end user (your website customer or visitor), in the unlikely event that an SSL is mis-issued. If a customer relies on a mis-issued SSL certificate's information, and suffers financial loss because of it, this warranty will come into play.
In effect, this is added insurance for you – it will cover claims made by the customer against the certificate issuer. Please note: To date, this warranty has never been used against any SSL certificate issuer. Security and accuracy are always top priority for both GlobalSign and HostPapa.
How long are your SSL certificates valid for?
SSL certificates purchased from HostPapa are valid for between 1 and 3 years, depending on the option you choose when you sign up.
Do I need a dedicated IP for an SSL certificate?
Yes. A private SSL certificate requires its own dedicated IP address. You may purchase a dedicated IP at the same time as you purchase your SSL certificate – there will be an option to do so on the secure order form. You may also purchase a dedicated IP address at any time from your HostPapa Customer Care Center.
I changed to a dedicated IP address. What happens now?
Purchasing a dedicated IP address means the IP address of your website will change. Your DNS will need to propagate (update) across the Internet, a process which can take up to 8 hours. Some visitors will be able to view your website at the new IP address right away, but others might not before propagation is complete.
Keep this in mind as you plan when you’ll be switching to a dedicated IP – you don’t want customers to struggle to find you in the middle of a major promotion!
Can I use more than one SSL certificate per cPanel account?
No. Currently, cPanel has a technical limitation of one SSL certificate (and one dedicated IP) per cPanel account. If you need more than one SSL certificate (for a different domain or a subdomain), you have a couple of options:
- If you have a shared web hosting account, you can purchase another shared account or upgrade to HostPapa’s reseller hosting plan.
- If you already have a reseller plan, you can simply create a new account in your WHM (and thus a new cPanel) for the domain in question.
For assistance, please do not hesitate to contact HostPapa support by opening a ticket at: http://www.hostpapasupport.com/go/submit-ticket.shtml
Can I install more than 1 SSL certificate per IP address?
No. Each IP address can only be associated with one SSL certificate. Please note, though, that multiple dedicated IP addresses (and multiple SSL certificates) may be assigned to a single web server.
Can I use a HostPapa dedicated IP for an SSL not provided by HostPapa?
Yes. If you have purchased an SSL certificate elsewhere, you may use it with a HostPapa IP address and a HostPapa hosting account. You may choose to transfer the SSL certificate to HostPapa, but it is not required.
If you have further questions, please open a support ticket at: http://www.hostpapasupport.com/go/submit-ticket.shtml
As applications age, hackers tend to find ways to attack them – and access your website files. It is important you update your applications regularly to ensure the latest safety measures are in place.
A SiteLock Deep 360 scan will verify the version of applications you are running against catalogues of known vulnerabilities to ensure the software you are running is safe. If a problem is located, you will be notified. You may then update your software accordingly.
