Jargon Buster: SSL Encryption Protocols
If you have found yourself having to purchase SSL certificates, you may have encountered the phrase ‘encryption protocols’. Tech-savvy people will be aware of what this is, even in the most basic of terms, but to an unsuspecting layman who just needs to make their business website secure, it could be completely baffling.
Whether you’re looking into Site Secure Pro with EV or just a standard Secure Site certificate, understanding the jargon could help massively, even if you do have a technophile on hand to do the legwork for you.
When planning to acquire a SSL certificate, each one is provided with two different ‘keys’ – a private key and a public key. Essentially, they are aptly named, because these keys help to keep sensitive data locked up, encrypted and undecipherable.
The public key is used to encrypt the sensitive data, such as credit card numbers and login passwords, while the private key is the element used to unlock the information again, decrypting it and allowing it to be read by the business owner.
A SSL handshake ensures the authenticity of the business website and the web server, so that customers can place trust in the business with the knowledge that the information they are sending will be treated with utmost respect and confidentiality.
As a growing business, if you are hoping to offer your services to customers and users nationwide, you need to provide online security so that your services are safe. Customers won’t want to send private details over the connection if they’re not secure, which is why SSL certificates are so vital. Every time you see the “https://” in the address bar, it’s because that site has been verified and offers encryption for sensitive data – you wouldn’t complete an online transaction without the trusted padlock, so don’t expect your potential customers to.
