What is an SSL?

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is a standard security technology for establishing an encrypted link between a server and a client—typically a web server (website) and a browser, or a mail server and a mail client.

All browsers have the capability to interact with secured web servers using the SSL protocol. However, the browser and the server need what is called an SSL Certificate to be able to establish a secure connection.


Some people think that just having an SSL certificate and an https makes their website fully secure from the access of hackers. But SSL only secures data connection between the server and user’s device (browser, email program, …) and does not protect the server from the hackers.
Hackers use the security vulnerabilities of the server and your scripts to access your website, your account, or even the server.

When you don’t secure your server connection, any hacker can listen to data communication between your server and user’s connection and steal information without hacking your server.
SSL only encrypts the connection between your server and the user’s browser. It does encrypt data communication so that hackers cannot listen to your data packets.
Most hosting companies provide free SSL certificates on their packages.
SSL certificates include public and private certificates. You must install your certificates from SSL TLS on cPanel, vdeck, or whatever your hosting admin panel is.

Your connection is secure only when you use https, ftps, or any other secured protocols. If you install an SSL certificate but still use http instead of https, you are not using a secured connection.

Types of SSL Certificates

there are different types of SSL certificates.
- Extended Validation Certificate, also called E V certificate,
- Multi-Domain Extended Validation Certificate or Multi-Domain E V Certificate,
- AMT SSL Certificate,
- Wildcard SSL certificate,
- Unified Communication Certificate also called UCC, and
- General-Purpose SSL Certificate