Identity theft and browser warnings are growing concerns among consumers. And while you may think enabling SSL on your website will allay these fears, failure to select the right TLS/SSL certificate can erode customer trust. To regain trust, site owners need an easy, reliable way to show customers that transactions are secure and that the site operator is who it says it is. But with the variety of TLS/SSL certs available – DV, OV, or EV – figuring out the best certificate for your business can be confusing. There are major differences in how domains are validated, and the following outline provides some key insights as to which certificate to select for your specific needs.

Domain Validation (DV) SSL Certificates

DV certificates prove ownership of the actual domain through a simple email validation process. DV certificates can be issued in minutes, show trust indicators in browsers (like the padlock icon), and enable HTTPS.

However, DV certificates do not vet the legitimacy of an organization and should not be used for e-commerce sites. Accordingly, DV certificates are best for internal sites, test servers, test domains, and for small to medium-sized businesses seeking cost-effective security.

Organization Validation (OV) SSL Certificates

OV certificates provide the same level of protection as DV certificates but go one step further. With an OV certificate, the Certificate Authority (CA) confirms the business is registered and legitimate, checking details such as business name, location, address, and incorporation or registration information, making these certificates more suitable for public-facing websites.

An OV certificate will also enhance a website’s reputation, providing customers greater assurance in conducting e-commerce transactions.

Extended Validation (EV) SSL Certificates

EV SSL certificates provide the highest level of trust, giving customers greater confidence that they are conducting business through trusted websites. EV SSL certificates are the industry standard for e-commerce websites. An EV SSL certificate triggers high-security web browsers to display an organization’s name in a green address bar and show the name of the Certificate Authority that issued it:

EV SSL certificates confirm site identity and validate the organization according to rigorous industry guidelines established by the CA/Browser Forum, including a strict vetting process using techniques that have been proven reliable in protecting the internet’s most valuable online businesses for more than ten years.

EV SSL certificates are a good choice for businesses, as these certificates can enhance credibility by showing suspecting consumers that sites are legitimately what they purport to be and that a business is serious about protecting the data of its customers.

Summed up, for the greatest level of website security, EV SSL certificates are the best choice.

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This post was sponsored by Comodo CA, one of our trusted SSL providers. For more information about SSL, and a complete list of their products, visit www.ComodoCA.com.