In today’s era of cyber and security threats, identity theft became an imminent problem. Most of our activities are happening online now. Some of these activities include business, banking, and socialization. Therefore, customers and even common people are more concerned about their personal data. To cope with these threats, an extended validation (EV) SSL certificate is the most innovative solution for online data security.
What is Extended Validation (EV) SSL?
An extended validation (EV) SSL certificate is another name of a secure and trustworthy business. It is a certificate which is awarded by the Certificate Authority, only after detailed ratification of the company and its owner. For this reason, the ratification process can take up to 7 days to complete. In case, you maintain the data of the business up to date, the certificate authority may provide the certificate earlier.
This type of certification helps boost the security and trust level of an online business and website. It plays a crucial role in building a stronger and long lasting business relationship with the customers.
How Extended Validation (EV) SSL Work?
After detailed examination and authentication by the certification authority, an Extended Validation (EV) SSL is installed on the website. This certification contains the following trust factors:
- The company’s name
- Padlock Icon
The display of these attributes through Extended validation (EV) SSL certificate plays important role in security against phishing attacks. This also has positive impacts on customers as they feel secure while making transactions and browsing on the website. Due to these reasons, SSL certification is considered the most reliable certificates in the market.
The requirement of Extended Validation (EV) SSL Certificate
EV SSL certification is crucial for websites or online goods that need powerful encryption, trust, and identity assurance. The institution and high-end websites that face the threat of phishing attacks frequently require this certification. For example, banks, government institution websites, and major businesses are some of these institutions.
Types of Extended Validation (EV) SSL Certificate
There are up to three types of EV SSL certificates:
One Domain: It is a good option for small online businesses as it secures only one domain.
Multi-Domain: It is good at protecting more than one domain at a time. For this reason, a perfect choice for larger online stores and websites.
Code Signing: Suitable for the safety of digital products, such as drivers and softwares.
These types of EV SSL certificates are good for specific functions. You can’t combine them for other applications. Therefore, to secure small online stores, use one domain. On the other hand, for a larger business, use a multi-domain type.
The Pros and Cons of Extended Validation (EV) SSL Certificate
There are certain benefits to using EV SSL certificates. At the same time, it has some limitations as well. For this reason, a layman needs to understand the pros and cons of it before using it. Let’s see some of the pros and cons of it.
Pros of EV SSL Certificates
Data Security: Hacking is the biggest threat to online business and various such cases reported frequently in the past. Due to these attacks, security of personal data remains at stake. All this happened due to the lack of proper protection. For this purpose, the Extended Validation (EV) SSL Certificate can prove very useful.
Customer Satisfaction: This type of certification is a confirmation that the website of a company or a business is in secure hands. Customers always look forward to this type of trust and assurance to do the business.
More Sales: The trust obtains from this type of certification means, more customers are willing to buy from this online store. Hence, they make more transactions which is the topmost priority of any business.
The loyalty of the customers- The above-given factors prove helpful in creating a clot of loyal customers. Once, the trust of the customer is won, chances are higher they will come back to the same store.
The Cons
Besides having so many advantages, Extended Validation (EV) SSL Certificate has certain disadvantages. Therefore, it is important to discuss some of these cons.
Complexity: SSL configuration is simple to grasp for the expert, but for the layman, it is complex to understand. The matter is further problematic in the case of a multi-domain SSL certificate. For this reason, the chances of errors are higher in its use for new visitors.
Mobile Configuration: Positive Extended Validation (EV) SSL Certificate was created mainly for the websites. Mobile devices were not the center of their focus. Therefore, website owners need to take the help of third-party apps to keep their websites working on mobile devices.
Cost of Extended Validation (EV) SSL Certificate
An EV SSL certificate is the latest certificate of its kind. For this reason, it is costlier. It is also costly because CA needs to do extensive research for verification of the company and business. But, it is worth paying more money for this certificate, particularly when your business is expanding. Its importance increases when you give importance to customers’ trust in your business. However, for financial companies and big institutions. For small and medium-sized businesses, it is a source of gaining customers’ trust.
Conclusion
Extended Validation (EV) SSL Certificate is a suitable option for online businesses and websites generally. However, it is most critical for those institutions that deal with personal data and finance. It is a useful way to win the trust of customers. It is a proof for the customers that the website is legitimate and not a phishing trap. This kind of certificate also provides benefits like boosting sales and attain higher customer loyalty. Besides having these benefits, there are certain cons of EV SSL certificates. For example, it is very complex to understand for the new visitors. More attention is required in case of handling the multi-domain SSL certificate. As the SSL certificates were not designed for mobile devices, owners need to take the help of a third party for the smooth working of their sites on mobile devices.