SSL Certificate Management and Expiration Monitoring Tool

SSL (or Secure Sockets Layer) certificates are small data files that create secure links between websites and browsers. SSL certificates help ensure any data passing between the website and a visitor’s browser remains protected, preventing hackers from gaining access to private data. 

While SSL certificates are important for data privacy, they’re also essential for e-commerce sites processing credit card transactions, as these interactions contain identifying information like names and addresses in addition to credit card numbers.

Once installed on web servers, these cryptographic keys create secure sessions by changing the application protocol from standard HTTP to HTTPS, which indicates a protected, secure connection.

SSL certificates can be purchased from Certification Authorities, which are dedicated third-party organizations that manage and issues certificates. SSL certificates have an expiration date and come in three types, each of which offers a different level of security:

1. Domain validated (DV) certificates verify the owner of the site, but nothing more. Since they don’t require any additional information from the company, DV certificates are typically considered the least trustworthy type of SSL certificate.
2. Organizationally validated (OV) certificates require a Certification Authority to validate the organization’s domain name and physical location. OV certificates indicate a moderate level of trust, making them a good fit for websites that don’t handle sensitive transactions. 
3. Extended validation (EV) certificates are considered vital for any site dealing with sensitive data. Organizations seeking the certificate must undergo an extensive review by the Certification Authority, which includes an examination of corporate documents to verify the applicant’s identity. Most web browsers will indicate secure EV certificate connections with a padlock icon or by listing the company name in green.