According to Hubspot, 82% of web users would refuse to click on a website that was indicated as “not secure.”
With the soaring volume of hacks and data breaches, this percentage looks likely to increase further as online users become even more alert to potential security risks.
What are SSL certificates?
SSL certificates authenticate your website’s identity and ensure that the data it receives is securely encrypted. They achieve this through encryption algorithms.
These algorithms “scramble” any information users input on your site, like names, passwords, and payment details, making it unreadable to unauthorized parties. As a result, sensitive data, including passwords, email addresses, and payment information remains protected from interception by third parties.
Why do you need an SSL certificate?
An SSL certificate is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity for any website. It encrypts the connection between your server and your visitors, ensuring that sensitive data like passwords, credit card details, and personal information cannot be intercepted by third parties.
Beyond security, having an SSL certificate boosts your credibility. Visitors trust sites that display the secure padlock icon in the address bar, and search engines like Google favor HTTPS-enabled sites, improving your rankings.
By offering SSL certificates to your customers as a reseller, you help your customers meet these critical requirements while positioning yourself as a reliable partner for their success online.
The changing perception towards SSL
In the past, SSL was considered necessary only for businesses carrying out financial transactions or handling sensitive information. Today, however, it is an important consideration for any business with an online presence, and not just because of the security concerns of users: it is now also an SEO ranking factor – pages that are deemed to be less secure are now ranked lower. This is bad for business.
Openprovider understands the vital role of SSL certificates in creating secure online experiences. SSL is no longer a nice-to-have feature but a critical component for trust, search visibility, and security in today’s digital landscape. Below, we’ll explore what SSL certificates are, the differences between free and paid SSL certificates, and why investing in a paid SSL is important for domain resellers.
Types of SSL certificates
There are three types of SSL certificates, classified according to their level of validation:
DV certificates: Ideal for smaller websites—such as personal sites, blogs, and portfolios—that don’t handle personal data and seek a cost-effective security solution. DV certificates only require email validation and can be ready for use in 15 minutes.
OV certificates: Designed for small to medium-sized businesses that handle sensitive data, including payments, usernames, and passwords. With OV certificates both email validation and company validation are needed and these certificates are generally ready for use in 1-2 business days.
EV certificates: Best suited for enterprise companies that manage large volumes of sensitive data, EV certificates undergo extensive validation to provide the highest level of security. To this end, email validation, company validation, and EV documents are needed. These certificates are ordinarily ready for use in 3-6 business days.
What is the difference between paid and free SSL certificates?
The differences between paid and free SSL certificates range from validation levels to warranty options and how users perceive the security of a website. Here’s a breakdown of these differences, and how, with paid SSL, domain resellers and web hosting organizations can deliver a more comprehensive security experience to their customers.
Authentication levels and validation types
Free SSL certificates generally offer only Domain Validation (DV), which verifies control over the domain but not the legitimacy of the business behind it.
Paid SSL certificates, on the other hand, offer both Organization Validation (OV) and Extended Validation (EV) options. These higher levels of validation verify the identity of the business, adding an extra layer of trust for users.
For example, an EV certificate displays the business name in the browser, immediately informing users that they’re engaging with a legitimate entity. This is essential for sites handling sensitive transactions or customer information.
Warranty and liability protection
Free SSL certificates usually lack any form of warranty, meaning that in the event of a security failure, there is no financial recourse.
Paid SSL certificates include warranties that protect users in the event of a data breach due to SSL failure. These warranties can range from $10,000 to over $1 million, providing an extra layer of assurance for both website owners and visitors. For businesses where security is paramount, this additional financial protection is priceless.
Customer support and technical assistance
Free SSL certificates, in contrast, are often self-serviced, with limited to no technical support. This puts the pressure back on the business to ensure that the required technical knowledge exists internally, something which may require a financial investment in training.
Meanwhile, paid SSL certificates come with access to dedicated technical support, guiding users through installation, renewal, and any troubleshooting needs. This is particularly valuable for clients who may not have technical expertise, allowing them to maintain their SSL security without needing in-depth knowledge.
Renewal and validity periods
Free SSL certificates typically have short validity periods, often around 90 days, requiring frequent renewals that can create a costly security gap if overlooked. The need for frequent renewals also causes a lot of administrative work that businesses can easily avoid by opting for a multi-year paid certificate.
Paid SSL certificates, on the other hand, offer longer validity periods, sometimes up to five years. If you’re a reseller with a large portfolio, fewer renewals mean a lot less work and a lot more time saved. What’s more, longer validity periods reduce the risk of certificate expiration, simplifying SSL management and ensuring consistent protection without the frequent renewal cycles associated with free SSL options.
Trust and brand perception
Free SSL certificates are typically DV certificates. These certificates ensure that the connection between a user’s browser and the website is encrypted and secure, but they do not verify the identity of the organization behind the domain. As a result, free SSL certificates do not display verified business names or any organizational details in the browser, limiting their ability to establish trust beyond basic encryption.
Meanwhile, EV SSL certificates, which are always paid, help businesses establish trust by clearly displaying their verified business names in the address bar. This verification reassures users that they are interacting with a secure and authentic organization, encouraging them to complete transactions and share sensitive information. With paid SSL in their portfolio, domain resellers can position themselves as a trusted security partner of modern businesses.
Pros and cons of free and paid SSL certificates for your customers
When reselling SSL certificates, understanding the differences between free and paid options can help you guide your customers toward the best solution for their needs.
Pros and cons of free SSL certificates
- Pros: Free SSL certificates, are an easy, no-cost way to secure a website’s connection. They’re a suitable choice for customers with small websites, blogs, or other projects that only need basic encryption.
- Cons: Free certificates do not provide business verification or display a verified organization name. They also lack customer support, warranties, and advanced trust signals, which can be a drawback for customers who need to build credibility with their audience. Contrary to paid SSL certificates, which can be registered for a long time, free SSL certificates also need to be renewed every 90 days, which adds more admin to your workload.
Pros and cons of paid SSL certificates
- Pros: Paid SSL certificates also often include warranties, support, and comprehensive compatibility. EV certificates, which are always paid, also go beyond basic encryption by verifying the business identity of your customers. This verification helps build trust with their users, especially for e-commerce or business websites. All types of paid certificates can also be registered for multiple years, which takes administrative work out of your hands.
- Cons: The cost is higher than free options, which might not appeal to customers with limited budgets or less demanding needs.
Why paid SSL is important for a safer internet
Investing in paid SSL certificates is a smart business decision for domain resellers, web hosters, and marketing agencies looking to enhance their service offerings and ensure optimal security for their clients. In today’s digital landscape, where data breaches and cyber threats are increasingly common, providing robust security measures is essential for maintaining client trust and protecting sensitive information. By spending extra on paid SSL certificates, businesses not only safeguard their own reputations but also empower their clients to confidently conduct transactions online. What’s more, these investments also demonstrate a commitment to a proactive approach to cybersecurity, something that helps position companies as reliable partners in a competitive market.
Domain resellers should encourage customers to buy paid SSL certificates due to their advantages in security, SEO, compliance, and support. Paid SSLs provide strong encryption and validation, enhancing data protection and building trust—essential for businesses dealing with sensitive information. They also improve SEO, helping customers gain better online visibility, and support compliance with regulations like GDPR and HIPAA, minimizing legal risks. Furthermore, paid SSL certificates offer dedicated support and financial warranties, reducing risks from vulnerabilities and ensuring peace of mind for both resellers and clients. As businesses become more educated about online security and seek reliable solutions, resellers and web hosters offering paid SSL options will be well-positioned to drive new business deals.
The benefits of selling SSL with Openprovider
With Openprovider’s Membership Plan, resellers benefit from exclusive discounts on SSLs, as well as access to cost-price domains and one efficient, cost-effective platform. This approach not only ensures a more cost-effective approach to domains but also contributes to a safer, more professional internet environment. For businesses aiming to establish a trustworthy, secure online presence, investing in a paid SSL certificate is a strategic move toward a safer internet for all.
