Why is important to know EV SSL Certificate as a web developer? Extended Validation (EV) SSL Certificates are crucial for building trust online. They secure data, show credibility, and follow online security best practices. EV SSL means Extended Validation Secure Sockets Layer. It’s known for its strict validation and vetting process.
EV SSL Certificates are key for e-commerce, banking, and sites with sensitive info. They ensure data is safe and secure.
Online safety is a big concern today, with more cyber threats. EV SSL Certificates show a visible indication of a site’s authenticity. This can be a green address bar or a clear display of the site’s legal name.
Studies by Qualys SSL Labs show stronger encryption boosts user trust. When users trust a site, they’re more likely to buy, fill out forms, or share personal info. This article explains EV SSL Certificates, their importance, and how to get one.
Here, you’ll find answers to common EV SSL questions, best practices, and security tips. We also have a FAQ and Useful Resources section. By the end, you’ll understand EV SSL’s value and how to secure your site or business.
What Is an EV SSL Certificate?
An EV SSL Certificate verifies a company’s legal identity before it’s issued. Trusted Certificate Authorities like DigiCert or GlobalSign issue them. They check the company’s legal status, location, and domain ownership.
SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) protects data between users and servers. Now, we use TLS (Transport Layer Security), but people still call it SSL. EV SSL adds extra steps to confirm a site’s authenticity.
Google’s Transparency Report shows sites with HTTPS and EV SSL face fewer phishing attempts. This makes browsing safer because attackers find it harder to target these sites.
How Are EV SSL Certificates Different from Other SSL Types?
They involve a comprehensive validation process that certifies the organization’s identity, unlike Domain Validated (DV) or Organization Validated (OV) certificates which require less stringent checks.
Below is a table explaining the main differences among DV, OV, and EV SSL types:
Certificate Type | Validation Level | Recommended For | Typical Issuance Time | Approximate Cost |
---|---|---|---|---|
DV (Domain Validated) | Basic: Domain ownership check | Personal blogs, small websites | Minutes to hours | Low (often under $20/year) |
OV (Organization Validated) | Moderate: Organization check | Medium-sized businesses, nonprofits | 1–3 days | Medium ($50–$200+/year) |
EV (Extended Validation) | High: Legal and physical business check | E-commerce, banks, larger enterprises | 1–5 days | High ($100–$300+/year) |
Domain Validated (DV) certificates require only proof of domain ownership, making them easy to obtain.
Organization Validated (OV) certificates verify not only domain ownership but also some organizational information.
Extended Validation (EV) certificates go further by verifying the physical and legal existence of the organization. This ensures a higher trust factor.
Why Do EV SSL Certificates Improve Website Trust?
They improve trust by displaying validated legal credentials, which reassure users they are interacting with a legitimate website. In older versions of some browsers, EV SSL triggered a “green address bar” showing the organization’s name. Although modern browsers no longer show a green bar, they still display an indicator in the certificate details or site information panel.
Cybersecurity Ventures has found that phishing attacks continue to target major brands, tricking citizens into sharing personal information. An EV SSL Certificate helps differentiate your authentic website from malicious copies. This can be critical for industries like finance, legal, healthcare, and e-commerce. The presence of a verified site name provided by a CA conveys a strong signal of authenticity and can increase conversions and user engagement.
What Are the Key Requirements for Obtaining an EV SSL Certificate?
The main requirement is to prove your organization’s legal status and domain ownership to the Certificate Authority. The Certificate Authority checks the following:
- Legal, Operational Existence: Your organization must be a registered entity in a recognized jurisdiction. They will verify registration documents and legal status.
- Physical Presence: Your company’s physical address must be verifiable and valid.
- Exclusive Domain Control: You must prove you own and control the domain that will use the EV SSL.
- Contact Verification: The CA will verify that your listed business contact (phone or email) is valid and authorized.
DigiCert, for example, mandates official documentation like Articles of Incorporation or government registration. They may also request phone verification or third-party directory listing verification to confirm your business’s existence and location.
How Do EV SSL Certificates Encrypt Data?
EV SSL Certificates use the TLS protocol to encrypt data, making it unreadable to unauthorized entities. This involves public-key and private-key cryptography. When a user visits a site with EV SSL, their browser and the server initiate an SSL/TLS handshake. During this process:
- The server presents its EV SSL Certificate.
- The browser checks if the certificate is valid and trusted.
- A symmetric session key is agreed upon.
- All subsequent data is encrypted before transmission and decrypted upon receipt.
TLS 1.2 or TLS 1.3 are the most widely used versions today. These protocols support stronger ciphers, like AES-256, which are extremely difficult to break with current computational means. This ensures data confidentiality and integrity.
How Much Do EV SSL Certificates Typically Cost?
An EV SSL Certificate usually ranges from $100 to $300 or more per year, depending on the issuer and added services. While this is more expensive than other certificate types, many organizations view it as an investment in brand integrity and security. Large online retailers and financial services often consider the cost justified because of higher trust levels.
According to GlobalSign’s pricing data, the total cost can vary based on:
- Warranty: Some CAs offer insurance up to $1.75 million to cover damages from data breaches if the certificate fails.
- Validity Period: Certificates can be purchased for one or two years (some changes in industry rules now limit longer timelines).
- Additional Features: Some issuers bundle features like a vulnerability assessment or daily malware scanning.
What Are the Main Advantages of an EV SSL Certificate?
The main advantages center on building credibility, improving security, and boosting conversions. Specifically:
- Enhanced Validation: Ensures robust checks on ownership, organizational integrity, and legal status.
- Stronger User Confidence: Users can verify the authentic business name in the certificate details.
- Data Protection: Uses industry-grade encryption to secure sensitive information.
- Reduced Phishing Risk: Makes it harder for impostors to spoof a legitimate business site.
- Potential SEO Benefits: Google has publicly encouraged the use of HTTPS, which can influence search rankings.
Studies by Harvard University indicate that consumer trust levels rise when organizations display secure credentials. EV SSL offers the highest standard in that domain, which can foster a safer online ecosystem.
When Should a Website Consider EV SSL Certification?
A website should consider EV SSL when it handles sensitive data like payment details, personal information, or proprietary assets. This is especially vital for:
- E-commerce Platforms: Handling credit card details, billing information, and shipping addresses.
- Financial Institutions: Dealing with bank accounts, loan applications, and mortgage data.
- Healthcare Portals: Storing patient health records, medical history, and insurance details.
- Large Enterprises: Protecting intellectual property, confidential documents, or user data.
Any organization that wants to project trustworthiness and reduce the risk of data breaches can benefit from EV SSL. Even smaller organizations that handle personal user information may choose EV SSL to stand out as secure and responsible.
How to Apply for an EV SSL Certificate (Instruction List)
Follow these steps to apply for an EV SSL Certificate:
- Choose a Trusted CA: Research CAs like DigiCert, GlobalSign, or Sectigo.
- Prepare Documents: Gather business registration information, proof of address, and domain ownership details.
- Generate a CSR (Certificate Signing Request): Create this from your web server’s control panel or via OpenSSL.
- Submit Order: Purchase the EV SSL certificate from the chosen CA’s website and provide the CSR.
- Undergo Validation: Respond to CA inquiries about company information and domain control.
- Install Certificate: Once approved and issued, install it on your web server.
- Test: Use online tools, like Qualys SSL Labs, to verify installation and configuration.
Completing these steps successfully usually takes one to five days. If all documentation is accurate and the CA can quickly verify your organization, you could receive your EV certificate faster.
Does Using an EV SSL Certificate Impact SEO Rankings?
Yes, having an EV SSL Certificate can positively influence SEO by improving site security, but it is not the sole ranking factor. Google prioritizes overall site security and user experience, including HTTPS usage. While having EV SSL is stronger for user trust, Google’s primary algorithm mainly checks if the site is using HTTPS—DV, OV, or EV. However, brand credibility can indirectly affect metrics like click-through rates and bounce rates, which can impact SEO performance.
John Mueller, a Webmaster Trends Analyst at Google, has suggested that secure websites may get a minor ranking boost. However, there is no official statement that EV SSL alone results in a higher position over other HTTPS certifications. The intangible benefit lies in user trust and conversions, which in turn can drive better user engagement signals.
Can EV SSL Certificates Expire?
Yes, EV SSL Certificates have an expiration date, typically one to two years, and must be renewed to maintain security. This is because the CA/Browser Forum, the industry group governing SSL, sets maximum validity periods. You will need to re-verify your organization when renewing. If you let the certificate lapse, users will see browser warnings, and data will remain unencrypted or validated by a default or expired certificate.
What Are the Best Practices for Maintaining an EV SSL Certificate?
Routine renewals, proper installation, and strict adherence to CA guidelines are essential for maintaining an EV SSL Certificate. Consider:
- Renew Early: Start the renewal process at least 30 days before expiry.
- Use Strong Encryption Cipher Suites: Ensure your server supports modern TLS versions (TLS 1.2 or TLS 1.3).
- Monitor Certificate Transparency Logs: Watch for any unusual certificate issuance for your domain.
- Regularly Update Your Server: Keep your operating system and server software patched.
By following these practices, you preserve the integrity of your website security. Any lapse can open the door to phishing attempts or cause downtime for your users.
Comparison Proposition
Both OV and EV certificates provide validation, but EV certificates have a stricter vetting process that confirms the legal and physical presence of an organization. This yields a higher assurance level. DV certificates, although inexpensive, are not ideal for businesses that handle financial or sensitive data.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Does an EV SSL Certificate guarantee 100% security?
No, because while EV SSL strongly validates identity and encrypts data, no single security measure guarantees total protection. Security also depends on server configuration, software updates, and user behavior.
Is the green bar still visible in modern browsers?
No, because most modern browsers have removed the green bar interface. However, organizations can still display verified business details under the site certificate info.
Do EV SSL Certificates fix all vulnerabilities on a website?
No, because it only ensures secure data transmission and verified identity. Website owners must address coding vulnerabilities, plugin updates, and server security to remain fully protected.
Is an EV SSL Certificate mandatory for compliance with regulations?
No, because regulations like PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) only require strong encryption (HTTPS). However, EV SSL can offer extra identity assurance, which can be beneficial for auditing and compliance reviews.
Useful Resources (Additional Resources)
- CA/Browser Forum Official Guidelines
- Qualys SSL Labs: SSL Server Test
- GlobalSign EV SSL Overview
- DigiCert Extended Validation Certificates
- Learn more about HTTPS security at Google Developers
Conclusion
Extended Validation (EV) SSL Certificates elevate website trust by rigorously validating an organization’s identity and encrypting data with industry-grade protocols. They give users confidence that they are dealing with a legitimate entity. EV SSL is especially vital for e-commerce, banking, and healthcare organizations that handle personal or financial data.
By following best practices, such as renewing on time, maintaining strong server configuration, and choosing a reputable Certificate Authority, you can leverage EV SSL to boost both security and consumer trust. Although typically more expensive than other certificate options, the potential reduction in phishing attacks and increased user confidence often make EV SSL Certificates a worthwhile investment.
In a world where cyber threats are always changing, using Extended Validation SSL is a smart move. An EV SSL Certificate secures your website and shows you care about your visitors’ safety. This trust can lead to more engagement, loyalty, and success online.