In this article, we would like to provide a comparison of SSL certificates and explain the differences between single-domain and wildcard certificates.
What do SSL certificates do?
SSL (or TLS) is an encryption protocol for the secure transmission of data over the internet. Whilst the so-called encryption certificates required for this were previously mostly only affordable for banks and large companies, the use of this method is now commonplace.
The certificates are issued by major organisations such as Sectigo and are valid for a single domain each. Web browsers such as Chrome, Firefox or Edge have a pre-stored list of all major SSL/TLS certificate authorities. When the certificate is registered, a check is carried out to verify that the applicant is the owner of the domain. The certificate is then used not only to encrypt the transmitted content but, above all, to guarantee the authenticity of the sender.
To put it simply, a copy of the certificate is attached to every data packet that the server sends to visitors to the website. This ensures that the data received by the recipient was actually sent by the owner of the domain. It is then no longer possible to alter the content whilst it is in transit without the browser displaying a warning message.
Single-domain certificates
Typically, SSL/TLS certificates are issued for exactly one domain. In our case, for example, this is the address speedit.org. In such cases, these are referred to as single-domain certificates. For most website operators, a single-domain certificate is sufficient. However, the situation is different if further subdomains are to be operated under a single domain.
Wildcard certificates
In such circumstances, a wildcard certificate may be the better choice. Affordable SSL wildcard certificates are designed to cover not only a single domain but also all subdomains used under it. In our case, a wildcard certificate would therefore verify not only the address speedit.org but also all other domains under *.speedit.org (for example, blog.speedit.org / cp.speedit.org etc.).
Advantages and disadvantages of the two certificate types
Wildcard certificates therefore offer greater convenience than traditional single-domain certificates, as you only need one certificate and thus only have to go through the ordering and verification process once. They are usually a little more expensive as a result and are only worthwhile once you reach a certain number of subdomains. The decision to opt for a single-domain certificate is therefore often a financial one, particularly for operators of smaller websites. It is also important to understand that using a wildcard certificate is not a good idea if different users are using different subdomains of the same domain.
In such a case, the wildcard certificate could, on the one hand, be misused by one user to attack another. Above all, however, there is an increased risk that a certificate stolen from a server could be used to attack other subdomains. In particular, if different sections of a website are hosted on separate servers, it may make sense to use several single-domain certificates rather than a single wildcard certificate.
In a direct comparison of SSL certificates, there is therefore no clear recommendation in favour of one option or the other. The specific usage scenario plays too significant a role in this regard. If you have any questions on this matter and/or require advice, please do not hesitate to contact us so that we can find the right SSL protection for you.
SSL/TLS certificates at SpeedIT Solutions
We offer both single-domain and wildcard certificates for the SSL/TLS encryption of your website or system services. On the one hand, we offer affordable certificates that simply verify ownership of the domain. On the other hand, we also offer the option to purchase extended validation certificates. With these, your company name and address are also verified. Visitors to the site can then view this information in their browser as part of the certificate.
Such enhanced certificates help to build additional customer trust, particularly on shopping basket systems and other sites that process personal customer data. Our knowledgeable and friendly team would be happy to provide you with personalised advice to help you choose an SSL/TLS certificate. We look forward to getting to know you.
Would you like to purchase a certificate? Please feel free to browse our range of offers.
