Arama Yap Mesaj Submit
Request a Callback
+90
X
X

Select Your Currency

Turkish Lira $ US Dollar Euro
X
X

Select Your Currency

Turkish Lira $ US Dollar Euro

Contact Us

Location Halkali merkez neighborhood fatih st ozgur apt no 46 , Kucukcekmece , Istanbul , 34303 , TR

SSL Certificate Guide

Eka Sunucu ssl certificate guide Make your website more secure with . This comprehensive guide takes you step by step to learn what SSL certificates are, how they work, and how to install them on your website.

SSL certificates; data encryption, authentication and secure communication They are digital certificates that increase the security of the connection between your website and your visitors.

Data
encryption

Provides secure communication by encrypting transmitted data

ID
verification

Verifies that the website belongs to its real owner

SEO
Advantage

Google prioritizes sites with HTTPS in its rankings

trust
Create

It is an indicator of reliability for visitors

Contents

What is an SSL Certificate?

General Information About SSL and TLS Certificates

SSL (Secure Socket Layer) and the newer TLS (Transport Layer Security) are security protocols that encrypt data transfer between your website and your visitors. Digital documents used to implement these protocols SSL certificates It is called.

Current Information: Technically, the SSL protocol is no longer used and has been replaced by the more secure TLS protocol. However, the term "SSL certificates" is still generally used in the industry. Modern certificates are actually TLS based.

SSL/TLS certificates are used for two main purposes:

Data Encryption

By encrypting the data sent between the user's browser and the web server (user name, password, credit card information, etc.), it prevents unauthorized persons from accessing this information.

Authentication

It verifies that the website actually belongs to the specified organization. This allows users to feel confident that they are interacting with a trustworthy site.

SSL certificates are signed by trusted third-party organizations known as "Certificate Authorities" (CA). This way, crawlers can verify the trustworthiness of a website.

Benefits of Using an SSL Certificate

  • Data Security: Ensures secure transmission of user data.
  • Google Ranking: Sites that use HTTPS rank higher in Google.
  • Customer Trust: The lock icon in the browser bar gives confidence to visitors.
  • Yasal Uyumluluk: Required for data protection regulations such as GDPR.
  • Modern API Access: Many modern web APIs (e.g. geolocation) only work over HTTPS.
How an SSL Certificate Works
SSL Certificate Working Principle

Browser SSL Indicators

  • Lock Icon: A lock appearing in the browser address bar indicates that the connection is secure.
  • HTTPS Protocol: "https://" appears in the address bar instead of "http://".
  • SSL Certificate Information: Certificate details can be viewed by clicking on the lock icon.
  • Warning Messages: Browser shows warning for invalid or expired SSL certificates.
Attention: Nowadays, websites without an SSL certificate are marked with a "Not Secure" warning by modern browsers. This can cause your visitors to leave your site and lower conversion rates.

How Does SSL Work?

SSL Handshake
SSL/TLS Handshake Process

SSL Security Mechanism

  • Asymmetric Encryption: Used when establishing a connection
  • Symmetric Encryption: Used during data transmission
  • Digital Signature: Verifies the reliability of the certificate
  • Encryption Strength: Usually 128-bit or 256-bit

Working Principle of SSL/TLS Protocol

The operation of the SSL/TLS protocol is a complex process that takes place between the browser and the web server. This process is known as "SSL Handshake" and enables the secure exchange of encryption keys.

1

Client Hello

When the user browser (client) wants to connect to the web server, it sends a "Client Hello" message with information about the encryption algorithms and TLS version it supports.

2

Server Response

The server responds with a "Server Hello" message and selects the encryption algorithm to use. Then, SSL certificate sends it to the client. This certificate includes:

  • Domain name of the website
  • Certificate holder information
  • Digital signature of the certificate authority (CA)
  • Server's public key
  • Validity period of the certificate
3

Certificate Verification

The browser verifies the certificate it receives:

  • Checks that the certificate is signed by a trusted certificate authority
  • Verifies that the certificate has not expired
  • Checks that the domain name of the certificate matches the domain it is trying to connect to
4

Key Exchange

The browser generates a random "pre-master private key" and encrypts it with the server's public key. This encryption can only be decrypted with the server's private key. The browser sends this encrypted key to the server.

5

Creating a Session Key

The server decrypts the encrypted key it receives with its own private key. Now both the browser and the server know the same "pre-master secret key". Using this key, "session keys" valid for that session are generated.

6

Secure Data Communication

Once the handshake is completed, all data communication between the browser and the server is encrypted and decrypted using the generated session keys. Symmetric encryption is used at this stage because it is faster than asymmetric encryption.

Technical Information: The SSL/TLS protocol uses two types of encryption during data transmission:
  • Asymmetric Encryption (Public Key): It is used for secure key exchange during handshake.
  • Symmetric Encryption: It is used for actual data communication. It is preferred because it is faster.

SSL Certificate Types

Different SSL Certificate Types and Usage Areas

There are different types of SSL certificates you can choose depending on your website's needs and budget. Each provides different levels of security and authentication. To choose the SSL certificate that best suits your needs, you must first evaluate the purpose and operation of your website.

Domain Validated (DV) SSL

Verification Level: low

Verification Time: Minutes/Hours

Cost: $ (Most economical option)

Suitable Sites: Personal blogs, small corporate sites, sites that do not collect sensitive information

Domain Validated (DV) SSL certificates only verify domain ownership. Verification is usually done by email confirmation or adding a DNS record. These types of certificates are the fastest and most economical SSL certificates.

Advantages
  • Quick installation and activation
  • Low cost or free options
  • Provides basic SSL security
  • Does not cause browser compatibility problems
Disadvantages
  • Does not verify institution information
  • Only the lock icon appears in the browser
  • May not provide sufficient trust for e-commerce sites

Organization Validated (OV) SSL

Verification Level: Orta

Verification Time: 1-3 Day

Cost: $$ (Mid-range cost)

Suitable Sites: Corporate sites, platforms requiring membership, small-medium sized e-commerce sites

Organization Validated (OV) SSL certificates verify the existence and legitimacy of the organization as well as domain name ownership. The certificate authority checks institution information through telephone, address and legal records. This gives users a greater sense of security and reliability.

Advantages
  • Verifies corporate identity
  • Provides medium security
  • Institution information appears in the certificate details
  • Gives users more confidence
Disadvantages
  • DV costs more than SSL
  • Verification process takes longer
  • Visually DV in the browser address bar does not differ from SSL

Extended Validation (EV) SSL

Verification Level: high

Verification Time: 5-7 Day

Cost: $$$ (High cost)

Suitable Sites: Banks, e-commerce sites, financial institutions, healthcare, large companies

Extended Validation (EV) SSL certificates offer the highest level of security and verification standard. The certificate authority comprehensively verifies the legal existence, physical and operational existence of the institution. Provides maximum reliability for users.

Advantages
  • Provides the highest level of reliability
  • In some browsers, the company name appears in green in the address bar
  • The strongest protection against phishing attacks
  • Ideal for financial transactions
Disadvantages
  • Highest cost SSL certificate
  • Detailed verification process takes time
  • The green bar display is now deprecated in some modern browsers

Wildcard SSL Certificate

Verification Level: Depends on verification type (DV, OV)

Subdomain Support: Unlimited (for a single level)

Cost: $$ - $$$ (Higher than standard certificates)

Suitable Sites: Sites that use multiple subdomains (e.g. blog.site.com, shop.site.com)

Wildcard SSL certificates provide security for the main domain and an unlimited number of first-level subdomains. With a single certificate, you can protect all subdomains (blog.example.com, shop.example.com, mail.example.com, etc.) in a structure such as *.example.com.

Advantages
  • Multiple subdomains protected with a single certificate
  • Saves costs
  • Easy to manage (just renew a single certificate)
  • Automatically protected when new subdomains are added
Disadvantages
  • More costly than standard SSL certificates
  • Does not cover multi-level subdomains (ex: sub.blog.example.com)
  • A single private key is used for all subdomains (security risk)
Important Information: You can get free Domain Validated (DV) SSL certificates with services like Let's Encrypt. These certificates are usually sufficient for your website's basic security needs. However, if you offer e-commerce or financial services, it is recommended that you choose certificates with higher verification levels.

SSL Certificate Types Comparison Chart

feature Domain Validated (DV) Organization Validated (OV) Extended Validation (EV) Wildcard SSL
Verification Level low Orta high Varies depending on type
Verification Time Minutes-Hours 1-3 Day 5-7 Day Varies depending on type
Cost $/Free $$ $$$ $$ - $$$
Subdomain Support A single domain name A single domain name A single domain name Unlimited (single level)
Browser Display Lock Icon Lock Icon Lock Icon (Formerly Green Bar) Lock Icon
Ideal Use Personal blogs, information sites Corporate sites, membership sites E-commerce, banking, health Sites with multiple subdomains

SSL Certificate Installation

Steps of SSL Certificate Installation

SSL certificate installation includes the steps necessary to increase the security of your website. These steps will help you understand how to obtain and install an SSL certificate.

1

Determining the Need for an SSL Certificate

To determine your website's need for an SSL certificate, you need to evaluate your needs and budget. When choosing the type of SSL certificate it is important to consider the purpose and operation of your website.

2

Obtaining SSL Certificate

To obtain an SSL certificate, you may first need to contact a certificate authority (CA). This will help you determine how to obtain an SSL certificate and which type will be appropriate.

3

Installing the SSL Certificate

To install the SSL certificate, you may need to upload the certificate file to the web server and make the necessary settings for the certificate. This usually requires the support team of your web server provider or SSL certificate provider to assist you.

4

Testing SSL Certificate

Once you have completed the installation of the SSL certificate, you can use many tools and methods to test the security of your website. This helps you check whether the SSL certificate is working properly and increasing the security of your website.

Important Information: Installing an SSL certificate is an important step to increase the security of your website. Follow these steps carefully and after completing each step, test your website's security.
SSL Certificate Installation
Steps of SSL Certificate Installation

Important Points of SSL Certificate Installation

  • Installing an SSL certificate involves uploading the certificate file to the web server.
  • Installing an SSL certificate includes the steps necessary to increase the security of your website.
  • Installing an SSL certificate is an important step to increase the security of your website.

SSL Certificate Renewal

SSL Certificate Renewal Process

The SSL certificate renewal process includes events that cause the SSL certificate to expire or be revoked. This process includes the steps required to re-obtain and install the SSL certificate.

1

SSL Certificate Expiration

When the SSL certificate expires, your website's security is compromised. This is a necessary step to re-obtain and install the SSL certificate.

2

Cancellation of SSL Certificate

Revocation of an SSL certificate is usually done by the certificate authority. This is typically determined by the certificate authority or upon receipt of a notification indicating suspicious activity or breach.

3

Reobtaining SSL Certificate

To re-obtain the SSL certificate, you may need to obtain a new certificate and upload it to the web server. This is usually done by the certificate authority or your SSL certificate provider.

4

Installing the SSL Certificate

Installing an SSL certificate is the same as installing an SSL certificate. Installing an SSL certificate involves uploading the certificate file to the web server and making the necessary settings for the certificate.

Important Information: The SSL certificate renewal process includes events that cause the SSL certificate to expire or be revoked. This process includes the steps required to re-obtain and install the SSL certificate.
SSL Certificate Renewal
SSL Certificate Renewal Process

Important Points of the SSL Certificate Renewal Process

  • The SSL certificate renewal process includes events that cause the SSL certificate to expire or be revoked.
  • The SSL certificate renewal process includes the steps required to re-obtain and install the SSL certificate.
  • The renewal process of the SSL certificate is the same as the installation of the SSL certificate.

SSL Certificate Errors and Solutions

Errors That May Encounter in SSL Certificate

It is important that you understand some common errors that may be encountered when installing and using an SSL certificate and how to resolve these errors.

SSL Certificate Expiration

When the SSL certificate expires, your website's security is compromised. This is a necessary step to re-obtain and install the SSL certificate.

Cancellation of SSL Certificate

Revocation of an SSL certificate is usually done by the certificate authority. This is typically determined by the certificate authority or upon receipt of a notification indicating suspicious activity or breach.

Failure to Install SSL Certificate

Failure to install an SSL certificate is usually caused by an error occurring at one of the stages of installing the SSL certificate. Resolving these errors involves repeating the installation of the SSL certificate.

Important Information: SSL certificate errors and solutions require a good understanding of the installation and use of the SSL certificate. Resolving SSL certificate errors includes the steps required to re-obtain and install the SSL certificate.
SSL Certificate Errors
SSL Certificate Errors

Highlights of SSL Certificate Errors

  • SSL certificate expiration is a necessary step to re-obtain and install the SSL certificate.
  • Revocation of an SSL certificate is usually done by the certificate authority. This is typically determined by the certificate authority or upon receipt of a notification indicating suspicious activity or breach.
  • Failure to install an SSL certificate is usually caused by an error occurring at one of the stages of installing the SSL certificate. Resolving these errors involves repeating the installation of the SSL certificate.

Frequently Asked Questions About SSL Certificate

What is an SSL certificate and why is it important?

An SSL certificate is a digital certificate that encrypts data communication between your website and visitors' browsers. This encryption prevents sensitive information (credit card numbers, personal information, login information, etc.) from being intercepted by third parties. An SSL certificate increases the security and reliability of your website, allows you to rank higher in search engines such as Google, and helps you gain user trust.

Which type of SSL certificate should I choose?

To choose the SSL certificate that best suits your needs, you need to evaluate the purpose and operation of your website:

  • DV (Domain Validated) SSL: Ideal for personal blogs, information sites and basic websites.
  • OV (Organization Validated) SSL: It is suitable for corporate sites, platforms that require membership and small-medium-sized businesses.
  • EV (Extended Validation) SSL: It is the best option for sites that require high security, such as e-commerce, banking, healthcare and financial services.
  • Wildcard SSL: It is suitable for websites that use multiple subdomains (blog.site.com, shop.site.com, etc.).

How long does an SSL certificate last and how to renew it?

SSL certificates are typically valid for 1-2 years. It is important that you renew the certificate before its expiration date. The renewal process usually starts with reminder emails from your certificate provider. The renewal process includes steps such as creating a new certificate and uploading it to your web server. Most certificate authorities recommend that you start the renewal process 30 days before your certificate expires.

Are free SSL certificates like Let's Encrypt safe?

Yes, free SSL certificates like Let's Encrypt are secure and provide adequate protection for basic web security. These certificates are in the Domain Validated (DV) SSL category and offer the same level of security as paid SSL certificates in terms of data encryption. However, these certificates are generally valid for a shorter period of time (90 days) and require more frequent renewal. Additionally, they do not offer additional features such as enterprise authentication or extended verification. OV or EV SSL certificates should be preferred for e-commerce or financial service sites that require a high level of security.

After installing an SSL certificate, the site still shows "not secure" warning, what should I do?

This issue is often caused by a condition known as "mixed content". Among the pages on your site served via the HTTPS protocol, there may be elements such as images, CSS, and JavaScript loaded via the HTTP protocol. To solve this problem:

  • Detect mixed content errors using your browser's developer tools
  • Update the paths of all your source files to relative paths or full URLs starting with the HTTPS protocol
  • If you're using a CDN, make sure the CDN URLs are also switched to HTTPS protocol
  • Set up automatic redirection from HTTP to HTTPS sitewide
  • Use SSL checking tools (SSL Checker, Why No Padlock, etc.) to make sure your SSL certificate is configured correctly

Will an SSL certificate slow down my website?

With modern SSL/TLS protocols and up-to-date server configurations, using an SSL certificate has minimal impact on your website's performance. In fact, the HTTP/2 protocol only works over HTTPS, which provides faster connections than HTTP/1.1. Additional performance improvements for websites using SSL certificates include:

  • Enabling the HTTP/2 protocol
  • Using OCSP Stapling
  • Supporting the latest protocols such as TLS 1.3
  • Using CDN (Content Delivery Network)
  • Configuring SSL caching on your server

Thanks to these optimizations, your SSL-protected website may even run faster than an unprotected site.

Top