An SSL certificate ensures the encryption of the data transfer between server and browser so that nobody can listen to the communication. It is important that the browser or the operating system is trusting to the certificate publisher.

A certificate is always issued to a name, e.g. www.domain.ext, and this must match what in the browser URL stays. If the name in the certificate does not match the request of the browser or the e-mail program an error message appears.

Depending on the certificate used, the browser will render the URL differently, but only Enhanced Validation Certificates will be presented specially. With this certificate not only the URL but also the name of the organization to which the certificate was issued is displayed.

Google Chrome without SSL

Google Chrome SSL with simple Certificate

Google Chrome SSL with Enhanced Validation Certificate

Issuing a normal SSL certificate happens automatically today, the authorization is checked electronically. This can be made via an entry in the DNS zone, a file on the web server or by receiving an e-mail. Therefore issuing a certificate takes only a few minutes.

With the enhanced validation certificate, the application data is compared with company data in public directories and the Whois data. The issuance of such a certificate therefore takes a few days.