Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) is a global standard security technology developed by Netscape in 1994. It creates an encrypted link between a web server and a web browser to ensure that all data transmitted remains private and secure. Millions of consumers recognize the "golden padlock" which appears in their browser to indicate they are viewing a secure web page.

Internet trends have boomed in popularity and are creating more opportunities for both commercial and non-commercial sectors. Most people will not submit their private details on the web unless they know the transaction/information they provide would be secure. The best way to provide web security and gain more customers is by installing an SSL certificate to prove the legitimacy of your website.

E-Commerce portals offering services in the domain of travel, online ticket booking, auction websites, online shops, virtual product sales etc. need high security and confidence building SSL certificates. In many cases it is legally mandatory to have SSL certificates on their websites for entities engaged in online share trading, commodities trading, broking, bidding, auctions etc. Now-a-days even email service providers, file sharing and transfer websites, social networking websites are providing the safety and security through high encryption SSL certificates.

SSL uses a cryptographic system that uses two keys to encrypt data, first a public key known to everyone and the second is the private key known only to the recipient. SSL an unique and effective way to achieve data and ecommerce security. When a SSL - Digital Certificate is installed on a web site, a padlock icon can be seen at the bottom area of the navigator and also the address in the address bar will begin with "https" instead of http during a secure ecommerce transaction, which means that the data is encrypted.

SSL Encryption (or Https) is a technique used to safeguard private information which is sent via Internet. To prove the site's legitimacy, the SSL encryption uses a PKI (Public Key Infrastructure) - public/private key, to encrypt IDs, documents, or messages to securely transmit the information in the World Wide Web. In order to show that our transmission is encrypted, most browsers will display a small icon that would look like a pad “lock” or a key and the URL begins with "https" instead of "http". SSL Encryption or https from a digital certification authority will helps the secure web site with confidential information on web.

The complexities of the SSL protocol remain invisible to your customers. Instead their browsers provide them with a key indicator to let them know they are currently protected by an SSL encrypted session - the Padlock:

All SSL Certificates are issued to either companies or legally accountable individuals. Typically an SSL Certificate will contain your domain name, your company name, your address, your city, your state and your country. It will also contain the expiry date of the Certificate and details of the Certification Authority responsible for the issuance of the Certificate.

When a browser connects to a secure site (https) it will retrieve the site's SSL Certificate and check that it has not expired, it has been issued by a Certification Authority the browser trusts, and that it is being used by the website for which it has been issued. If it fails on any one of these checks the browser will display a warning to the end user.