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\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t![\"hosting.com](\"https:\/\/www.likacloud.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/20251227070008.webp\" "\\"\\"")
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\tDigital Certificates and the Trust Chain of CA (Certificate Authorities)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
An SSL certificate is essentially a digital file that contains the website\u2019s public key, information about the certificate owner, and the digital signature of the certification authority (CA) that issued the certificate. Browsers come pre-installed with a list of trusted root certification authorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When a browser receives a certificate from a server, it verifies whether the signature on the certificate comes from a CA (Certificate Authority) that is included in its trusted list. It also checks whether the certificate is still valid and whether it matches the domain name that the user is trying to access. This verification process constitutes what is known as a \u201ctrust chain,\u201d which ensures that users are connecting to a legitimate and authentic website, rather than a phishing site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The main types of SSL certificates and how to choose them<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
According to the verification level and the number of domains covered, SSL certificates are mainly divided into the following categories to meet the needs of different scenarios.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Domain Validation Certificate<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
DV (Domain Validation) certificates are the fastest-to-issue and lowest-cost type of certificate. The Certificate Authority (CA) only verifies the applicant\u2019s control over the domain name (for example, by sending a verification email to the email address registered for that domain or by setting specific DNS records). They provide basic encryption capabilities and are suitable for personal websites, blogs, or testing environments. Browsers display a lock icon and use the HTTPS protocol when a DV certificate is present.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Organizational validation type certificate<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
OV certificates build upon the DV (Domain Validation) process by adding additional rigorous checks to verify the authenticity of the applying organization. The CA (Certificate Authority) verifies the official registration information of the company, such as its business license. The certificate details will include the verified company name, which helps to enhance the trust of corporate users. These certificates are commonly used for corporate websites and commercial platforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Extended Validation Certificate<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
EV certificates are the most rigorously verified and have the highest level of trust. In addition to completing the organization verification process, the CA (Certificate Authority) also conducts more in-depth background checks. The most distinctive feature of EV certificates is that, in some browsers, the website address bar will directly display the company\u2019s name in green, providing users with the most intuitive confirmation of the website\u2019s authenticity. Financial institutions, payment platforms, and large e-commerce websites typically use such certificates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Multiple domain and wildcard certificates<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
In addition to the verification level, you can also make a choice based on the scope of coverage. A single-domain certificate only protects one specific domain name (for example: The process of deploying an SSL certificate typically involves several steps: application, verification, download, and installation.<\/p>\n\n\n First, you need to generate a CSR (Certificate Signing Request) file on your server or hosting platform. The CSR contains your public key as well as information about the organization that will be submitting the request to the CA (Certificate Authority). Next, submit the CSR to the selected CA or its agent in order to apply for a certificate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Complete the corresponding verification process based on the type of certificate you have selected. For DV (Domain Validation) certificates, the verification usually takes a few minutes to a few hours; OV (Organizational Validation) and EV (Extended Validation) certificates, on the other hand, require several days. Once the verification is successful, you will receive the SSL certificate file from the CA (Certificate Authority) (which typically includes\u2026) The installation steps vary depending on the server software used. For the popular Apache server, you need to configure the virtual host file and specify the paths to the certificate file, private key file, and certificate chain file. For the Nginx server, you also need to specify the locations of the SSL certificate and key within the server configuration block.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After the installation is complete, make sure to forcibly redirect all HTTP traffic to HTTPS using 301 redirect rules in the server configuration. Finally, use an online SSL validation tool to check whether the certificate has been correctly installed, whether it is trusted, and whether a secure encryption suite has been configured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Deploying certificates is not a one-time task; effective lifecycle management is crucial for maintaining security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SSL certificates have a clearly defined expiration date. In the past, certificates could be valid for several years, but in order to improve the overall agility of network security, industry standards have generally shortened the validity period to one year or even less. It is essential to renew a certificate in a timely manner before it expires; otherwise, the website will display security warnings, and users will be unable to access it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u5f3a\u70c8\u63a8\u8350\u4f7f\u7528\u81ea\u52a8\u5316\u5de5\u5177\u7ba1\u7406\u8bc1\u4e66\u7eed\u8ba2\u3002Let\u2018s Encrypt\u7b49\u514d\u8d39CA\u63d0\u4f9b\u4e86\u5b8c\u5168\u81ea\u52a8\u5316\u7684ACME\u534f\u8bae\uff0c\u53ef\u4ee5\u81ea\u52a8\u5b8c\u6210\u9a8c\u8bc1\u3001\u7b7e\u53d1\u548c\u90e8\u7f72\uff0c\u6781\u5927\u964d\u4f4e\u4e86\u7ba1\u7406\u8d1f\u62c5\u548c\u4eba\u4e3a\u9057\u5fd8\u7684\u98ce\u9669\u3002<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to installing the certificate, additional security configurations are necessary. Make sure to disable insecure and outdated protocols (such as SSLv2 and SSLv3) as well as weak encryption suites. Enabling the HTTP\/2 protocol can significantly improve the performance of HTTPS websites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time, consider deploying an HSTS (HTTP Strict Transport Security) policy. This policy tells browsers to access the website only via HTTPS within a specified time frame, which can effectively prevent SSL stripping attacks. Submitting your website to the HSTS preload lists built into major browsers provides an even more comprehensive level of protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SSL certificates are the cornerstone of building a secure and trustworthy online environment. ranging from the most basic DV (Domain Validation) certificates to the EV (Extended Validation) certificates that offer the highest level of trust, they provide customized encryption and authentication solutions for websites of all sizes. Understanding how they work, choosing the right type of certificate, installing them correctly, and implementing ongoing lifecycle management are essential skills for every website owner, developer, and operations personnel. Adopting HTTPS is not only a security measure but also a positive investment in the user experience and search engine rankings; it is an inevitable choice for websites looking to establish a solid foundation in the digital age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes, it\u2019s very necessary. Modern browsers mark all HTTP websites as \u201cinsecure,\u201d which significantly affects users\u2019 confidence when accessing them and the professional image of the websites themselves. Additionally, search engines like Google explicitly consider HTTPS to be a positive factor in search rankings. Even for a static display page, an SSL certificate can protect users\u2019 privacy and prevent the content from being tampered with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Early SSL handshakes caused a slight delay, but modern TLS protocols and hardware have greatly improved this process. By enabling the HTTP\/2 protocol and optimizing encryption suites, the performance of HTTPS websites can be on par with, or even faster than, that of HTTP websites. The minor performance overhead is absolutely worth it in exchange for the significant benefits in terms of security and trust that HTTPS provides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u514d\u8d39\u8bc1\u4e66\uff08\u5982Let\u2018s Encrypt\u7b7e\u53d1\u7684\u5927\u591a\u4e3aDV\u8bc1\u4e66\uff09\u5728\u52a0\u5bc6\u5f3a\u5ea6\u4e0a\u4e0e\u4ed8\u8d39\u8bc1\u4e66\u5e76\u65e0\u533a\u522b\u3002\u4e3b\u8981\u533a\u522b\u5728\u4e8e\uff1a\u514d\u8d39\u8bc1\u4e66\u6709\u6548\u671f\u77ed\uff08\u901a\u5e3890\u5929\uff09\uff0c\u9700\u9891\u7e41\u81ea\u52a8\u7eed\u8ba2\uff1b\u4e00\u822c\u53ea\u63d0\u4f9b\u57df\u540d\u9a8c\u8bc1\uff1b\u4e0d\u63d0\u4f9b\u8d44\u91d1\u8d54\u507f\u4fdd\u969c\u3002\u4ed8\u8d39\u8bc1\u4e66\u5219\u63d0\u4f9bOV\/EV\u7ea7\u9a8c\u8bc1\u3001\u66f4\u957f\u7684\u53ef\u9009\u6709\u6548\u671f\u3001\u6280\u672f\u652f\u6301\u4ee5\u53ca\u56e0\u8bc1\u4e66\u95ee\u9898\u5bfc\u81f4\u635f\u5931\u7684\u7ecf\u6d4e\u8d54\u507f\u62c5\u4fdd\u3002<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is usually caused by \u201cmixed content.\u201d Although the main page is loaded via HTTPS, some of the resources embedded within the page (such as images, JavaScript files, or CSS files) are still loaded using insecure HTTP links. As a result, the browser considers the page to be insecure. The solution is to ensure that all resources on the page use HTTPS links. You can view specific warnings about mixed content in the console of your developer tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It depends on the type of certificate. Single-domain certificates are usually intended for use with only one specific domain name. Multi-domain certificates allow you to add multiple different domain names to the same certificate at the time of purchase. Wildcard certificates, on the other hand, can protect a domain name and all its subdomains at the same level. If you need to deploy the same service on multiple servers for load balancing purposes, many certificate authorities (CAs) allow you to request multiple copies of the same certificate.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" This article systematically explains the core functions and working principles of SSL certificates, including the encryption process and the trust chain. It provides a detailed comparison of the applicable scenarios for different types of certificates such as DV, OV, and EV certificates, and offers a comprehensive step-by-step guide for the entire process from application to server installation and configuration. The importance of certificate lifecycle management is also emphasized.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"tags":[],"knowledge_category":[277],"class_list":["post-12366130","knowledge_post","type-knowledge_post","status-publish","hentry","knowledge_category-ssl-certificate"],"acf":{"site_seo_keywords":"SSL\u8bc1\u4e66,HTTPS,\u7f51\u7ad9\u5b89\u5168,\u52a0\u5bc6,\u8bc1\u4e66\u7533\u8bf7,CA\u673a\u6784,\u901a\u914d\u7b26\u8bc1\u4e66,SSL\u8bc1\u4e66\u5b89\u88c5\u6307\u5357"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.likacloud.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/knowledge_posts\/12366130","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.likacloud.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/knowledge_posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.likacloud.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/knowledge_post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.likacloud.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.likacloud.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/knowledge_posts\/12366130\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.likacloud.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12366130"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.likacloud.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12366130"},{"taxonomy":"knowledge_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.likacloud.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/knowledge_category?post=12366130"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}www.example.com<\/code>A multi-domain certificate allows you to include multiple completely different domain names in a single certificate. A wildcard certificate, on the other hand, provides protection for a primary domain name and all its subdomains at the same level (for example\u2026). *.example.com<\/code> Override blog.example.com<\/code>, shop.example.com<\/code>It is very flexible and efficient for organizations that have multiple sub-sites.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHow to apply for and install an SSL certificate<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"SSL](\"https:\/\/www.likacloud.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/20251227020448.webp\" "\\"\\"")
\n \n ![\"SSL](\"https:\/\/www.likacloud.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/20251229052118.webp\" "\\"\\"")
\n <\/a>\n \n \n Visit UltaHost <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\nCertificate Application Process<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
.crt<\/code>Or.cer<\/code>The file, as well as any possible intermediate certificate chains.<\/p>\n\n\n\nServer installation and configuration<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Certificate Lifecycle Management and Best Practices<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Timely renewal and automation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Enable HTTP\/2 and enhanced security settings.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
summarize<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
FAQ Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Does a website that doesn\u2019t have any transaction functionality still need an SSL certificate?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Will HTTPS make website speeds slower?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What is the difference between a free SSL certificate and a paid one?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Why does the browser still indicate that the connection is not secure after the SSL certificate has been installed?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Can one SSL certificate be used for multiple servers or domain names?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n