Which Types of SSL Certificates Are Offered by IONOS?
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Security is a matter of trust. IONOS relies on the years of experience of the market leader Sectigo for SSL certificates. An overview of the available SSL certificates and their benefits can be found below.
SSL Certificates for Smaller Web Sites and Blogs
| Product | SSL Starter Wildcard | SSL Starter |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 1 Included with all hosting products. Additional wildcard certificates can be ordered as add-ons. | Available as an add-on. |
| Technical Certificate Name | Instant SSL DV Wildcard | Instant SSL DV |
| Authentication Type | Domain validated (DV) | Domain validated (DV) |
| Domain Assignment | 1 Domain + Unlimited Subdomains | 1 Domain or Subdomain |
| Security | Up to 256-bit Encryption, 2048-bit root | Up to 256-bit Encryption, 2048-bit root |
SSL Certificates for Companies, Organizations, and Online Shops
| Product | SSL Business | SSL Business Wildcard | SSL Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Availability | Available as an add-on. | Available as an add-on. | Available as an add-on. |
| Technical Certificate Name | Instant SSL OV | Instant SSL OV Wildcard | Instant SSL EV |
| Authentication Type | Organisation Validated (OV) | Organisation Validated (OV) | Organisation Validated with Extended Validation (EV) |
| Domain Assignment | 1 Domain or Subdomain | 1 Domain + Unlimited Subdomains | 1 Domain or Subdomain |
| Security | Up to 256-bit Encryption, 2048-bit root | Up to 256-bit Encryption, 2048-bit root | Up to 256-bit Encryption, 2048-bit root |
Authentication Levels Explained Briefly
When you set up the SSL certificate for your domain, it is requested from the certification authority and subject to a verification procedure by them. Depending on the certificate, the verification procedure varies in complexity.
- Domain Validation (DV) SSL certificates are the lowest level of authentication. Domain Validation ensures that the applicant has administrative rights to the domain. This is verified by asking the domain owner to configure a specific DNS setting for the domain in order to be validated. At IONOS, we handle this configuration for you in the background, to ensure that the verification is quick and involves no manual intervention. This validation type does not verify the identity of the applicant however. That is why DV SSL certificates are mostly used to protect personal websites, such as blogs.
- Organisation Validation (OV) SSL certificates (also known as enterprise validation or business identity validation) verifies the identity of the applicant company and the identity of the domain holder, in addition to the DV validation. This additional verification by the certificate authority means that OV SSL certificates cannot be issued or installed until the validation is complete. But because of the additional verification, OV SSL certificates are more sucure and used to protect company or corporate websites.
- Extended Validation (EV) SSl certificates currently represent the highest authentication level. Verification of the company identity is subject to the strictest authentication standard. This extensive verification by the certificate authority means that EV SSL certificates cannot be issued or installed until all verifcations are complete. But because of the extensive verification, EV SSL Certificates serve the highest possible protection of company or corporate websites. In current browsers, the address bar is highlighted in green if an EV SSL certificate is used, so that visitors are assured of the robust security.