| How is a SSL certificate installed onto a webserver? |
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When SSL is first activated on the webserver, the webserver
requires information about the identity of the website including the
website domain name and company details. The webserver then creates two cryptographic keys - a Private Key and a Public Key. The Private Key is so called for a reason - this key must remain private and secure, only residing on the webserver. The Public Key does not need to be secret and is placed into a Certificate Signing Request (CSR) - a data file which also contains all the website credentials. The Private and Public keys are used in the encryption process, so that the data passing between the webserver (website) and the customer's browser remains confidential and secure. The CSR generated is submitted to Certification Authorities during the SSL Certificate application process. The Certification Authority then validates the website credentials and issues an SSL Certificate containing the digital identity of the website, binding the domain name to the company details. The webserver will match the issued SSL Certificate to the associated Private Key and allows the webserver to establish encrypted links between the website and customer's browsers. |
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