SSL Certificates

SSL Certificates are SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificates that authenticate websites and allow them to switch from HTTP to HTTPS encryption, protecting the exchange of valuable information that visitors send or receive from a website.

An SSL certificate on your site instills trust in your visitors while helping to keep user data secure, verifying ownership of your website, and preventing attackers from creating a false version of your site. When you have an SSL certificate on your site, your customers can rest assured that the information they enter on any secured page is encrypted. GoDaddy makes installing your certificate easy and helps protect sensitive customer data on your site.

• Authentication
  SSL certificates verify clients’ domain ownership and help prevent domain attacks and spoofs.
• Encryption
  SSL/TLS encryption is possible via the public/private key pairing that facilitates SSL certificates. Clients get the public key to open a TLS connection from the server's SSL certificate.
• HTTPS
  SSL certificates are required for the HTTPS web address. HTTPS (the secure version of HTTP) appears on websites with traffic encrypted by SSL/TLS. In addition to securing user data, HTTPS conveys credibility and trust to the site visitor.

For even more information on SSL certificates, check out this help article.

When your GoDaddy SSL certificate is issued, we send an email to let you know. What happens next depends on where your site is hosted and the options you choose when purchasing the certificate.

If you choose Web Hosting, Website Builder, or Online Store, we’ll take care of everything for you. If you are hosting your website with another company or using our VPS Hosting, learn more here

To install an SSL certificate on Parallels Plesk Panel, cPanel, and Microsoft IIS, please look here.

Understanding the different types of SSL certificates validation is important when determining which is needed to help protect your visitors’ user data when they visit your site.

• Domain Validated (DV) SSL certificate. DV certificates verify the owner of the site. The Certificate Authority sends an email to the website’s registered email address to verify its identity. No detailed information about the company is required, and the DV Certificate is the easiest to obtain.
  
• Organizationally Validated (OV) SSL certificate. The Certificate Authority must validate the organization, physical location address, and the website’s domain name. The process takes about 2-3 days. OV certificates have a moderate level of trust and are fine for public-facing websites with lower-level transactions.
• Extended Validation (EV) SSL certificate. This is the SSL certificate with the highest level of security and is ideal for sites that deal with sensitive information. Before issuing an EV SSL certificate, the Certificate Authority thoroughly reviews the applicant. The review process entails the examination of corporate documents, confirmation of identity, and verifies relevant information through a third-party database.

The validity period depends on the SSL product you have purchased.

• Certificates with 90-Day Validation
  All Managed SSL certificate subscriptions and all SSL certificates provided through GoDaddy Websites + Marketing, Managed Hosting for WordPress, feature 90-day validation. These certificates automatically reprovision every 90 days. Read our FAQ on 90-Day SSL certificates to learn more about this product feature.
  
• Certificates with 200-Year Validation
  Deluxe Automated SSL certificates also feature 200-day validation and offer AI-assisted installation and automated re-installation. Basic, paid DV SSL certificates feature 200-day validation. If your DV SSL cert is connected to a GoDaddy domain, we will automatically revalidate and install your SSL certificate for you for the duration of your subscription. You will be responsible for manually installing the reissue if your certificate is connected to a non-GoDaddy domain provider.

• Basic SSL certificates
  No frills, standard SSL certificates that you install, manage, and trouble shoot on your own. You also re-install the certificate at each certificate validity expiry for the life of your subscription.
• Deluxe Automated SSL certificates
  Our new SSL is an automated re-installation solution that helps provide continuous encryption through future industry required validity changes. And the GoDaddy Airo AI-Assistant simplifies installation, configuration, and installation troubleshooting, to make the one-time upfront work as simple and fast as possible.
• Fully Managed SSL certificates
  The GoDaddy white-glove SSL solution for those who don't want to worry about installing, on-going maintenance and re-installation, or troubleshooting. Just tell us what website you want your SSL pointed to and we take care of everything from then on for the life of your subscription, so you can focus on more important things.

Answer these questions to help find the SSL certificate you need:

1. Where are you located?
   Our certificates are issued worldwide with a few exceptions. Check this link to see if you're covered.
2. Do you have a business website?
   If you do, a Basic SSL certificate (DV) is fine. This is also true for informational business sites. Ecommerce websites should use a single-domain Basic SSL certificate (DV) or an EV SSL certificate.
3. Which type of web hosting server do you use?
   Our SSL certificates work on most hosting and server configurations. To protect multiple domains on Microsoft’s Exchange Server 2007, Exchange Server 2010 or Live® Communications Server, use a Multiple Domain UCC SSL.
4. How many different domains do you need to help protect?
   Wildcard SSL certificates cover multiple subdomains. For example, use a Wildcard to protect *.coolexample.com, which would cover shop.coolexample.com, www.coolexample.com and any other subdomains.
   UCC SSL certificates will cover multiple domains, subdomains and websites. For example, you can secure www.coolexample.com, mail.coolexample.com, and www.awesomeexample.com.
5. Do you need an SSL certificate that supports Intel vPro technology for remote PC management?
   You’ll need our OV certificate.

A GoDaddy DV SSL usually takes 5 minutes or less. A GoDaddy OV SSL takes 3-5 business days, because we’re validating not just domain ownership but also the existence of the organization or business on the SSL application.

For GoDaddy EV SSL certificates, there is an extensive vetting process that starts with an in-depth application. Before you start, gather details about your business, such as registration number, incorporation or registration agent, and any relevant jurisdiction information.

This depends on the software you use on your web server. Learn more. To learn how to generate a CSR on Plesk Panel, cPanel and Microsoft IIS, please look here.

A Unified Communications Certificate (UCC) is an SSL certificate that secures multiple domain names and host names within a domain name. A UCC SSL certificate lets you secure a primary domain name and up to 99 additional Subject Alternative Names (SANs) with a single SSL certificate. For example, you can use a UCC to protect www.domains1.com, www.domains2.net and www.domains3.org.

UCCs are compatible with shared hosting and ideal for Microsoft® Exchange Server 2007, Exchange Server 2010, and Microsoft Live® Communications Server. However, the information on the site seal and certificate (“issue to”) will only list the primary domain name. Please note that any secondary hosting accounts will be listed in the certificate as well, so if you do not want sites to appear connected to each other, you should not use this type of certificate.

Depending on how your website is configured, you might want to use something other than a single-domain SSL certificate.

• Wildcard SSL certificates cover all a domain name’s subdomains. For example, you can secure *.coolexample.com, which would cover shop.coolexample.com, www.coolexample.com, and any other subdomains.
• UCC SSL certificates can cover multiple subdomains, unique domain names and websites. For example, you can secure www.coolexample.com, mail.coolexample.com and www.awesomeexample.com.

Visit our Knowledge Base to learn more about SSL certificate setup, usage and management.