SSL certificates

Protect user data and establish trust with an SSL certificate.

Secure your website with an SSL certificate. Encrypt login and credit card data, ensuring a safe online environment for your users and protected transactions.

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Person holding a laptop beside a secure browser address bar and an issued SSL certificate

The benefits of an SSL certificate.

Display a safety padlock

Users will see a padlock in the website address bar indicating that the site is safe to use, eliminating any “Not Secure” browser warnings.

Industry-standard encryption

SSL certificates are armed with 256-bit symmetric encryption, ensuring transactions and sensitive information are secure.

Warranties

Have peace of mind – if there's an issue on the certification authorities' side resulting in financial loss for you, rest assured, you're protected.

Establish trust and credibility

SSL certificates build trust by securing communication and offering visitors verified information about your business.

Improved SEO

Google encourages the use of HTTPS through an SSL certificate to provide better user security and privacy, enhancing search engine optimisation.

Compliance

Some regulations and standards, especially in e-commerce and data handling, require the use of SSL to meet compliance requirements and protect user information.

Certificate request panel showing the validation steps and the issued certificate

How to get an SSL certificate.

1
Register
Choose the type of certificate that meets your security needs and provide the IP address that you will be securing.
2
Provide your info
Submit the required information to the registering authority.
3
Verification
Your information will go through a verification process that can take between 1-10 days depending on the validation level.
4
SSL certificate is issued
Once your info has been verified and the SSL certificate created, simply add it to your website.

The different types of SSL certificates.

Domain Validation SSL

Domain Validated (DV) SSL Certificates offer the simplest and fastest way to secure a domain. The validation process involves confirming ownership of the domain name and once this is demonstrated, the SSL certificate is immediately issued.

Extended Validation SSL

An Extended Validation (EV) certificate stands out as the top-tier SSL certificate, offering heightened assurance to customers by showcasing verified details of your organisation. In all major web browsers, EV SSL highlights your organisation's name in green on the address bar.

Wildcard DV

A Wildcard Certificate (Domain Validated) provides secure encryption for a domain and all of its subdomains. The validation process only involves confirming ownership of the main domain and offers a cost-effective and efficient way to secure websites with multiple subdomains under a single SSL certificate.

SSL Certificate Options

Sectigo and Thawte offer a range of SSL certificates with varying levels of validation and features, suitable for the different security needs of your website.

Sectigo SSL Certificates

Plans starting at

R279/year

Safety padlock
Industry-standard encryption
Warranties
Secure site seal
Improved search engine optimisation (SEO)

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Thawte SSL Certificates

Plans starting at

R999/year

Safety padlock
Industry-standard encryption
Warranties
Secure site seal
Improved search engine optimisation (SEO)

Click for more

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the questions businesses ask before getting online.

Find quick answers about domains, hosting, websites, support, and getting started with 1-grid.

SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer. It’s the standard security technology for establishing an encrypted link between a web server and a browser. This link ensures that all data passed between the web server and browsers remain private, whether it is submitting a contact form or completing a transaction online. SSL is a simple but essential way to keep sensitive information safe while giving your visitors the confidence they need to interact on your website.
While SSL is not strictly required for all websites, it is highly recommended as best practice for most, and the web industry is increasingly moving towards making HTTPS the standard for all websites. Your website needs security regardless of whether it is an e-commerce site or a small blog to establish trust and credibility with users.
Free SSL certificates, while providing encryption benefits, have certain drawbacks. Typically offering only domain validation, they may lack the thorough validation of the organisation associated with the website. Free certificates often lack a financial warranty, have shorter validity periods, and may provide limited customer support. Investing in a reputable paid SSL certificate is advisable, as it can offer advanced features, greater assurance, and enhanced support, addressing potential limitations associated with free alternatives.
There are three types of SSL certificates currently available: Extended Validation (EV SSL), Organisation Validated (OV SSL), and Domain Validated (DV SSL). While the encryption levels remain consistent across all certificates, what distinguishes them are the vetting and verification processes required to acquire each certificate. Our SSL certificates are provided by established certification authorities Sectigo and Thawte.
To get an SSL certificate, select either a Sectigo or Thawte certificate suitable for your website, considering factors like validation level and the number of domains to secure. Provide necessary information during the application according to the certificate type, including details about your domain ownership and organisation. After completing the validation and receiving the SSL certificate from the issuer, follow the provided instructions to install it on your server.