SSL security for clients and patients is often overlooked when private practices develop purchase web development services. Every site owner knows that over time, the costs start adding up. The cost of SSL for a small practice is often seen as prohibitive.  This article was written for my clients who at times make very bad decisions when it comes to SSL.  I have included very basic and general information about SSL.

What is a Certificate Authority (CA)

A certification authority (CA) is a company or organization that issues digital certificates. In addition to managing security credentials they also administer public keys for message encryption.

What is SSL

Secure Sockets Layer.” SSL is a secure protocol developed for sending information securely over the Internet. SSL encrypts the transmitted data so that others cannot view the data being transmitted.

Differences Between SSL Certificates

There are many levels of security that are offered by certificate authorities. The more layers of security, the greater the protection.  Most private practices use their website for simple advertising and thus do not need much security. However, if your practice has a “smart” website that processes information for clients/patients, then you will need to implement higher security.

Quick List of Affordable SSL Certificates

The criteria I used to evaluate SSL providers include speed to issue, if they provide a seal, wildcard SSL support, warranty, and encryption strength.

1. Namecheap

• Price start at $7.95/year
• Issued in minutes
• Free Site Seal
• $10,000 Warranty
• 128/256 bit encryption

2. GoDaddy

• Price start at $5.99/year
• Issued in minutes
• Free Site Seal
• $10,000 Warranty
• 256 bit encryption

3. Hostgator

• Price start at $39.95/year
• Issued in minutes
• Free Site Seal
• $10,000 Warranty
• 256 bit encryption

4. Network Solutions

• Price start at $49.95/year
• Issued in minutes
• Free Site Seal
• $10,000 Warranty
• 256 bit encryption