Is SSL a security must-have, or mere smoke and mirrors? Symantec is readying a public beta of a certificate management program this fall.
Is it a security must-have or simply a good branding tactic?
Secure socket layer (SSL) encryption has been called by some tech experts as a Web site must-have for businesses of any size, while other quarters contend it's a nice-to-have that in some instances might even be harmful to your site's health.
A recent announcement by security software firm Symantec Corp., of a new SSL certificate management offering for users and channel partners turns the spotlight on this security question once more. SSL pertains to cryptographic protocols that provide communication security over the Internet by encrypting segments of network communications. With technology gained from SSL company VeriSign Inc., which it acquired last year, Symantec will release for public beta in September, products aimed at helping IT administrators, Web hosting firms and tech service providers monitor and maintain SSL certificates.
The release will include free downloadable SSL certificates for users and an onsite appliance which IT administrators can use to maintain and manage cheap SSL certificates used by their companies, said Fran Rosch, vice president of trust services for the enterprise security group of Symantec.
How SSL works
Because a lot of today's communications and transactions occurred on the Web, there is a need to make sure that information being transmitted between Web sites and customers are safe from interception or from being read by unauthorized people.
For users, it is also important to know that the Web site they are transacting with is the authentic site and not a spoofed site. “People's personal information, banking and financial information are being transmitted over the Internet. Consumers want to make sure they are dealing with the right people and not cybercriminals,” said Michael Murphy, vice president and general manager of Symantec Canada.
Secure Socket Layer works through a combination of encryption and decryption routines existing between the hosting computer and browser such as Internet Explorer, Chrome, Firefox or Safari to secure communications. It is akin to HTTPS (hypertext transfer protocol secure) and what is called "social authentication”, which was recently deployed by Facebook.
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Its nice to have ssl encryption it builds a feeling trust about the author of the website. It not only protects the website but on the part of user it ensures that the site is safe to use.
digital certificates