If you’ve spent any time at all on the internet, you have probably come across the VeriSign digital seal, even if you did not really take note of it, at the time. VeriSign’s check mark has it’s server certificate logo on over 90,000 websites in 160 countries worldwide and was acquired by Symantec back in August 2010.
Verisign digital certificates provide more security per dollar than almost any other Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) provider around for the following reasons… In today’s world, your online business needs that kind of protection, and so do your customers.
Let’s face it, as wonderful a tool as the internet is, it is also a virtual candy shop for thieves, pranksters, and other ne’r-do-wells who have but one thing in mind: profiting at the expense of others. The potential to cause major harm through online criminal activities arises from the fact that people routinely submit highly sensitive personal information, such as bank account info and Social Security numbers.
The bottom line is that if your site is not secure, you can find yourself financially devastated. Identity theft is at an all-time high, and a large percentage of these individuals became victims by providing their highly sensitive personal data to unsecured websites.
VeriSign root certificates prove by showing your shoppers they are really connected to YOUR site.
Generally speaking Verisign digital authentication helps to protect an online business’s customers by providing a means for the customer’s computer to confirm the identity (i.e. legitimacy) of the VeriSign client’s website by means of a digital VeriSign client certificate unique to that site – somewhat like providing a business’s website with its own fingerprints.
An SSL certificate also allows for the encryption of sensitive data, providing an additional barrier against the misappropriation of vital information, such as credit card numbers, expiration dates, and verification codes.
Verisign offers different degrees of encryption depending on which VeriSign digital authentication package you select. There are four packages available through VeriSign: Secure Site, Secure Site Pro, Secure Site with EV, and Secure Site Pro with EV. Obviously, the Secure Site is the most basic and the Secure Site Pro with EV is VeriSign premium package.
All four feature the VeriSign seal, which allow visitors to confirm the authenticity of the website visually, and VeriSign’s trademarked “Seal-in-Search” feature, which causes the VeriSign seal to appear next to the client’s name in things like online product reviews and search engine results, when viewed via an enabled browser. They all include daily malware scans, 24/7 customer support, and some additional software features, as well.
There are some notable differences between the VeriSign digital authentication services packages, however. The Pro packages offer higher security and greater encryption strength. The Pro VeriSign client certificate packages also both include free security and monitoring software.
The EV packages have a higher trust level and a few bells and whistles not found on the non-EV packages. For instance, the EV packages include a feature that turns the browser’s address bar green when a site is secure and trusted. They also boast they highest authentication rating*. All packages have an option to purchase a NetSure extended warranty at $100k for the basic packages and $250k for the EV packages.
Client certificate packages remain active for either one or two years (up to 3 years for the non-EV packages). The discounted rates (per year) for multi-year licenses are significant. However, those looking to get the quality VeriSign name at a cheaper price can secure it for less here: Compare and buy VerSign server certificates for less.
Acquiring a VeriSign digital seal may seem like a superfluous expenditure, especially for a business who keeps tight tabs on online security concerns. However, many VeriSign users find that the amount of traffic to their sites increases and, more importantly, their conversion ratios improve significantly, as customers feel safer submitting personal and financial data.
In the long run, due to it’s recognition and authority status the VeriSign client certificate will more than pays for itself while serving to protect the business’s customers as well as the business itself.
*Authentication was determined using the criteria established by CA/Browser Forum.
