What is an Organisation Validated SSL Certificate?
An Organisation Validation (OV) SSL certificate goes beyond simply verifying domain ownership. It delves deeper to confirm the legal existence and operational status of the organisation behind the website.
How Does an organisation Validation SSL Certificate Work?
The validation process for an OV certificate is more comprehensive than a Domain Validated (DV) certificate but less rigorous than an Extended Validation (EV) certificate. Here's a simplified breakdown:
- Certificate Request: You request an OV SSL certificate from a Certificate Authority (CA), providing your organisation details and domain name.
- Documentation Verification: The CA verifies your organisation's legitimacy by requesting official documentation like business licenses, articles of incorporation, or other relevant documents.
- Domain Control Verification: Standard domain ownership verification procedures are conducted to confirm control over the associated domain name.
- Certificate Issuance: Upon successful completion of the validation process, the CA issues the OV SSL certificate.
Is an organisation validated SSL certificate suitable for my website?
OV certificates offer a middle ground between basic DV certificates and the more stringent EV certificates. Here's why an OV certificate might be a good fit for your website:
- Enhanced Trust: Compared to a DV certificate, an OV certificate displays your organisation's name in the browser address bar alongside the padlock symbol and "https://". This visual cue assures visitors they're interacting with a legitimate business entity.
- Suitable for Many Businesses: OV certificates are ideal for websites that handle moderately sensitive data, such as user account information or basic online transactions.
- Cost-Effective: OV certificates are generally more affordable than EV certificates, offering a balance between security and cost.
However, OV certificates might not be the best choice for all scenarios:
- Limited Validation: While it verifies the organisation's existence, it doesn't delve as deeply into the organisation's background as an EV certificate.
- Not Ideal for Highly Sensitive Data: For websites handling extremely sensitive information like financial transactions or medical records, an EV certificate might be more appropriate.
What protection does an organisation validated SSL certificate provide?
Similar to other SSL certificates, OV certificates encrypt data transmission between your website and visitors' browsers. Here's how they enhance security and trust:
- Encryption: OV certificates ensure secure communication by encrypting data, safeguarding information like login credentials, user data, and forms submitted on your website.
- Data Integrity: Encryption protects data from tampering or alteration during transmission, ensuring its accuracy and reliability.
- Increased Trust: The display of your organisation's name in the browser address bar establishes legitimacy and fosters trust with visitors, encouraging them to engage with your website.
What Warranty is included with an Organisation Validated SSL Certificate?
Our Organisation Validated SSL certificates are provided with a $250,000 warranty. The warranty on an SSL Certificate is provided by the Certificate Authority and offers compensation to users of your website in cases where there is a certificate breach or failure, or in cases of incorrect issuance of the SSL certificate.
Organisation Validation SSL certificates provide a valuable step up from basic DV certificates. They offer a cost-effective way to showcase your organisation's legitimacy and build trust with website visitors. If your website deals with moderately sensitive data or prioritizes establishing user confidence, an OV certificate is a solid security choice. Remember, striking the right balance between security, cost, and user experience is key to building a successful online presence.
Buy an OV certificate for just £31.16 ex VAT per year