SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificates enable HTTPS connections, encrypting data transmitted between the browser and server. Though SSL has been replaced by TLS (Transport Layer Security), "SSL certificate" is still commonly used.
Why SSL matters
- Security: Encrypts data in transit
- Trust: Shows users your site is secure
- SEO: HTTPS is a Google ranking signal
- Compliance: Required for handling sensitive data
SSL certificate types
- Domain Validated (DV): Basic verification of domain ownership
- Organization Validated (OV): Verifies organization identity
- Extended Validation (EV): Highest level of verification
Certificate expiration
SSL certificates expire and must be renewed. An expired certificate causes:
- Browser security warnings
- Lost visitor trust
- Potential downtime
- SEO impact
VitalSentinel SSL Monitoring
VitalSentinel monitors your SSL certificates and alerts you before they expire, helping you avoid security warnings and downtime.
Related Terms
Downtime
Periods when a website or service is unavailable or not functioning properly for users.
HTTPS
Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure, an extension of HTTP that uses encryption to secure communication between browser and server.
Page Experience
A set of signals that Google uses to measure how users perceive the experience of interacting with a web page beyond its pure information value.
Uptime Monitoring
A type of monitoring that continuously checks whether a website or service is available and responding to requests.