How to install EV SSL Certificate on eCommerce website

Are you having a tough time trying to install an Extended Validation SSL certificate? No worries!  EV SSL certificates must go through a strict validation process, but you are halfway through once approved. As far as installing the EV SSL certificate on your eCommerce website is concerned, we will guide you through the process.

By the end of this article, you would be able to install the EV SSL certificate on your eCommerce website like a pro, regardless of the type of hosting plan you choose. Before we get there, let us start by understanding why eCommerce websites must be encrypted with this advanced SSL certificate.

Why do eCommerce websites need Extended Validation SSL Certificates?

A staggering 71% of all cyberattacks are financially motivated, and that should explain why eCommerce websites must be particularly cautious. E-commerce websites and applications receive sensitive financial information from their customers, which can be used for nefarious purposes if intercepted. Therefore, the data transmitted to and from the eCommerce website must be secured. As the EV SSL comes with 256-bit secure encryption, it can prevent several forms of cyberattacks such as packet sniffing and man in the middle attacks.

After all, there is so much at stake - credit card details, personally identifiable details of customers, etc. As all this data is protected under data privacy laws, eCommerce businesses need to have the necessary measures to protect their customers' best interests. Since the EV SSL certificate ensures the highest validation level, there is no better way of protecting an eCommerce website’s in-transit data.

Also, the EV SSL is exclusively designed for businesses and helps build more credibility as the CA performs comprehensive verification of the entity seeking this type of certificate. Since most eCommerce websites operate virtually, this sort of attestation makes it easier for the user to trust the website, which increases conversions. Not to mention, the eCommerce website gets an SEO advantage for installing the SSL Certificate.

We shall now discuss how you can install an EV SSL Certificate on your eCommerce website through cPanel, WordPress, and Apache.

How to Install EV SSL Certificate on eCommerce Website through cPanel

If you use cPanel and wish to install your EV SSL certificate on the server manually, you can do this by following the below-mentioned steps.

  1. Start by logging into your cPanel and click on ‘SSL/TLS’ option.
  2. Then again, click on SSL Certificate and then on the ‘Issue Certificate’ option and this is where you need to paste the CSR code.
  3. Generate the CSR by clicking on the ‘Generate’ option under SSL/TLS.

  4. You then need to fill out the name of your site and any other details and click on ‘Generate’.

  5. Then again, click on SSL Certificate and then on the ‘Issue Certificate’ option and this is where you need to paste the CSR code.

  6. You then need to install the EV SSL certificate on your website. To do this, extract the certificate from the Zip file. Then go to the Control Panel and click on CRT and choose ‘YourDomain.crt’ and upload that.

  7. You then need to navigate to SSL certificate and under that select the ‘Manage SSL’ option.
  • Choose your domain option containing the nameserver and then hit on autofill.
  • Then hit the ‘Install Certificate’ to complete the process.

Installing EV SSL Certificate on eCommerce website (Ubuntu Apache Server)

We strongly recommend that eCommerce websites use dedicated servers and, if that seems unaffordable, then at least opt for a Virtual Private Server (VPS). However, in this case, you may have to install the EV SSL Certificate manually, which may seem difficult for a non-techie. So, we decided to provide a step by step guide to make the whole process convenient for those installing an Extended Validation SSL certificate on their Apache server.

What you need to get started!

You will be required to run elevated commands during the installation process and must therefore have a user account with sudo permissions. In addition to that, you also need to buy an EV SSL certificate from a reliable Certificate Authority (CA) who has completed the validation process. Although it is expensive, you can find many reliable CAs offering cheap EV SSL certificates. Once you are through with that, then simply follow the below-mentioned steps to install it on your Apache Server.

  1. Start by logging in through SSH
  1. Generate the Private and CSR keys by typing

openssl req –new –newkey rsa:2048 –nodes –keyout servername.key –out servername.csr

3. Enter your website’s domain name when asked for the ‘common name’

Then enter the following command because an EV SSL certificate can support many subdomains

*. YourDomainName.com

How to Install an EV SSL Certificate on WordPress Website

One of the best things about the WordPress CMS is that it makes your life easier by letting you use a plugin for almost anything. Although you will find many WordPress plugins to install SSL certificates, we strongly recommend that you refrain from using them in the case of eCommerce websites. Most plugins are developed by unregulated third parties and may contain malware. Moreover, installing the EV SSL directly on your server is the least bit difficult, so save this as your last resort.

  1. To start installing the EV SSL certificate in your WordPress website, start by logging into the backend.
  2. Click on ‘Plugins’ on the side panel, click on ‘Add New’ and look for ‘SSL Plugin’.

  3. Activate the installed plugin.

  4. Click on install SSL and you are done.

Most eCommerce websites focus on delivering superior customer experience and invest most of their resources in the website’s design and graphics. Often, they miss out on investing in the right SSL certificate which can help them secure customer data and comply with data privacy laws and regulations.

As the year 2020 has experienced a phenomenal increase in eCommerce activities, cybercriminals are probably hard at work. So, if you have an eCommerce website, then make it a point to encrypt server-client communication to avoid potential attacks. The best way to do this is by installing the right SSL certificate on your website.

Conclusion

Installing an EV SSL Certificate manually on your eCommerce website’s server may seem like a lengthy process, but it is not. Once you have your EV SSL certificate approved and the necessary details in place, installing it takes only a few minutes. We encourage you to do it manually because it is much more secure and gives you better control over your digital assets.

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