Security certificate definition - Glossary (2024)

(also SSL certificate, digital certificate, website security certificate, HTTPS certificate)

Security certificate definition

A security certificate is a small data file used to confirm the authenticity, identity, and reliability of a website or web application. The file contains verified information about the company and the domain.

A security certificate provides the website’s security level to visitors, ISPs (internet service providers), and web servers. Other names for a security certificate include SSL certificate, digital certificate, and HTTPS certificate. Third-party certificate authorities (CAs) issue security certificates to websites after verifying that the website belongs to the correct organization.

Common security certificates

  • Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificates
  • Transport Layer Security (TSL) certificates
  • SSL server certificates
  • Hyper Text Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) certificates

Benefits of security certificates

  • Website authentication and increased trust. Security certifications show the users that a website is trustworthy, authentic, and secure. However, since most phishing websites use SSL certificates, too, it’s recommended to do a bit of research before accessing an unknown website.
  • Increased security through encryption. Website security certificates use encryption to prevent malicious actors from intercepting messages. Encryption ensures no hacker can access the information stored on the website or make unauthorized changes to your data.
  • Improved search rankings. While security certificates don’t boost website rankings dramatically, search engines reward website security. For example, Google has included HTTPS as a lightweight parameter during a keyword search: if two websites have the same parameters, the one with a security certificate will rank higher.

Further reading

Security certificate definition - Glossary (2024)

FAQs

What is the meaning of security certificate? ›

A security certificate is a small data file used to confirm the authenticity, identity, and reliability of a website or web application.

What is security certification? ›

In other words, security certifications are proof that an entity meets a set of cybersecurity and data protection benchmarks defined by a third party.

What is security glossary? ›

A set of straightforward definitions for common cyber security terms used on the NCSC website.

Why is my security certificate not trusted? ›

The most common cause of a "certificate not trusted" error is that the certificate installation was not properly completed on the server (or servers) hosting the site. Use our SSL Certificate tester to check for this issue. In the tester, an incomplete installation shows one certificate file and a broken red chain.

What is certificate based security? ›

Certificate-based authentication is the process of establishing your identity using electronic documents known as digital certificates. A digital certificate is like an electronic passport used to prove your identity by confirming your ownership of a private key.

What is a securities certification? ›

To market and sell investments, an individual must obtain a securities license. What license you need is determined by what kinds of products you sell, the type of compensation, and what kind of services you provide. The Series 7 license has the broadest reach, allowing holders to sell various securities.

What function does a security certificate perform? ›

Digital certificates encrypt internal and external communications to prevent attackers from intercepting and stealing sensitive data. For example, a TLS/SSL certificate encrypts data between a web server and a web browser, ensuring an attacker cannot intercept website visitors' data.

How important are security certifications? ›

Certifications validate expertise and competence in specific areas of cybersecurity. They're tangible evidence of knowledge and skills, instilling confidence in employers, colleagues, and clients.

What is a glossary example? ›

A glossary example in a science textbook may contain the words: allele, biology, cell, DNA, mitochondria, zygote, etc. Glossaries are a great resource for readers to rely on when learning new content; glossaries help distinguish between words and content-specific words.

What is the correct definition of security? ›

: something that secures : protection. b(1) : measures taken to guard against espionage or sabotage, crime, attack, or escape. (2) : an organization or department whose task is security.

What is the glossary words? ›

A glossary is a collection of words pertaining to a specific topic. In your thesis or dissertation, it's a list of all terms you used that may not immediately be obvious to your reader. In contrast, dictionaries are more general collections of words.

How do I make my security certificate valid? ›

For an SSL certificate to be valid, domains need to obtain it from a certificate authority (CA). A CA is an outside organization, a trusted third party, that generates and gives out SSL certificates. The CA will also digitally sign the certificate with their own private key, allowing client devices to verify it.

Why do I need a security certificate? ›

Companies and organizations need to add SSL certificates to their websites to secure online transactions and keep customer information private and secure. In short: SSL keeps internet connections secure and prevents criminals from reading or modifying information transferred between two systems.

Who could be issued a security certificate? ›

The federal government may issue a certificate naming a foreign national or any other non-citizen suspected of violating human rights, of having membership within organized crime, or is perceived to be a threat to national security.

What is a security certificate on my phone? ›

Digital certificates identify computers, phones, apps, and other devices for security. Just like you'd use your driver's license to show that you can legally drive, a digital certificate identifies your device and confirms that it should be able to access something. Important: You're using an older Android version.

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