Secure Sockets Layer, or SSL, is a protocol employed to encrypt the info exchanged between a server and its users. The practical application of using an SSL is to preserve the data that site visitors submit on your Internet site - a login page, a payment page if you run an Internet store, and so forth. Any information they type in in any box on the site will be submitted securely to the server, so their login or payment data shall be protected from being accessed by unauthorized individuals. In general, an SSL certificate needs a dedicated IP address to be installed, which means the overall cost for your presence online will be bigger. While this might not be a problem for a larger enterprise, it may matter for a non-profit organization or a small online shop that does not generate big profits if additional money should be spent. That is the key reason why we have taken advantage of an extension called Server Name Indication (SNI) and we've made it possible to use a shared server IP address to install an SSL certificate.
Shared SSL IP in Hosting
A shared IP could be employed for any SSL certificate, irrespective if you purchase it from us or from another retailer and regardless of the hosting service that you have on our end. If you get the SSL from us, you will discover this option on the certificate order page within your hosting CP where you could also take full advantage of the 1-click automatic configuration option that we offer. If the latter is selected inside the SSL order wizard, our system shall install and set up everything for you using the specially configured server shared IP, so once you acquire and approve the SSL, there will not be anything else to do on your end. You can save the money that you will otherwise need to pay for a dedicated IP address and the SSL shall function in the same exact way, so any information that the visitors submit will be encrypted. The one difference is that if you type the shared IP address instead of your domain in a web browser, the website shall not show up.
Shared SSL IP in Semi-dedicated Servers
Any SSL certificate could be used with our specially configured shared IPs, therefore if you have a semi-dedicated server account, you could use this option with merely several clicks when you install a certificate you acquire through us or through another dealer. For the SSLs we offer you could also take advantage of an additional function and have our system set everything up for you. This way the moment you approve the SSL, the shared IP address shall be set for the specific domain or subdomain and the certificate will be installed without any action required on your end, and so any data that website visitors submit on your site will be protected. The SSL shall function in the exact same way irrespective if it is set on a shared or a dedicated IP and the only thing which is different between the two setups is that entering the shared IP as a URL within a browser will not open your Internet site.