Secure Sockets Layer, or SSL, is a protocol employed to encode the data exchanged between a hosting server and its users. The practical application of employing an SSL is to secure the information that visitors submit on your site - a login page, a payment page if you run an online store, etc. Any information they enter in any box on the Internet site shall be submitted safely and securely to the server, so their login or payment information will be protected from being accessed by unauthorized individuals. Usually, an SSL certificate requires a dedicated IP address to be installed, which means the overall cost for your presence online shall be higher. While this may not be an issue for a larger business, it may matter for a non-profit organization or a small online store that does not generate big revenue if additional money should be spent. That's the key reason why we've 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 Shared Web Hosting
You will be able to use this option with all our shared web hosting plans and with any SSL certificate issued from any retailer. If you prefer to work with an SSL from our company, everything will be set up automatically and you will not need to do anything after you order and approve the certificate. The SSL order wizard will enable you to choose a shared IP to be used and the SSL to be installed by our system, so using this feature requires only two additional mouse clicks after you fill the necessary details for the certificate. The proper operation of the SSL will not be impacted in any way and any information which visitors submit on your website will be encrypted and protected in the same exact way. The one difference from using a dedicated address is that http:// shall not open your Internet site, but it is unlikely that anyone will ever seek to access it this way instead of inputting your domain in the web browser URL bar.
Shared SSL IP in Semi-dedicated Hosting
Any SSL certificate can be used with our specifically set up shared IPs, so if you have a semi-dedicated hosting account, you can use this option with only a few mouse clicks when you install a certificate you obtain through us or through another vendor. For the SSLs we offer you could also take advantage of another 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 given domain or subdomain and the certificate shall be installed with no action required on your end, so any info that site visitors submit on your website shall be secure. The SSL will function in the exact same way no matter if it's set on a shared or a dedicated IP and the 1 thing that is different between the two setups is that entering the shared IP as a URL in an Internet browser shall not open your website.