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Secure Certificates FAQs

Why use a Secure Certificate?
Why buy a secure certificate from Visual Presence?
What level of encryption is provided?
How do I order a secure certificate?
How long does it take to get a certificate once it has been ordered?
Can certificates be issued for third level domains? (something.domain.com)?

Why Use a Secure Certificate?
While we do provide a method to access your site securely, many site owners benefit from their own secure certificate.

Some sites, especially ecommerce sites, want the professional appearance of having their own certificate rather than having our servername in the URL of their secure pages.

Many site owners would rather have their users see:

https://domain.com/

...instead of

https://host.visualpresence2000.com/domain/

Likewise, Resellers sometimes do not want our servername to appear in the URL.

Why Buy A Certificate Through Visual Presence?

Pricing
All of the basic secure certificates are the same product, just offered at different prices!

Thawte's prices are currently higher than the certificates that we provide. Verisign's certificate prices are even higher. There is no difference in the level of security provided on a website by paying more at another organization.

Efficiency
Our certificate creation process utilizes technology to establish the authenticity of the applicant. That means that it won't take days to order and retrieve your secure certificate. This also means incredible cost savings that can be passed on to the customer.

QuickSSL certificates that can be generated and retrieved in as little as 10 minutes!

CSR and Private Key Maintenance
When ordering a certificate through your Control Panel, you will see that your CSR and Private Key will be kept in your SSL Manager section. If you do not create another CSR from your control panel, your information will be kept. We still recommend making backups of your key and CSR and will not be held liable for maintaining this data or keeping the data on tape backup. It is merely kept in your control panel for your convenience.

What Level Of Encryption Is Provided?
All certificates ordered from this section are QuickSSL, which offers true 128-bit SSL encryption. This is the standard level of encryption used on websites.

How Do I Order A Secure Certificate?
You can use our SSL order form to get your certificate. Just select the product you would like to use and follow the form.

1. First you will need to generate your private key. Click on the private key under the SSL manager link.
2. Next, click on the CSR request link. Fill in the form accurately. Be sure use a VALID email address that you will have access to. Remember and write down the passphrase.
3. Then, Copy the entire CSR displayed including the ----BEGIN CERTIFICATE REQUEST---- AND ----END CERTIFICATE REQUEST--- tags
4. An email will then be sent to the admin email address provided. Follow the link, review the data, and click "Continue".
5. Once your certificate is issued via email, go back to the Secure Certs section of your control panel and click on 'Install Certificate'. Paste in your certificate and follow the remaining instructions. The server will install the certificate within 15 minutes.

Please be sure to test your certificate after a few minutes. If you encounter any problems, send a Help Desk Ticket from your control panel.

How long does it take to receive a secure certificate once it has been ordered?
A secure certificate ordered through your control panel can be ordered and received within 10 minutes.

The verification of the information is very quick, yet still reliable. The verification databases work with email and the WhoIs databases to ensure that accuracy of the information submitted. This bypasses the timely verification processes of Thawte and Verisign.

Once you have created the CSR and have ordered your certificate, follow the instructions to check your mail and respond appropriately. After receiving your certificate, you can go back to the control panel and install your certificate. This should take about another 10 minutes to install.

Therefore, you can request, order, and install your secure certificate for your domain all in about 30 minutes.

Can Certificates Be Issued For Third Level Domains (something.domain.com)?
Third-level domains (support.visualpresence.net, for example) can be secured just as any other domain.

These certificates can be requested, created, and installed via the Secure Cert icon in your Site Manager just as you would request any other certificate.

If you have more questions, please see our KnowledgeBase or submit a Help Desk Ticket.