Let's get real for a minute.
If you happen to be a website owner, you know the importance of testing your site. SSL verification is necessary to ensure that your certificate parameters are normal.
Of course, there are some important things to keep in mind when it comes to testing your website, including:
- User-friendliness
- Mobile compatibility
- UX design
But there are a few more technical aspects that you need to take into consideration as well. For one, using the proper testing tools is key when double-checking errors and glitches that may occur when building and controlling your website.
Let's explore.
What is SSL?
SSL is the standard security technology for establishing an encoded link between a web server and a browser. (It's also commonly called TLS, or Transport Security Layer).
This link ensures that all data is passed between a specific web server and that the browser is protected and remains private.
Why should you test your site for SSL errors?
The main reason you should test your site for any possible SSL errors? To be able to face customers who might not understand why your site isn't working properly. After all, a faulty or slow website can lead to a potential loss of customers or prospects.
If your site is experiencing trouble loading or it has certain errors in functioning properly, your SSL certificate could either be expired or it might not be authenticated. As security is a huge priority when it comes to your website visitors, it goes without saying that having an expired SSL certificate may lower your online credibility.
Many popular browsers like Chrome and Firefox also block ‘unsafe’ websites running over HTTP (without an SSL certificate) by default. In recent years, ‘HTTPS-only’ has become the industry standard. It’s simply no longer acceptable to run over HTTP, as it implies a site is vulnerable by design.
At Proxyclick, we make sure that our network is well protected by redundant firewalls, secure HTTPS transport over public networks, regular audits, as well as Intrusion Detection Systems that monitor and block potentially malicious traffic and network attacks. (Learn more about how we handle security here).
5 tools to test your site’s vulnerability
Looking for easy-to-use, reliable tools to test your site's vulnerability? Here are a few that may come in handy.
1. SSL Checker
This tool will help you stay up-to-date with your site’s certification and expiration date. It also checks to ensure that your certificate is installed properly, and runs indicative tests to see if certain browsers trust it.
2. Cyber Scanner
Cyber Scanner is another great tool for checking your site’s security. It doesn’t just control your SSL certificate, but it also provides an audit trail for GDPR compliance. Cyber Scanner searches for different ways to infiltrate IT assets and vulnerabilities, as well as recognize filtering systems between the user and the targeted hosts.
3. SSL Security Server Test
This unique tool was first designed by engineers at High-Tech Bridge and offers an in-depth look at website URLs and domains. It gives you everything you need to make sure that your website runs smoothly, including details on the general health of your site as well as information on your certificate and backend programming.
4. SSL Labs
When it comes to checking the validity of your site’s certificate, SSL Labs covers all you need to know. It analyzes all the misconfigurations that you might have on your site - all you need to do is insert your full name and domain name in the box, and let SSL labs do the rest of the work.
(At Proxyclick, our API application endpoints are TLS/SSL only and have an A-rating in Qualys SSL Labs tests. This ensures that the communication between you and Proxyclick is encrypted according to best practices: HTTPS and Transport Layer Security over public networks.)
5. Wormly
Wormly helps online businesses take steps toward speedier, more reliable websites that don’t cause their visitors to drop off. This tool gives you access to error messages, encryption details, trust chain information, and the expiration of your certificate.
Additional resources & tools
It's important to note that you can also make use of additional tools like Google Analytics, which provides you with necessary details regarding your site’s traffic and gives you key insights, such as the last page a visitor saw before dropping off.
It's also helpful to make use of a calendar or planning tool like Google Calendar or Trello, to ensure you note all daily tasks performed.
How to get your SSL certificate
It's possible to create a website without getting your SSL certificate right away. While this is sometimes faster and more convenient, it's not recommended.
Rather, it's important to think about the security of your site in the long run. So let's break down the process of getting your SSL certificate from the get-go.
1. Choose a certificate authority
The first thing you'll need to know is how to choose a certificate authority (CA). A CA is an organization through which you can obtain your certificate. At the end of the day, you'll need to choose the right CA that matches your business needs, future goals, and budget.
2. Purchase and verify your SSL certificate
Next, you'll need to purchase and verify your SSL certificate.
Pro tip: Many web hosting providers offer installation once the support process is complete. Make sure you check with your hosting company to see if they offer this service before actually purchasing the SSL.
Then validate it - make sure that your SSL certificate is properly working, and that all of the trust seals you paid for are present:
- HTTPS address
- Padlock
- Green address bar
- On-site security trust seal
Once done, verify that all the details regarding your business are correct and accurate.
3. Update important links
Last but not least, update any links to your website, including in social media profiles, blogs where your content appears, forum profiles, partner websites, etc.
4. Install your SSL certificate
Once your SSL certificate is approved, and with the help of your hosting company and a bit of research, the installation process should be quick and painless.
Pro tip: If all of the above steps sound a little overwhelming to do manually, there’s a go-to Certificate Authority called Let’s Encrypt that can help with the process. It’s completely free and automated.
Learning more
At Proxyclick, security and trust are at the core of all of our services offered, and how we operate our business as a whole.
We instill trust towards our customers by aiming for the highest standards in information security and data privacy. Having modern and highly secure HTTPS over TLS1.2+ is just one of the many controls we have in place to offer you a safe and trustworthy product.
Interested in learning more about how we deal with information security at Proxyclick? Visit proxyclick.com/security, or reach out directly to us directly below.
