Need an SSL certificate but not sure what you need? If you want to get educated, you’ve come to the right place. Today, we’re going to talk about Wildcard certificates by Namecheap. What they are, who they’re for, and why you should get yours from Namecheap.
Let’s dive in!
What is a Wildcard SSL
Before we get into that, let’s go over the basics of SSL. A simple digital certificate you install on your website’s server, an SSL fosters encrypted connections between your site and any client (browser) visiting it. This protects users from malicious activities like man-in-the-middle attacks and data theft. Encryption renders information sent over an SSL-secured connection unreadable to prying eyes, so private information remains private.
So a Wildcard does just that, not only for a single domain, but any subdomain of one level connected to it. If you have a site called example.com, sites that look like *.example.com will be automatically protected too. Unlike some other SSL types, Wildcard SSL certificates will automatically secure subdomains you add later, so you don’t need to reissue your SSL each time you expand your website SSL. One of the best things is you can add even unlimited subdomains, so you can basically go wild.
Who needs a Wildcard SSL
Well, anyone who has multiple subdomains connected to a single base domain. People opt to have subdomains for many reasons. A key reason is to add functionality to your site away from the main domain, which may seem necessary if these new functions are extensive enough to distract from the main purpose of your site. This could include an e-commerce store, email, or even localized content in different languages. Sometimes developers use subdomains to test out sandbox versions of their site. Examples of subdomains include:
- store.example.com
- blog.exampl.com
- login.example.com
- test.example.com
- es.example.com
Why Namecheap?
Known for more than just cheap domains, Namecheap has everything you need to get your website online quickly and affordably. This includes SSL certificates. Namecheap SSLs are some of the most affordable around, and they’re even issued by Sectigo, one of the leading purveyors of commercial SSL certificates in the world. Best of all, if you get lost or confused at any step of the way, Namecheap’s customer service team is available 24/7 to help you on your way.
The takeaway
Wildcard SSL certificates may seem like a very niche need, but plenty of people use them happily. If you ever find yourself subdomain-curious and wonder the best way to go about securing them, you can’t go wrong with a Wildcard SSL from Namecheap.
