Shopping SSL cert resellers

[WylieE]

We currently use GeoTrust for our SSL cert and our contract is due to expire in another month. We've been contacted by Network Solutions and Verisign to use them as our certificate authority. I'm trying to filter out the market-speak and determine which company would be right for us.

Positive/negative experiences with any of these companies would be appreciated. Is there any need for a different certificate for a larger volume site than a smaller volume (ie transactions) website? I guess any thruput restrictions?

Is extended validation a big plus? Other than larger $$$$ guarantees and additional domains, I'm not seeing significant differences in the SSL cert programs these companies offer. Am I totally missing something here?

Thanks!

[Shopping Cart Admin]

Hello,

In reality there isn't any difference in the SSL certificates themselves, so long as there in the trusted list in IE/FF/etc. The only benefit of purchasing an SSL certificate from Verisign is that you can use their logo on your website, which is recognized by many. In our hosting division we pretty much use http://www.instantssl.com for all of our certs.

The Verisign secure seal SSL EV (see below) certificate is $995.00 and from instantSSL it's $449.00. A standard SSL (non-EV) certificate from InstantSSL is $65.00. The Verisign ssl cert with their verification logo is $1495.00 a year.

The EV cert will generate a slightly high rate of conversion, and the EV +plus the Verisign verified logo will do a bit better than that. So it boils down to how much business you're doing and if a small increase in conversion ratio will pay off?

Most big retailers use the $1495.00 a year seal from Verisign.

There is a new certificate type EV (Extended validation).

Extended Validation SSL Certificate
Extended Validation Certificates deliver a new level of trust to your web site visitors. Starting with Microsoft® Internet Explorer 7, the address bar will turn green confirming your site identity as verified by a Certification Authority (CA) according to the most rigorous industry guidelines established by the CA/Browser Forum.

Why do I need Extended Validation SSL Certificate?
Extended Validation SSL is the next generation of SSL Certificate - stringent verification processes developed by the CA/Browser Forum ensure your web site is visibly more trusted than with other types of SSL Certificates.

Maximize your sales by gaining trust - the public is being educated to look for the "Green Address Bar" as a sign of trustworthiness. Make sure you gain competitive edge by displaying this essential trust indicator.

Free, patent pending EV Corner of Trust logo - confirming your EV status throughout the web site (not just on secure pages). This exclusive TrustLogo allows web site visitors to obtain your credentials with a simple mouse over (not a click diverting your customer to another web site).

[kastnerd]

This is a little late, But i just got an SSL with EV from Thawte. They did a painless check out of company status. They used our our mother LLC company licence / tax id name for "Run by" It took about 3 days to get the Key.

I dont think its any more safe, but it dose look a little better to the customer.

[Mike718NY]

VeriSign owns GeoTrust AND Thawte.

[AbleMods]

I've used instantSSL the last few years for my clients and my own sites. Nice web interface, lightning fast SSL certs. They've done a good job owning up to the 'instant' in their company name.

$1,495 a year for that elite logo.....yikes