About Security Certificates

What are the differences between a secure and non-secure HTTP server?

A secure HTTP server is one that encrypts all data between itself and browsers that connect to it. The primary value of a secure server is to provide peace of mind to customers who may send sensitive information (such as credit card numbers) to your Web site. You may have both secure and non-secure servers using the same name (i.e., www.<Domain>: your non-secure server will have the URL http://www.<Domain> and your secure server will have the URL https://www.<Domain>. ("HTTPS" means Secure HTTP, a version of the language spoken by Web browsers and servers that use encryption.)

What is a digital certificate and why do I need one?

A digital certificate is the electronic equivalent of passport -- it verifies that your HTTP server is who it claims to be. Servers are required to be configured with digital signatures. Digital certificates are issued by an entity known as a certificate authority. The certificate authority's role is to act as a trusted clearinghouse that can verify the authenticity of a certificate in the event of a forged certificate. VeriSign and Thawte are notable certificate authorities. We work mostly with Comodo.

How do I acquire a secure server?

You can order a secure server as part of your virtual domain. Contact EasyStreet Sales at 503-646-8400 or info@easystreet.com. See our SSL sales page for pricing and other information.

I already have a digital certificate -- can I use it on my EasyStreet secure server?

No, your existing certificate will need to be revoked and regenerated by the issuing certificate authority.