What is a DV SSL Certificate, and How does it Work?

A DV SSL Certificate is generally used by bloggers and websites for personal portfolios. Usually, websites that want to get an SSL security seal to build User Confidence can get this certificate. 

The Domain Validated (DV) certificate is a type of SSL certificate provided to domain owners. Of all three types of certificates, the DV certificate is the least challenging to obtain and has the lowest price. They are provided even when the person shows control over a web domain.

In comparison, the Organization Validated (OV) certificate is given to a legitimate business and involves a detailed verification process. Also, the Extended Validation (EV) certificate is an 18-step process, which makes getting this certificate extremely challenging. With all these types of certificates, there are differences in their purpose, security strength, and process to obtain. 

Here article, we will learn about a DV certificate and its work process. 

What is a DV SSL Certificate?

A DV SSL certificate comes with a 256-bit encryption protection and is allocated to domains in the name of web domain owners. These certificates validate and authenticate the domain of WWW and non-WWW versions. 

These certificates are the easiest to obtain. It’s a one-step verification process, after which the certificate authority will grant the certificate to the domain owner. Before verifying the DV certificate, the CA will only verify the domain name of the applicant and that it has been validated. The validation part means that the owner shall show some control over the DNS domain for which they are trying to obtain a DV SSL certificate. 

DV certificates are the easiest to obtain because, at times, even a bot can obtain the certificate easily. The only verification step is sending an email to the WHOIS record, which will then verify the name and provide the certificate. This means that the DV certificate does not contain any details of the organization. Hence, they are most likely to be attached to blogging and personal websites. 

Plus, any website not gathering visitors’ personal information or conducting any financial transaction can get this certificate. An SSL certificate is essential to obtain for every website. However, simple blogging website owners may not want to spend any money on getting the SSL certificate; they will find an affordable substitute with the DV certificate. 

Even though these certificates are easy to avail and affordable, that does not mean a lack of security. DV SSL certificates have 256-bit encryption and are validated with authenticity. 

It’s easy to check whether a website has a DV certificate or another form of validated certificate. In the case of a Domain Validated Certificate, looking for the certificate information is the easiest way to verify.  

On a website URL, click on the Lock button and notice the information given below. Under Details, check the Common Name (CN). In a DV certificate, only the common name will be provided, and no other information is shared. 

How Does a DV SSL Certificate Work?

 A DV SSL certificate boasts a quick verification and installation process. The users requiring the certificate can get one with minimal effort and within minutes. The rapid delivery of these certificates is particularly helpful.

To acquire a DV SSL certificate, the website owners need to contact the Certificate Authority and a certificate provider like CheapSSLWeb, Sectigo, Comodo, etc. These organizations will verify the website owner’s identity. 

With DV certificates, this is the only thing the certificate provider will check. They will generally verify the name from WHOIS records and send an email to verify the identity further. Once it’s verified, the CA will move ahead with allocating a DV certificate to the person requesting the same. 

With a DV certificate connected to the web browser, a lock sign will appear in front of the URL. This lock button will help the website gain trust and confidence of the visitors. 

What are the Key Features of a DV SSL Certificate?

DV SSL certificates are the first step of publishing a website and are used by several domain owners. Individuals wanting to publish their website on mobile and non-mobile devices can get this certificate to secure their website. In this instance, the DV SSL certificates provide the users with a few benefits and features. 

 

• 256-bit encryption

 

A DV certificate comes with 256-bit encryption, which is regarded as one of the most secure ways to encrypt and decrypt data. In a DV SSL certificate, this encryption standard is used to generate private and public security keys. 

With effective encryption, the security keys are not only protected but also increase the stability of protected assets and raise the trustworthiness of the same. 

As a result, with the DV certificate enabled with 256-bit encryption, it can be trusted more enthusiastically by website owners. 

 

• Fast issuance

 

Another one of the good features of the DV certificate is how fast it can be issued and deployed. The usual time required to apply for and obtain the DV certificate is one day. 

The certificate authority issuing the certificate will only have to check the website owner’s name from WHOIS records for verification. Once verified, they can issue the certificate instantly. 

 

• Phishing Detection Alert

 

Phishing activities have become commonplace today, and a DV certificate provides the owners with a beneficial feature of phishing detection. Machine learning-enabled software judges the patterns, URL address, past activity, and a few other elements of the contacting domain. 

With this, the certificate has an in-built feature to warn the domain owners and get them to take requisite action to help their users not become prey to the phishing trap. 

 

• Can be Reissued:

 

Another good feature of a DV certificate is that it can be reissued within the validity period, as many times as you want. This is certainly helpful when you want to allocate one certificate to different domains. This feature is a primary aspect of SSL certificates, and the DV certificate falls in the same category. 

Moreover, while this is the basic feature, the organization from which you are acquiring the certificate can provide further benefits. 

 

• Free Certificate Authority Seal

 

The site seal that says “SSL Secured” goes a long way in enhancing the website’s trustworthiness and the user’s confidence in visiting the site. Compared to websites that don’t have this site seal, the ones which have it are better off and get more visitor footprint. 

Best DV SSL Certificates

Now that you have an understanding of a DV SSL certificate let’s find the best ones out of them all available in the market. 

 

• Comodo

 

It is difficult not to include Comodo in the list of best SSL certificate provider. Comodo provides certificates for multiple purposes, including securing the website. They have certificates with 256-bit encryption. Besides DV certificates, Comodo also provides OV and EV SSL certificates. 

The price of a Comodo DV SSL certificate can range between $4.99 per year to $9.99 per year, depending on the user’s requirements. Higher the certificate price, better protection it will have and higher will be the warranty amount. 

 

• Sectigo

 

The Sectigo DV SSL certificate comes with 256-bit encryption, a free site seal and they enjoy the confidence of all the browsers. Depending on the type of DV SSL certificate you require, the price and issuance time can vary. 

A certificate to secure one WWW and non-WWW domain can be issued after a few clicks and will cost $4.99 per year. But a Sectigo certificate with unlimited server license and a $1 million warranty will cost $59.99 per year. 

Conclusion

Domain validated certificates are the easiest way to secure the domain, prevent unauthorized access, and build confidence. A DV certificate is the easiest SSL certificate to obtain, and it has the most lenient verification process. Website owners that don’t want to spend too much money on SSL certificates can get a DV certificate at cost-efficient prices.