SSL Keys - suggestions?

[ekko]

We are setting up the Credit Card Transaction for the webpage, but the Secure Server we are using requires an SSL Key from either VeriSign or Thawte.

Upon looking at prices, it appears as if the VeriSign key needed costs $1300 and the equivalent Thawte key is only $300.

Am I missing something? Which company do you suggest?

Sorry this isn't SE related but this community seems to understand quite a bit in the e-commerce field.

Thank You

[ihelpyou]

hey Ekko, very good question and I would like that answer as well. Have not had to consider this but I am sure I will in the future.

[Advisor]

Most hosting companies these days will allow you to use their SSL server for a small fee. Sometimes it's even included in the cost of hosting. Check with your hosting company and you'll probably be pleasantly surprised!

Jill

[MazY]

I can only speak for my own business. But, we supply SSL Site-Server keys to our clients at £299.00 a year (£79.99 per annum to host the SSL key)

64-Bit Thwate at £199.00 and 128-Bit Thwate at £349.00.

£79.99 per annum to host the SSL key.

Note: Thawte SSL Server Certificates will provide 128-bit encryption as long as the site is running a 128-bit enabled server and the shopper is running a 128-bit enabled browser.

A bit of our sales literature to help you in your quest:

What does a web server SSL cert do?

When a shopper connects to a secure web server, they ask that server to authenticate itself. This authentication is quite a complex process involving public keys, private keys and a digital certificate. This certificate confirms that an independent third party has agreed that the server belongs to the company it claims to belong to. A valid certificate means online shoppers can have confidence that they are sending information to the right place.

What role does Thawte play?

Thawte issues digital certificates to organisations and individuals world-wide. Thawte has representatives across the globe: in the UK, Germany, Australia, Canada the US, and many other countries. Thawte certificates interoperate smoothly with the latest software from Microsoft and Netscape, so you can rest assured that your purchase of a Thawte Server Certificate will give your online shoppers confidence in your system and security.

Give your customers confidence with VeriSign Secure Site Services

Trust is the key to selling successfully online. VBMedia understands the importance of trust solutions in establishing an ecommerce site, which is why we offer VeriSign digital certificates, for you to use on your site.

VeriSign, the world's leading trust authority on the Internet, issues digital certificates for a comprehensive range of online security applications. VeriSign’s SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) server IDs encrypt communications between a website and a browser, virtually eliminating the threat of outsiders capturing the customer’s sensitive information. Server IDs also give proof of the site’s identity to visitors, preventing a third party from spoofing the website.


Why VeriSign is the leading certificate authority in the world

Experience: VeriSign has secured over 120,000 Internet web sites since 1995, including 98 of the Fortune 100, 400 of the Fortune 500, and all of the top 25 ecommerce sites.

Recognition: VeriSign is the foremost sign of trust on the Internet

Partnerships: VeriSign has been selected as Netscape's premier certificate authority, and sponsors the Security Channel on Netcenter.

Differentiation: Every VeriSign web site customer receives the VeriSign Secure Site Logo next to its listing in Network Solutions' dot.com directory, which is the most comprehensive Internet site index available.

Standards: VeriSign is the only certificate authority in the world which is audited annually by KPMG for adherence to its stringent security standards, and which is audited and approved by VISA.

Peace of mind: VeriSign offers £70,000 in Netsure warranty protection with each Server ID, guarding against fraud and misuse of the certificate.

Interoperability: Every VeriSign customer is part of the VeriSign Trust Network (VTN), a globally interoperable digital certificate infrastructure supported by a trusted network of certification authorities throughout the world, including AT&T, British Telecom, France Telecom/CertPlus, and 13 other worldwide VeriSign affiliates.

Hope that helps, if but a wee bit...

[ekko]

Already checked and no such luck! I didn't catch the fine print when I signed up - I assumed by having a Secure Server I was set.

Luckily we are in the 30 day money back period so I may just try and cancel (if not I guess we'll take a loss). I also am very unhappy with the AlaCart Shopping Cart program - it won't let you have two Catagories with the same name even across multiple different Category Types.

For Example, one of our suppliers is named APEXi, I couldn't have the following:

Engine
Intake
APEXi
Parts...

and

Engine
Exhaust
APEXi
Parts...

(the second APEXi would be classified as a duplicate even though it is in a different spot on the tree). To me this is very ineffective.

--

Doug,

I noticed you suggested www.communitech.net in another post and they seem to have a pretty decent package. Have you any experience with the Hassan Shopping Cart included?

If not, any suggestions on any hosting companies that do include a nice shopping cart?

Thank You

[ihelpyou]

Yes. My other site has been hosted there for over 3 years now. No complaints at all. I have never used the Hassan cart so do not know about it.

I would use www.vcart.com if I needed one though.

[WebSavvy]

From my personal experience, the Akopia shopping cart is one of the best I've ever seen or ever used. It's the same shopping cart I will be offering (free) to my hosting clients. :)

[crifer]

Deb, do you have a url for that shoppingcart?

[ekko]

crifer I did some research on Akopia and it appears as if they call it Interchange now. Check out www.akopia.com,... or you can see some nice demo's here:

http://demo.akopia.com/

The demo's are enough to convince me, this along with savvy's recomendation make me confident enought to find a decent e-commerce package running this software.

Currently I'm looking into www.imhosted.com

[crifer]

Thanks ekko!