This article has been contributed by San Banerjee, Co-Founder & CEO ADDA.io.
As more residential communities in India embrace digital platforms for community management, visitor management and accounting, data security has become a critical concern. With residents sharing sensitive information—personal details, financial transactions, visitor logs, and more — ensuring the privacy of this data is a huge responsibility.
The Importance of Secure Community Management Apps
Today, we have software platforms that serve as a communication channel between committee members, employees, and society members, along with functions like capturing details of visitor entries and the community help desk. These applications, which make use of cutting-edge technology and artificial intelligence, give the people who live in the community a sense of security. In addition to providing security, these apps offer a number of communal living amenities.
Residents can quickly ask for assistance from neighbours and the community or property management staff by using these apps. Residents can also contact emergency response teams for assistance in case of an emergency. Conflicts are decreased since local inhabitants have easy access to all information pertaining to community norms. They can book common amenities for their own use, remain up to date on all significant property upgrades, and learn about all neighbourhood activities and services thanks to these apps.
The Dangers of Free Community Apps
While the right technologies can provide innumerable advantages, choosing the wrong software can cause harm, too. For example, many housing societies opt for free community management apps, assuming they provide value without cost. However, the reality is far from it. Free apps rely mainly on advertising revenue, which means they collect and monetise resident data. Unassuming residents often click on baits in the App promising freebies, without clearly understanding the extent to which their data would be shared with third parties. This exposes the residents to substantial amounts of spam and other hassles.
Risks of Data Monetisation and Spam
The least any apartment resident can do is to stay away from Free Community Apps. Yes, many of these Free Apps claim that they do not share your data without your permission. But the problem is that you would never realise how they would take permission from you – all your personal and visitor data can get passed on to third parties due to some unintentional click or tap somewhere inside the App. Using Free Community Apps means you are constantly living under this fear.
Most smart communities are hence shifting from ad-based platforms to subscription-based clean product platforms. Associations are realising that the risks of keeping their community on Free Apps are many. Not only does data security go for a toss, residents also feel trapped – on one hand, they keep getting spammed from these community apps, on the other hand, they are hesitant to completely uninstall the App, as then they miss out on visitor notifications.
The Hidden Costs of Ad-Based Apps
Marketers who used to welcome the idea of using Community Apps as an advertising channel have realised that putting Ads in Community Apps does not give great returns. They are willing to pay much higher for Physical branding as in Elevators, Lobbies, Events, etc.
It was seen that these free-to-use apps sent multiple ads during the day, which can also lead to the loss of important information. Consider the scenario where a wire near the swimming pool gets exposed due to heavy rain or a storm. The citizens are at great risk from this. A crucial notice warning neighbours to stay away from the area is sent out as committee members and community personnel collaborate to address the issue. This information is available to all residents of a community via the app. The ones who get constant ads miss out on the information due to the inundation of notifications throughout the day, potentially risking the lives of the residents. However, those using ad-free apps will never miss the communication, as they know any message coming via this app is important.
Shifting to Subscription-Based Platforms
Hence, now Smart Associations are keeping their Community App free of Ads so Residents are not spammed. They are using the Free Community Apps as Ad agencies, asking them to send advertisements which will be published on the elevators and, lobby as well. This gives them the Win-Win. No nonsense society platform as well as Advertisement revenue, which is often higher than what they had when trapped in the ad-based community software.
Addressing the Bigger Picture of Data Privacy Risks
As we discuss the risks of using Free Community Apps, let us, for a minute, however, look at the overall risks of using digital platforms, which is true for any digital platform you use. We have had data breach incidents happen with banks, financial platforms, and even prominent social media platforms before.
It was recently reported in the Hindu that Indian businesses face over 3,000 cyberattacks per week. India is the second most targeted nation in terms of cyber attacks. Maybe our growth story as a nation, and a large number of “Make in India” businesses coming up, is making India a target for these attacks. So, while every business would try their best to protect the data from potential data breaches, such malicious attacks still do happen.
Cybersecurity Challenges in India
Keeping in mind all these realities, as a management committee member and an apartment resident, the least you can do is to NOT trust your data with Community Management platforms that would voluntarily share your data with third parties as a part of their business model, for generating revenue for their company.
This part you can definitely control. Choose pure subscription-based software for your Community & say No to Free Advertisement-based Apps. Today, by incorporating AI and IoT into their solutions, best-of-breed property management apps are demonstrating remarkable creativity and enabling members of communities to live really secure, safe, and convenient lives. The Trinity of Community Stakeholders—security guards, flat residents, and the management committee—can effectively work together to create a very secure and convenient community living experience.
In a thought-provoking session with StartupTalky, Mr. Rajarshi Bhattacharyya, Chairman and Managing Director of ProcessIT Global, engaged in an in-depth discussion covering a wide range of topics. Throughout the conversation, he provided valuable insights into the competitive tech industry and what sets ProcessIT Global apart from its peers. He emphasized the company’s focus on cyber resilience, which involves building strategies, processes, and technology solutions to help organizations become resilient in the face of cyber threats.
StartupTalky: Good morning, everyone. My name is Sayantan, and today we have with us Mr. Rajarshi Bhattacharyya, the Chairman and Managing Director of ProcessIT Global. So, Mr. Bhattacharyya, how are you?
Mr. Bhattacharyya: Great, good to see you, Sayantan. And it is very nice to be at your show.
StartupTalky: Thank you so much, Mr. Bhattacharyya. It has been a pleasure for us to host you today. I am sure that this will be a very thought-provoking session. And definitely, your insights will enlighten our audience. So, Mr Bhattacharyya, can you share some insights into ProcessIT Global’s unique strategy in the competitive tech industry and what sets it apart from other players in the market?
Mr. Bhattacharyya: It is a deep tech services and solutions startup. We operate in the field of Enterprise. Specifically, I use the word “resilience” because “security” is widely misused. Resilience is where organizations start building up strategies and processes, implement product technology solutions, and make them work as one to become a resilient organization.
Resilience is a key factor term, where we enable organizations to become cyber resilient. In the ever-changing landscape, the paradigm of business is also changing these days. So, what we do is we also help organizations to secure themselves. Our tagline at Process It Global is “Securing the Modern Enterprise.” This encompasses the advisory piece, implementation, operations, and maintenance, functioning as a managed cybersecurity service provider.
That is in a nutshell what we are involved in. We operate in a very niche technology space, focusing on identity and access management, which forms the fundamental pillar of the zero-trust security policies that you keep hearing about. We also work on SIM, Soar, and UBR, which are essential for managing cybersecurity. Application security is another area where we work on securing applications. Additionally, we provide data security, which covers data at rest as well as data in motion.
Furthermore, we are partners with different organizations, particularly large global UEMS (Unified Endpoint Management Systems), and we build on top of their products to create a unique customer experience. Every organization’s demand is different because every industry vertical is unique, and their challenges vary.
For example, consider small-scale exporters who manufacture products for larger manufacturers globally. They may sign GDPR contracts without fully understanding the implications. We assist them in developing a strategy to become compliant and confidently sign GDPR contracts. That is what we bring to the table.
StartupTalky: Thank you Mr. Bhattacharyya for sharing your views. Since you mentioned the GDPR policy in Europe, with the new Digital Personal and Data Protection Act of 2023, I would like to know how your company, ProcessIT Global, is ensuring data security for your clients.
Mr. Bhattacharyya: So, we have an air gap environment when it comes to customer data, so it is never exposed to the internet. Whatever is there remains within our system. Additionally, we have implemented various security policy measures. We are also an ISO 27001-certified organization. This speaks volumes about how well our processes are defined. This ensures that we are compliant. Furthermore, if you look at the current policy of the government of India, it is a fantastic one. It is on par or even better than many others. It is more advanced because GDPR came out some time ago. This policy is more advanced and comprehensive, which will further India’s progress.
StartupTalky: All right. Since you mentioned government policies, I would like to continue with the next question on the same note. How do government policies support the growth of Indian startups, including yours?
Mr. Bhattacharyya: To encourage a startup ecosystem, the government must be open to ideas and entrepreneurship. The government has indeed taken steps in this direction. They initially launched the Skill India program, followed by the Startup India program. It is a process. If you examine the flow, it begins with skill development, followed by idea generation, and then the Startup India program comes into play. Startups, whether they offer services, products, or commodities, often require substantial funding. The government has introduced schemes that offer funding without requiring collateral, such as the Mudra scheme.
There is a significant emphasis on supporting women-led startups. India is now one of the world’s largest startup hubs. If you look at the top 15 cities globally for startups, three of them are Indian: Bangalore, Mumbai, and Delhi NCR. This is a testament to the encouragement the government provides for individuals to become entrepreneurs, break free from mundane jobs, and pursue innovative ideas. Access to funding is available, and Indians are known for their brilliant minds. Additionally, policies have been established to enable startup companies to participate in large government tenders without needing to provide Earnest Money Deposits (EMDs). Membership in the Startup India scheme takes care of your credentials, eliminating the need for Pre-Qualification (PQ) criteria.
Moreover, an essential aspect is that if your startup is performing well for three years, you become eligible for tax exemptions. It can hardly get better than this. The ecosystem is designed to support your growth. The government, in collaboration with organizations like NASSCOM, organizes various mentorship programs under the Startup India initiative, providing people with invaluable guidance and support.
StartupTalky: How do you see the G20’s Startup20 initiative helping Indian startups go global? Are there concerns about foreign players posing competition to Indian sectors?
Mr. Bhattacharyya: In terms of the Indian startup sector, we do not fear anybody these days. We have become a fearless India. So that is the spirit. Only the exchange of ideas and collaboration can make things better. If you are collaborating with somebody in California, they can learn a lot from us.
Most of the large-scale successful startups are founded by Indians. If you look at large-scale global companies, many of them are run by Indians. So, it is India’s time to shine. All these developments are happening for the better. Collaboration will only improve our situation. There will be an influx of money, an exchange of ideas, and technology exchanges. It is going to be great, and there is nothing to fear.
StartupTalky: India has transitioned from being a BPO hub to a center of innovation. Given this shift and your mention of data, here is a hypothetical question: Is it possible for startups to use their data as collateral for securing loans? If so, how can the security and assurance of this data be ensured?
Mr. Bhattacharyya: I think the government of India is working on data insurance. The moment you have insurance against data, as well as hybrid insurance, once that is formalized, it will lead to a massive explosion in having data that is bankable. So, it all depends upon the financial policies as well.
The government of India is working towards it, and hopefully, we will find a solution soon. Right at this moment, it does not seem like data could be mortgaged, and that is not the right approach.
If you look at it, you are getting financial benefits out of the data that you have. The data you are collecting is for servicing individuals better. It is for compliance requirements. Your data cannot be used for generating money. Data is a very secure thing. It cannot be bankable.
StartupTalky: I will get to my final question without taking much of your time. What are Process IT Global’s future plans and industry outlook?
Mr. Bhattacharyya: See, we would love to become the largest cybersecurity player in India when it comes to services and solutions. And that is what we intend to become in the next five to six years. We are currently experiencing triple-digit growth every year, a trend that can likely be sustained for another couple of years. However, there will come a stage where the growth may slow down a bit but eventually stabilize. Startups typically experience rapid hockey stick growth initially and then reach a stabilization phase. So that is the trajectory.
When I look at this industry, it will always experience double-digit growth. The reason is that hacking and cyber threats will always be present. If you look at the World Economic Forum 2021 Report, it identified cyber risk as the third most significant risk factor that can harm a nation. Today, the focus is on defending against an army of hackers who are becoming increasingly organized. In the realm of cybersecurity, it is a continuous process of improving weaknesses against threat actors.
Considering the pace of digital transformation happening right now, there are numerous applications getting modernized, adopting microservices, and becoming cloud native. There’s also significant usage of containers. However, the usage of containers introduces additional attack surfaces, opening opportunities for threat vectors. This trend is only going to increase.
As of now, the cybersecurity market stands at close to around $180 billion, and approximately 50% of this revenue comes from services. What is noteworthy about this market is that there is not a single product that can fulfill all your cybersecurity requirements. It requires a collection of tightly integrated products to provide a cyber resilience platform. Therefore, this market is poised for continued growth and will likely maintain double-digit growth rates.
StrartupTalky: Definitely, as rightly said, Mr. Bhattacharya. It was really an insightful conversation, and I also gained a lot of knowledge. Definitely, I can assure you that our audience will gain more knowledge from our interaction. It has been a pleasure hosting you Mr Bhattaharyya, and I wish all the success for you and your company.
In ancient times, government authorities transferred classified information through secure pathways to ensure confidentiality and prevent unauthorized access. Today, in the digital age, data privacy, and security are more crucial than ever as sensitive information, when leaked, can have severe consequences.
To address this concern, SSL (Secure Socket Layer) certificates were introduced. These certificates create an encrypted link between a web server and a client, ensuring that all data transmitted remains private and secure. SSL certificates provide peace of mind for individuals and organizations who need to transmit sensitive information over the internet. Thus, when you enter your details such as name, debit card number, password, etc., it gets encrypted and inaccessible to hackers.
An SSL certificate looks like a lock icon toward the URL’s immediate left. Here are a few reasons why SSL certificates are vital for a business:
Higher CRR – SSL is the very first sign of trust that a website visitor sees and is core to the business-customer relationship. A website without an SSL warns the visitors before entering the site. This negative sign repels the visitors and defiles the brand image.
Secures Data – Data is the currency of the modern world. If it is secure, you, your company, and your customers are secure. SSL provides an encryption layer and prevents data breaches. This, in turn, can put your company under legal lassos.
Financial Compliances – It also aligns your website with the PCI/DSS requirements.
Better Search Ranking– Security is now a direct search ranking factor. In the year 2021, Google announced its Core Web Vitals that would impact search rankings. Security was a part of these Web Vitals.
Because SSL is a technical field, you might find a hard time sailing through it. How many types are there? How to choose one? We’ll guide you through all the technical troubles and help you dock your boat to the SSL service provider that is best for you.
Why SSL Certificates?
Factors To Consider While Choosing SSL Certificates
Choosing an SSL certificate is not as easy as buying a packet of crisps. Buying the wrong SSL certificate can ruin the image of your company. But how to buy an SSL certificate? Well, certain factors must be ticked when choosing an SSL certificate for your website.
1. Validation Level: The validation level ensures the type of security provided by the CA (Certificate Authority). At present, three types of domain validation levels are there:
Domain Validation: This is the simplest SSL that can provide your website with a padlock symbol and basic encryption. It is usually provided within minutes.
Organization Validation: OV is a step above and requires the organization to prove domain ownership. It also validates the physical and legal existence of the organization. You might need to submit the basic papers and wait a few days.
2. Number of Domains Covered: Depending upon the number of domains and subdomains, you may choose an SSL certificate. Here are the possible actions:
Single Domain
Wildcard
Multiple Domain
3. Warranty Provided: Authorized CAs also provide a certain amount of warranty to cover any mishap. The higher the warranty, the higher the price of SSL certificates.
4. Experience and Reputation of the CA: Not all the certificate providers out there are legit. To ensure the image of your company, you must also consider the experience and image of the SSL certificate providers. The best CAs use the latest security technology.
5. Customer Support: Consider this in case any mishap occurs with the certificate.
Once you’ve considered all the factors before choosing the type of SSL, it is time to choose the best SSL provider.
How Does SSL Certificate Work?
The Top 10 SSL Certificate Providers
SSL certificates have been around almost since the boom of the internet. As soon as there was a flow of data through the wires, there was a need to secure the passage through which data flows. The history of SSLs has been thought to reach as back as 1995. Now, a mere glimpse can reveal thousands of SSL certificate providers to you. In such a case, it becomes important to choose the SSL-providing company wisely; it is a matter of security and you cannot compromise over it. Here is a list of 10 reliable SSL certificate-providing companies that you can choose from:
Comodo has been named the largest certificate authority globally. It has achieved the herculean number of 100 million certificates worldwide. It also has a good support staff that is highly trained in the technicalities. Comodo provides a wide array of certificates based on security and warranty.
Here are some factors to consider before choosing Comodo:
Pros:
Aggressive pricing in the DV SSL field
24/7 customer support
30-day money-back guarantee
Varieties of products
Covers all three validation levels: DV, OV, and EV
Huge warranties up to $2 million for EV in Enterprise SSL and Optimum SSL for multi-domain
Cons:
You might need to buy for longer periods to get an affordable price
The validation time might take up to 5 days
Pricing:
Comodo has an aggressive pricing approach that helps buyers afford the price without compromising on security. It offers various pricing plans. Have a look at the pricing details of some packages.
Plan
Pricing
DV SSL
$66/yr
OV SSL
$165/yr
EV SSL
$174/yr
Wildcard SSL
$312/yr
DigiCert
Website
Digicert.com
Rating
4.4 out of 5
Best For
Big enterprises looking for up-to-date security and priority support
Used By
Behance, CCTV.com, bit.ly, etc.
DigiCert- Top SSL Certificate Providers of 2023
DigiCert is the same company that acquired Norton Security back in 2017. It is a reputed company that offers various types of security certificates with easy validation and installation. Price-wise, DigiCert might come roaring at your pockets.
If price is not your concern, here are the reasons that you should go for DigiCert
Pros:
Numerous SSL options like Wildcard, Multi-domain, etc.
Contains Norton Security at its core
Easy to validate and install
Offers all three validation levels
Money-back guarantee
Huge warranties ranging from $1.25 million to $2 million
24×7 live support that eases up the after-purchase worries
Cons:
Pricing at the higher end
Technical language used on the website
No price provided for DV SSL
Pricing:
DigiCert offers various pricing plans. Have a look at the pricing details of some packages.
Plan
Pricing
Basic OV SSL
$268/yr
Basic EV SSL
$398/yr
Pro EV SSL
$1728/yr
DigiCert has been in the security industry for over 20 years. This deep-rootedness ensures trust and security without any compromise. If you love the blend of security, trust, and support, go for DigiCert.
GoDaddy
Website
Godaddy.com
Rating
3.9 out of 5
Best For
Businesses looking for multi-domain EV SSL at a reasonable price
Used By
Mediamatters, ADN, AZquotes, etc.
GoDaddy – Top SSL Certificate Providers of 2023
With over 26 years of experience, GoDaddy is usually hailed as a domain and web hosting providing company. But the company is much more than this. In the field of SSL, GoDaddy has achieved immense public trust.
Here are the reasons you should choose GoDaddy for SSL,
Pros:
Flexible pricing
Excellent security
30-day money-back guarantee
Cons:
The thing that you should take care of is the renewal cost. The renewal charges could be comparatively higher whereas the first payment might be cheaper.
Pricing:
GoDaddy offers various pricing plans. Have a look at the pricing details of some packages.
Plan
Pricing
DV SSL
$100/yr
OV SSL
$169/yr
EV SSL
$249/yr
Wildcard SSL
$429.99/yr
Godaddy is a reliable source for security certificates. Its easy-to-install-and-validate certificate will provide you quickly with an EV till you are finished sipping your coffee.
SSL.com
Website
Ssl.com
Rating
4 out of 5
Best For
Websites looking for quick EV and OV issuance and strong technical support
Used By
LAPL, HSLDA, etc.
SSL.com – Top SSL Certificate Providers of 2023
Founded in the year 2002, the company has over 20 years of expertise in the field of SSL and TLS. Other than this, here are a few factors to consider before choosing SSL.com:
Pros:
Affordable prices that are good for small to medium businesses
A promising 30-day money-back guarantee
Excellent support team with 24×7 availability
Huge warranties ranging from $10K to $2 million
Cons:
SSL.com is not so beginner friendly; they have lots of technical and confusing language on their website
Might need plans for over 1 year to get some discount
Pricing:
SSl.com offers various pricing plans. Have a look at the pricing details of some packages.
Plan
Pricing
Basic Single Domain Plan
Starting from $49/yr
Premium SSL
$74.25 to $99/yr
Enterprise EV SSL
$239.50 to $299/yr
Enterprise EV UCC/SAN SSL
$319,20 to $399/yr
If support, price, and quick certificate issuance are your concerns, go for SSL.com. It claims to provide DV and OV certificates within 5 minutes.
GeoTrust
Website
Geotrust.com
Rating
4.8 out of 5
Best For
Websites looking for multi-domain EV and OV for a longer period
Used By
Sky.com, Visa.com, Sony, etc.
GeoTrust – Top SSL Certificate Providers of 2023
It was the first company that issued DV SSL certificates. Founded in the year 2001, GeoTrust has gained a sea-deep experience in the field of cyber security. As it was once acquired by Norton, it is a part of the DigiCert group now because of Norton’s acquisition by them. GeoTrust also provides OV and EV with GeoTrust True Business ID.
Here are the factors you should consider before choosing GeoTrust for SSL:
Pros:
Huge warranties ranging from $500K for DV, $1.25 million for OV, and $1.5 million for EV
Supports 99% of browsers
Quick validation time ranging from a few minutes for DV, 1 day for OV, and 1-3 days for EV
Competitive price for high-end products
24×7 live chat and call support
Cons:
Their pricing for lower-end products like Basic DV SSL is a bit high
The warranty amount is not high
Pricing:
GeoTrust offers various pricing plans. Have a look at the pricing details of some packages.
Plan
Pricing
DV 1-year plan
$149/yr
GeoTrust True Business ID OV
$268/yr
GeoTrust TrueBusiness ID EV
$398/yr
Go for GeoTrust if you have a larger business to be secured.
GlobalSign
Website
Globalsign.com
Rating
4.2 out of 5
Best For
Big enterprises having numerous subdomains can consider a Wildcard SSL costing $949 for unlimited subdomains
Used By
Vimeo, Vmware, Spacex, etc.
GlobalSign – Top SSL Certificate Providers of 2023
It is a company that focuses on enterprise-level businesses. Founded in the year 2003, this Belgian company is as good as Belgian chocolates. GlobalSign might not be a good choice for you if you are a smaller business just starting to row. Also, it offers security for 3 SANs for free – Outlook, Mail, and auto-discover.
Here are the factors you should consider before choosing GlobalSign for SSL:
Pros:
Certificate issuance in a flash
Huge warranties ranging from $10K to $1.5 million
Multi-language chat, email, and call support
Provides all three validation levels: DV, OV, and EV
Easy and quick installation and validation
Cons:
Its limited support timings
The price is at the higher end
Pricing:
GlobalSign offers various pricing plans. Have a look at the pricing details of some packages.
Plan
Pricing
Basic DV SSL
$249/yr
Baasic OV SSL
$349/yr
Basic EV SSL
$599/yr
If you are a large-scale company, GlobalSign will ensure that your data remains secure. Also, if you have multiple domains to cover and expect future growth, go for it.
Sectigo
Website
Sectigo.com
Rating
4.5 out of 5
Best For
Websites looking for multi-domain EV SSL at an affordable price – $599 for 1 year
Used By
Samsung, Gravatar, WP, etc.
Sectigo- Top SSL Certificate Providers of 2023
Founded in the year 1998, Sectigo holds an immense experience in the cyber-security field. It has SSL certificates that suit all business requirements irrespective of size.
Here are other factors to look for before choosing Sectigo:
Pros:
Offers DV, OV, and EV
Reasonable prices for all the different types of certificates
Money-back guarantee
Huge warranties ranging from $500K for DV and $1.75 million for EV
24×7 live support through chat and ticket
Easy and quick installation and validation
Cons:
The warranty for OV SSL is a bit low at $1 million
Pricing:
Sectigo offers various pricing plans. Have a look at the pricing details of some packages.
Plan
Pricing
DV SSL
$78/yr
OV SSL
$179/yr
EV SSL
$249/yr
Price-wise Sectigo is very affordable for all the different types of products, especially when it comes to its multi-domain EV SSL.
Entrust
Website
Entrust.com
Rating
4.5 out of 5
Best For
Companies running multiple websites
Used By
FCC.gov, Dell, Nokia, etc.
Entrust- Top SSL Certificate Providers of 2023
In terms of experience, Entrust holds the scepter with nearly 30 years of footmarks in the cyber security field. Founded in the year 1994, this company offers SSL in OV and EV only.
Here are factors that you should consider before choosing Entrust for SSL:
Pros:
Money-back guarantee
Excellent support through phone, chat, and email (not on Saturdays and Sundays)
Easy to install, validate, and manage
Cons:
Low warranty amount of $500K warranty on all SSLs
Limited support – 5 days a week
Entrust does not provide DV SSL
Pricing:
Entrust offers various pricing plans. Have a look at the pricing details of some packages.
Plan
Pricing
Standard OV
$219/yr
Wildcard OV
$799/yr
Multi-Domain EV SSL
$429/yr
AlphaSSL
Website
Alphassl.com
Rating
–
Best For
Single websites looking for basic and affordable SSL
Used By
Ecrater, AAP, Electricbike, etc.
AlphaSSL- Top SSL Certificate Providers of 2023
AlphaSSL is powered by GlobalSign, which is another SSL-providing giant. If you have a single website that you are looking to secure at an affordable price, AlphaSSL is there for you. However, when it comes to multi-domain SSL certificates, AlphaSSL disappoints. Here are the factors you should consider before choosing AlphaSSL:
Pros:
Affordable prices start at just $49 per year
Simple buying and installing process
Warranties on all SSLs (the amount has not been made open by the company)
Cons:
Only DV SSL is issued
No discounts on buying SSL for longer terms
Limited chat support
It does not offer multi-domain SSL
Pricing:
AlphaSSL offers two pricing plans. Have a look at the pricing details of these packages.
Plan
Pricing
Alpha SSL
$49/yr
Wildcard SSL
$149/yr
AlphaSSL, being a good company for single websites, might also disappoint you in terms of validation levels, discounts, and customer support. If you have multiple domains or OV and EV, you need to look for other providers like Sectigo, GlobalSign, Comodo, etc.
Thawte
Website
Thawte.com
Rating
3.5 out of 5
Best For
Websites looking for a trustable SSL source for OV and EV SSLs
Used By
Vince, Peba, Instamed, etc.
Thawte- Top SSL Certificate Providers of 2023
Being one of the oldest companies providing SSL certificates, Thawte is one reliable source you can consider for SSL certificates. Founded in the year 1995, it holds an experience of over 28 years in the field of SSL and cyber security. The company claims to have issued over 945,000 SSL certificates in over 240 countries. It also offers a multi-year plan for 1-6 years. In all its plans, you can add up to 24 SANs. Here are the factors you should consider before choosing Thawte:
Pros:
Free reissues – in case you upgrade your server
99% browser compatibility rate
30-day money-back guarantee
Good technical support through chat, mail, or phone calls
Good tool management
Cons:
Considering the price, the warranty amount might disappoint. Warranty ranging from $500K to $1.5 million.
Pricing:
Plan
Pricing
Basic SSL
$149/yr
SSL Web Server
$268/yr
SSL Web Server with EV
$398/yr
Thawte is a security giant that has been in the industry for a long time. If you have a large-scale business, you can consider it for its affordable prices, strong security, and technical support.
Conclusion
Buying an SSL certificate is trickier, especially when you know nothing about the technical aspects. If you have a simple website that needs some basic security, you may go for Comodo; it offers basic DV SSL for as low as $5.99 per year. It is an excellent choice that also offers a best-in-the-class warranty that goes up to $2 million. If you have a big business that needs excellent enterprise-level security and support, GlobalSign could be your answer. It is all about knowing your requirements and finding the best fit for you.
Apart from paid SSL certificates, many hosting providers also provide free SSL certificates. These free certificates are good for basic blogging websites. If you have a dedicated business, paid SSL with OV and EV is the best option for you. For a business, SSL creates trust, builds reliability, increases conversion rate, reduces the threat of data breach, and enhances the overall brand image.
FAQs
What is SSL?
SSL is a standard security technology for establishing an encrypted link between a server and a client.
What are the three types of certificates?
Extended Validation (EV)
Organization Validation (OV)
Domain Validation (DV)
Which is the cheapest SSL certificate?
If you have a simple website that needs basic security then Comodo is the cheapest SSL Certificate you will find.
How long are the SSL certificates valid?
It depends on which SSL certificate you are choosing. As per the Certificate Authority / Browser (CA/B) Forum, an EV, OV and DV certificates of GeoTrust, Thawte, Symantec, SSL.com & Comodo are issued a maximum of 2 years.
Data theft is a growing problem for all individual users, corporations, and agencies. As technology improves day by day, so does our exposure to cyber threats. Just one full malware attack could prove harmful to your business and could result in data theft.
What’s more, malicious code or an uncertain activity on a website may affect your consumers and clients and you may also have trouble with the SEO results of your website.
The only solution is to protect your website by having a solid anti-malware solution installed in your system.
Professionals understand the value of their time and don’t want to waste time studying software and how it works. All they care about is results and that’s exactly what Virusdie provides in a single click.
Virusdie has a clean interface with simple options but has powerful professional-grade site security tools. It is a cloud-based, intuitive software which means you can do it all yourself.
It provides users with –
Single-use dashboard – Your websites, hosting services, and security tools are all bundled up in one cloud dashboard.
A user-friendly interface – You won’t need any external help to use this software as it simple and intuitive.
Save time – Regardless of what CMS you use: WordPress, Drupal, DLE, Joomla, and all other popular systems are supported on Virusdie. You can also collect all your sites distributed across different shared VPS, and dedicated servers in one place.
Virusdie automatically cleans up malware infections, protects websites from cyber threats, SQL injections, XSS attacks, and other suspicious activities. You can use additional in-built tools to investigate security issues if needed.
The three main features of Virusdie you can use to resolve any issue
Antivirus and Firewall
Eradicate malware with a single click – Scan sites and remove infected trojans, files, backdoors, and other malicious code. Virusdie keeps your website stable after cleanups and has automatic backups that you can restore with a single click.
Timeline diagram -. Red blocks show that your website is infected. Green stands for no infection and yellow shows that your website is not synchronized with Virusdie. And lastly, Grey shows that no scans were performed on a particular day.
Protect your website within seconds
The Virusdie website firewall can be activated within seconds to protect your website from all kinds of attacks. The WAF (web application firewall) is connected to Virusdie servers, which analyze requests as they are received.
Pie chart – The WAF tracks and monitors all traffic on your website. A pie chart shows you the difference between regular traffic and blocked traffic on your website.
Blacklist monitoring and URL scanning
Check 60+ Blacklists – Virusdie shows you when a website has been blacklisted and helps you unblock them easily. If one of your sites is blacklisted, access to that site will be restricted and you might lose customers.
But with Virusdie, you will be notified of any issues. You can also manually check blacklists with a single click and even send requests to blacklist providers to remove the status
Scan website pages – Virusdie scans for both internal issues as well as external sites. The external scanning engine checks HTML pages and connected JavaScript files. It also analyzes site behavior and checks links for phishing characteristics. This means that you get a more comprehensive and detailed malware detection without any need to access any server.
Analyze and edit files – A built-in file editor that highlights any malicious code is provided. You can easily analyze, edit or remove these files. You also have the option to restore them from a backup with a single click, change file permissions and view all file details.
File Permissions – Just click on a switch to enable or disable specific file permissions.
File info – Virusdie shows all file data that you may need like, file size, path, and date of modification including a malware removal report summary.
Virusdie – Pricing
Virusdie pricing plans
Virusdie FAQ’s
What is an agency account?
An agency account is available only on certain plans. It gives users the ability to brand reports as your own. All reports, including PDF-reports for your clients, will be sent under your own name. You will also save time by sending automatic scans, clean up, and monthly reports to your customers by email.
What are summary reports?
Weekly and monthly reports are created automatically for your entire account. These reports contain information about the number of site incidents. The weekly report only contains statistical information and the number of site incidents.
You will receive a comprehensive monthly report on the first day of each month, containing information about your account and detailed reports for each site.
How to manage summary reports for my account?
These reports are sent automatically but you can disable it in the profile section.
How do I get branded reports?
You can get branded reports with your own company’s brand and information but only if you choose a paid plan and an agency account.
What are security points?
Security points show you how successfully your sites are protected based on security incident statistics.
You can have as few as 0 or as many as 100 security points. The number for your account will be based on the average of all site scores, and calculated based on the quotient of the number of days on which your site was scanned and the number of days when malicious files were found on your website.
Singh Anusha
