What is an SSL Certificate Outage Error?

SSL certificate outage error occurs when the browser cannot verify the SSL certificates returned by the server. When the error happens, the browser blocks the website and warns the user that the website cannot be trusted as shown below. These warnings will negatively impact the user’s trust in your website.

When a web browser cannot verify the certificate placed on a site, an SSL certificate error occurs. Instead of connecting the requestor, the browser will display an error notice informing the user that the site may be insecure. This is common when a certificate has expired. SSL certificates cannot have a lifespan of more than 398 days, according to industry guidelines. That means that every website’s SSL certificate must be renewed or replaced at least every two years.

It is worth noting that SSL/TLS certificates are available in three levels of validation:

Domain Validation (DV)

The CA examines whether the applicant owns the domain name in question (typically through email verification). There is no need for additional verification, and DV certifications can be produced in minutes.

Organization Validation (OV)

The CA not only checks that the applicant owns the specific domain name, but also undertakes basic inquiries into the applicant’s organization. This information is presented on the certificate to increase trust from site visitors.

Extended Validation (EV)

The CA will validate business ownership and approved corporate documentation, as well as ownership, which must be given by the applicant. A detailed examination of the organization is conducted in addition to ensuring that the applicant has the rights to the specific domain, and this information is reflected on the certificate. Furthermore, a secure padlock is displayed in the browser’s web address, providing the user with further assurance that the website is safe to view.

Read more on the different types of SSL certificates.

What Happens When You Have Expired SSL Certificates?

Unidentified, expired SSL certificates result in multiple process interruptions, ranging from a simple error message on a screen to an abrupt termination of service due to a protocol error. Additional causes of SSL cert outages include:

· The certificate is not trusted because it has not been digitally signed by a Certificate Authority (CA). Browsers only trust certificates from trustworthy organizations on their certificate list, not from untrusted sites. An intermediate certificate may be required to show that the website’s certificate was issued by a valid root CA.

· The certificate installed on the server (or servers) hosting the site was incomplete.

· For the URL in question, a name mismatch error appears. In these circumstances, an SSL certificate must secure both the parent domain name and several subdomain names.

· The website does not have a dedicated IP address.

What Happens If SSL Isn’t Enabled?

Your site and the data it collects are vulnerable to a data breach or cyber threat if it lacks the encryption offered by an SSL certificate. Additionally:

· Search engines penalize insecure websites by limiting user access via the address bar and lowering their webpage SEO position in Google and other search engines.

· Google Chrome, Firefox, and other browsers issue warnings about potentially dangerous websites, requiring that all web pages, regardless of whether or not transactions occur on them or the sort of data served, be secured using SSL. Any page that is not HTTPS-secured will show a “Not secure” warning at the top of the browser interface.

The Impact of Manual Certificate Management

Organizations with widespread certificate development and administration teams, such as web-hosting providers, may find themselves maintaining hundreds of thousands of certificates in a short period of time, with more certificates being created on a regular basis. A lack of centralized ownership, automation, and, most crucially, organizational visibility increases the likelihood of human error and undetected SSL certificate issues.

A commitment to proactive monitoring and maintenance is a key first step in avoiding SSL certificate interruptions.

How and When Should I Renew My SSL Certificate?

To renew your SSL certificate, follow these steps:

1- Log in to your account if you are an existing customer. If your certificate will expire within 90 days, a renewal option will appear next to the SSL certificate selections.

2- Complete the form and submit your payment.

3- Make a Certificate Signing Request (CSR).

4- As your certificate authority, provide the CSR code (public keys) to Prima Secure.

Finish the validation and installation processes.