Wildcard SSL Certificate: A Must Security for Subdomains

SSL certificate seems inevitable security requirement that every business should have it. The question is which SSL should you prefer? The answer is single domain, wildcard SSL certificate, multi domain SSL certificate. It completely depends upon the site’s requirement.

In this article, we will talk about Wildcard SSL certificate and its relationship with subdomains. 

Subdomains allow you to access more information on the same website without registering an entirely new domain address. You may enhance your web development efforts and reduce cash by using them.

What are Subdomains?

A subdomain is an extension of the original domain. It is also referred to as a child domain. Let us explore the below-mentioned illustrations of the subdomains:

This “.com” suffix is the first-level domain or TLD in the Web address mydomain.com. Although picture.mydomain.com is considered the second level of the principal domain on the internet, the pictures.mydomain.com is regarded as a second-level domain, which is a subdomain of mydomain.com.

Thus, multiple levels of subdomain availability can be seen on the market at present. In the illustration as mentioned earlier, the basic domain mydomain.com is an elementary-level subdomain of the third-level domain pictures.mydomain.com.

• abc.com = primary domain/root domain
• “.abc.com = allows first-level subdomain, where * could be any word, digit, or letter. 
• For illustration, login.abc.com, blog.abc.com, mail.abc.com, etc. are subdomains of abc.com 

All these first level of subdomains can be secured with wildcard SSL certificate. Wildcard SSL certificate secures main domain and its first level subdomains like *.domain.com can secure mail.domain.com, blog.domain.com,etc.

What Are Subdomains Used For?

Using subdomains to secure your website will help structure the information and boost the user experience.

Let us use an example to grasp this! A piece of writing for your website could be created and published under a different subdomain, such blog.website.com. On the contrary, a company might establish its own marketplace on the shop.website.com subdomain.

It has primarily two justifications for this. Initially, a subdomain establishes a distinct site element, enabling you to employ an alternate website layout and content organization. Consequently, managing your websites becomes simpler, making it less difficult for customers to locate and investigate the content.

The ability to utilize an alternative website-building framework is the second justification. Use WordPress for the blog if your static company website was entirely hand coded.

The same applies to an online store. Instead of combining the capabilities and characteristics with your primary website, a subdomain enables you to market your products using a separate e-commerce solution.

Here are some additional uses for subdomains:

A testing platform:

For carrying out novel functions like testing of the primary site, utilize a subdomain as a test zone. Nevertheless, you must limit exposure to the subdomain or make it password-protected to prevent unauthorized access.

Portable edition:

While the majority of websites feature an adaptive design to work on different devices, you may create a special mobile-only website using a subdomain like m.website.com.

Websites that speak several languages:

You may employ a subdomain like fr.website.com or es.website.com if you intend to build webpages for several geographical areas. By doing so, you can avoid buying a separate name with a TLD based on the nation’s code.

Saving cost:

It is possible to secure the main domain and its first level of subdomains using a single wildcard SSL certificate. It saves the cost of each subdomain. All subdomains will have a single shelter with a wildcard SSL certificate.

Benefits of securing the subdomains with an SSL certificate

There are two primary purposes for using SSL certificate for subdomains, and each justifies the need for an SSL certificate:

Safety of Data

Individuals communicate their login details and financial details on a variety of web pages on a digital platform, including the login page, payment page, and membership page. Criminals may track and grab this data and employ it for their purposes if it is transmitted in simple language between the web server and the user’s browser. Since all information traveling through a protected subdomain is password-protected, it is difficult to determine the passing data. To secure all subdomains, a website needs a wildcard SSL certificate. It secures primary domain and its first level of subdomains.

Google complies with HTTPS

Since 2014, numerous browsers and operating systems have enabled HTTPS everywhere, which Google has favored. An internet browser will display a ‘Not Secure’ alert whenever subdomains use HTTP rather than HTTPS. 

Consequently, a website visitor will not believe the page and will form a negative opinion of your online presence. Furthermore, if the subdomain is associated with any sales or products, sales and profits may be significantly impacted in the coming months. It is preferable to switch all subdomains over to HTTPS from HTTP.

Conclusion

Are you still considering if it is possible to secure subdomain with an SSL certificate? A subdomain is a crucial component of a website’s architecture but is frequently a weak spot. Keep your defensive measures active and employ all the information you have gathered about identifying subdomains, invasion forms, and methods for protecting the data that pertains to your business.