What is Wildcard SSL Certificate: How Does it Work?
A Wildcard SSL Certificate is a type of SSL certificate that secures all subdomains of a domain. For example, if you have a Wildcard SSL Certificate for the domain “example.com”, it will secure “www.example.com“, “mail.example.com“, “login.example.com“, and any other subdomains of example.com.
Wildcard SSL Certificates are useful for organizations that have a large number of subdomains and want to easily secure all of them with a single certificate. They are also useful for organizations that want to secure subdomains that they may not have created yet, as the certificate will cover any subdomains that are created in the future.
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When can we Use a Wildcard SSL Certificate?
You can use a Wildcard SSL Certificate when you need to secure all subdomains of a domain. Some common scenarios where Wildcard SSL Certificates are used include:
#1. When you have a large number of subdomains and you want to easily secure all of them with a single certificate.
#2. When you want to secure subdomains that you may not have created yet, as the certificate will cover any subdomains that are created in the future.
#3. When you want to simplify the process of securing new subdomains as they are created. With a Wildcard SSL Certificate, you only need to install the certificate once and it will automatically secure any new subdomains that are added.
#4. When you want to save money on SSL certificates. Wildcard SSL Certificates can be more cost-effective than purchasing individual SSL certificates for each subdomain.
#5. Keep in mind that Wildcard SSL Certificates are only valid for subdomains of the root domain for which they are issued. For example, if you have a Wildcard SSL Certificate for the domain “example.com“, it will not secure “www.example.net” or “docs.example.org“. If you need to secure multiple root domains, you will need to purchase a separate Wildcard SSL Certificate for each domain.
How do the Wildcard SSL Certificates Secure all the Subdomains?
Wildcard SSL Certificates secure all subdomains of a domain by using the wildcard character ( * ) in the certificate’s subject alternative name (SAN). The SAN is a field in the certificate that specifies the domains and subdomains that the certificate covers.
When you generate a Wildcard SSL Certificate, you include an asterisk ( * ) in the subdomain field of the certificate signing request (CSR). For example, if you want to secure all subdomains of “example.com“, you would enter “*.example.com” in the subdomain field.
The certificate authority (CA) that issues the certificate will then include the “*.example.com” SAN in the certificate, indicating that it covers all subdomains of “example.com“.
When a client connects to a subdomain of the domain covered by the Wildcard SSL Certificate (e.g. “mail.example.com”), the server presents the Wildcard SSL Certificate to the client. The client then checks the SAN in the certificate to verify that it covers the subdomain being accessed. If the SAN includes “*.example.com“, the client will trust the certificate and establish a secure, encrypted connection to the server.
In this way, the Wildcard SSL Certificate secures all subdomains of the domain by using the “*” wildcard in the SAN to cover any subdomains that are created in the future.
Conclusion:
Using a Wildcard SSL Certificate is that it provides a cost-effective solution to secure multiple subdomains with one certificate. It is a great solution for businesses that have multiple subdomains and need to secure them all. Additionally, Wildcard SSL Certificates are more secure than single-domain certificates because they encrypt all of the subdomains on a domain. This ensures that all traffic has a secure connection regardless of which subdomain is being accessed.
