Introduction

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) validation methods are essential processes used by Certificate Authorities (CAs) to verify the legitimacy and ownership of domains and entities requesting SSL certificates. These validation methods ensure that SSL certificates are issued only to verified and authorized individuals or organizations, enhancing the security and trustworthiness of online communications and transactions.

In order for you to get a valid SSL certificate, it is necessary to verify that you or your organization is the rightful owner of the domain. This step in the process is known as Domain Control Validation or DCV.

Email Verification SSL Validation

In this method of verification, you verify the domain control by receiving an email on any one of the following email ids on your domain. It is necessary that you have access to these email address, a mail will be sent to this email address with a code. You need to click on the link provided in the email and enter the code to prove you have control over the domain. 

The SSL certificate validation process generally involves the following steps:

1. Certificate Inspection: The client inspects the SSL certificate presented by the server to verify its authenticity. This includes checking the certificate’s expiration date, the Certificate Authority (CA) that issued the certificate, and the domain name(s) for which the certificate is issued (Common Name and Subject Alternative Names).
2. Chain of Trust: The client verifies that the certificate is issued by a trusted Certificate Authority and that it is part of a valid certificate chain.
3. Revocation Checking: The client may also check whether the certificate has been revoked by consulting Certificate Revocation Lists (CRLs) or using the Online Certificate Status Protocol (OCSP).
4. Hostname Verification: The client verifies that the domain name in the certificate matches the domain name of the server to which it is connecting.

CNAME Verification SSL Validation

CNAME verification requires you to verify the domain name by entering the CNAME record provided in the DNS zone of your domain name. Once you add the DNS record it may take up to 4 to 8 hours for the verification to complete. The system will check for the presence of the record in the DNS zone, and if the record is found the Domain control will be verified and the certificate will be issued. Depending on where your domain’s DNS zone is, you will have to enter the record.

However, in terms of SSL certificate validation, CNAME records are not directly involved. SSL certificate validation focuses on verifying that the presented certificate is issued by a trusted Certificate Authority (CA), has not expired, and matches the domain the client is attempting to connect to.

While CNAME records can indirectly influence SSL certificate validation by pointing a domain to another domain, the validation process itself does not directly involve querying CNAME records.

In summary, SSL certificate validation typically does not involve CNAME verification. The validation process primarily focuses on verifying the attributes of the SSL certificate itself rather than DNS records.

HTTP Verification SSL Validation

In this verification method, you need to upload a text file to your server at a particular path to prove ownership of the domain and hosting. Once you upload the file it might take some time to complete the verification.

1. Establishing a Connection: When a client (such as a web browser) attempts to connect to a server over HTTPS, the server presents its SSL certificate to the client during the SSL handshake process.
2. Certificate Inspection: The client inspects the SSL certificate presented by the server to verify its authenticity. This verification involves checking the certificate’s expiration date, issuer (Certificate Authority), and other attributes.
3. HTTP Verification: In addition to inspecting the certificate itself, the client may perform HTTP verification. This involves sending an HTTP request to the server and comparing certain attributes of the server’s SSL certificate with the information received in the response.
   • Common Attributes: The client may compare attributes such as the Common Name (CN) or Subject Alternative Name (SAN) from the certificate against the hostname in the URL used to make the HTTP request.
4. Matching Attributes: If the attributes in the SSL certificate match the expected values in the HTTP response, the client considers the certificate valid for the requested domain.

Conclusion:

SSL validation methods play a crucial role in ensuring the authenticity, integrity, and security of online communications. By verifying domain ownership and entity legitimacy, SSL certificates help protect sensitive information and establish trust between website owners and visitors.

Whether it’s the basic Domain Validation (DV) method, the more comprehensive Organization Validation (OV) process, or the highest level Extended Validation (EV) standard, each validation method serves a specific purpose in the SSL certificate issuance process.

In conclusion, SSL validation methods are fundamental tools for maintaining a secure and trustworthy online environment. Website owners should carefully consider their validation requirements and choose the appropriate SSL certificate that aligns with their security objectives and user expectations. Ultimately, investing in SSL validation enhances user confidence and strengthens the overall security posture of online platforms and services.