How do you guys handle ssl access for your shared hosting customers? Back in the day, I could order a wild card certificate that would cover an entire server. Is this still an option? Also, since we're using cpanel now, I understand that bandwidth can be "hijacked" when a customer uses a shared cert, in other words any bandwidth going to the ssl address won't be tracked. Is this true? What's the best solution? I need to offer some tyoe of free SSL access to all my shared hosting cpanel customers.

Come on! Nobody can answer this one?:eek: :confused: :bawling:

Yes, WildCard SSL's are available...and yes it is true that you will be unable to track bandwidth. However, I do think that you are mis-guided if you feel that you NEED to provide a free SSL option to your customers. Anyone doing any kind of e-commerce, or transfer of private information over the Internet should not rely on freebie certs. They should spend the $40-75 a year and buy their own.

Just my 2 cents.

Well maybe we don't NEED to, but it seems to me the majority of web hosts provide some tyoe of free ssl access for their customers. Whether they need it or ever use it is another thing. The fact is that it is a selling point (obviously one of many) when deciding on a hosting company. I know there are plenty of CPanel hosts out there that offer some tyoe of free ssl access, and considering the bandwidth leech thing, I am curious how they are doing it.

Remember why SSL is around. It's nice to have a pretty padlock and be safe in the knowledge that transmitted data will be secured but the primary reason that SSL exists is to verify the integrity of the site/owner. We will never off shared SSL for this reason alone.

$49 for a cert from EV1 won't break your clients' banks I'm sure.

Kevin

Kevin hit the nail bang on. Site integrity and validity confirmation is what SSL provides. It is not simply an icon that appears at bottom of the browser.

As you can probably tell, we do not offer a Shared SSL option either, and I agree that if someone NEEDS to transmit secure data, $49 should be a minimal expense.

Originally posted by H-U.net
Remember why SSL is around. It's nice to have a pretty padlock and be safe in the knowledge that transmitted data will be secured but the primary reason that SSL exists is to verify the integrity of the site/owner. We will never off shared SSL for this reason alone.

$49 for a cert from EV1 won't break your clients' banks I'm sure.

Kevin

I fully understand, but I think you will find many (most?) hosts offer some type of free ssl access for their customers. I'm just trying to keep up with the Joneses. I am not so much interested in hearing about why it may or may not be a good idea, this is a decision I will have to make. But I would like to hear from a host that does offer free ssl access to their shared cpanel clients.

Fair enough. In order to do it, you will need to purchase the SSL (a regular QuickSSL, $49 from EV1 will do) based on your server name. So if your servername is server4324.hostmeister.com then you need to buy your SSL with the domain server4324.hostmeister.com and install it. Then when a user wants to access it, they would go to: https://server4324.hostmeister.com/~username/

Good luck.