Glossary

Certificate

Certificates are required to encrypt data sent between your browser and the server you are accessing. They ensure that data is transmitted securely and has not been modified or otherwise tampered with in any way. Furthermore, certificates may increase trust in your business by serving as an additional secure verification of your identity.

SSL/TLS

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) and TLS (Transport Layer Security) are the two most important encryption protocols used during online communication. In common speech SSL and TLS are sometimes used synonymously, though SSL has been mostly superseded by TLS. High standard implementations of TLS constitute the bedrock of the certificate offerings provided by netcup.

Certificate Authority

A Certificate Authority (CA) is a trusted third-party entity that issues digital certificates. With these certificates, the communication between two parties, such as accessing a domain online, is certified increasing security and trust.

Certificate Signing Request

A Certificate Signing Request (CSR) constitutes a request sent from an applicant seeking a certificate to a Certificate Authority (CA) in order to apply for said certificate.

Domain Name System

A Domain Name System (DNS) can be viewed as a form of address book for the wider internet. DNS servers generally provide your browser with the information required to convert Domains into the actual IP addresses behind which, e.g. a website is actually stored.