What Is a DV SSL Certificate?

SSL certificates are digital certificates used with SSL/TLS to enable encrypted HTTPS connections and authenticate a website’s domain. They are an important part of secure network communication. Certificates are classified as DV, OV or EV according to their validation level. This article explains DV SSL certificates, their features, available types and application process.

1. What is a DV SSL certificate?

DV stands for Domain Validation. A DV SSL certificate provides the most basic level of identity validation among these certificate categories. A certificate authority (CA) issues it after verifying the applicant’s control of the domain; it does not validate the organization’s identity.

DV SSL certificates offer an affordable, fast way to enable HTTPS and help protect data in transit against disclosure or tampering. They are commonly chosen for personal websites, WeChat Mini Programs and micro or small businesses.

Features of DV SSL certificates

• Affordable: DV certificates are relatively inexpensive. The original 2024 article cited a typical price of around CNY 100 in the Chinese market; this is a historical reference, not a current international quotation.
• Simple validation: Only domain control needs to be verified. OV and EV certificates additionally require validation of organizational information.
• Fast issuance: DV certificates can often be issued within minutes once validation is complete. The actual time depends on completing the required checks.

2. Types of DV SSL certificates

DV certificates are available as single-domain, multi-domain and wildcard certificates. Organizations can select the type that matches their coverage requirements.

• Single-domain DV SSL: Secures one domain name and enables HTTPS for that name.
• Multi-domain DV SSL: One certificate can secure several different domains or subdomains, helping simplify validation, certificate administration and renewal.
• Wildcard DV SSL: Secures subdomains at the same level under a base domain. Adding another subdomain at that level does not require a separate certificate, making management convenient and cost-effective. Coverage of the base domain itself depends on whether it is included in the certificate; a wildcard does not cover subdomains at every depth.

3. How to apply for a DV SSL certificate

1. Choose a certificate type and brand. Consider the number of domain names to protect and your budget.
2. Complete the application and generate a CSR. Provide the domain and contact details. Generate a certificate signing request (CSR) using your server or the provider’s supported process, and keep the corresponding private key secure. If the application offers one-click CSR generation, retain the associated key file safely.
3. Validate domain control. The CA uses a supported method such as DNS validation, email validation or HTTP file validation to confirm control of the domain.
4. Download and install the certificate. After successful validation, the CA issues the SSL certificate containing the public key. Download the certificate and supplied chain files, then install the server certificate and required intermediate certificates on your web server according to its documentation. Keep the private key confidential; clients normally obtain trusted root certificates from their own trust stores.

In short, DV SSL is an affordable certificate option with a straightforward issuance process. For a news site or blog with a limited budget, it can be a cost-effective way to enable HTTPS quickly.

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