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Some companies choose to purchase multiple domain names to ensure that no one can compete or impersonate their business online. This is a great idea in many ways — but with this great opportunity comes a great (or challenging) responsibility.
To secure multiple domains, you may think you need multiple SSL/TLS digital security certificates to secure each of those domains — but that’s not completely true. You can take that route, but that process is more costly and cumbersome than it needs to be. Not to mention, when you own multiple domains and purchase multiple certificates to secure them, it creates multiple opportunities for something to go wrong… This is where a SAN certificate comes in handy.
A SAN certificate, which stands for subject alternative name, refers to an SSL/TLS certificate that secures multiple domains under one certificate. Rather than having to purchase a separate single domain SSL certificate for each domain individually, you can purchase one comprehensive certificate that covers multiple domains simultaneously. There are several reasons why every business, regardless of size, needs an SSL certificate:
You want new site visitors and customers alike to browse your goods and make purchases online. But how do you help them feel confident about making purchases on your website? You can increase their level of comfort by ensuring your site is secure and protects their personal and financial information. This is done by having a website that uses the secure HTTPS protocol rather than the unsecure HTTP protocol.
The difference between the two is that a website using HTTPS creates an encrypted communication channel through which the user’s information and data are transmitted between their web browser and server. With an HTTP connection, it’s sending that information across an unsecured channel, which means that it can be intercepted and “read” by potentially malicious third parties. Neither you nor your customers want that. Essentially, it’s the difference between speaking plainly on a secure line versus speaking plainly on an unsecured line.
Before any multi domain SSL certificate is issued, a trusted certificate authority (CA) first verifies the domain and/or validates the organization that owns it. This is known as the validation process. The types of validation levels that are offered with SAN certificates include domain validation (DV), organization validation (OV), and extended validation (EV).
Domain validation is a single-step process that entails the CA verifies that the person or entity applying for the SAN certificate actually owns the registered domain. This differs from an organization validation SSL certificate, which takes it a step further by validating that your organization is a real by verifying your organization’s name, physical address, and phone number. Extended validation SSL is the most trusted type of SAN SSL cert because it goes beyond the OV SSL verification process.
Encrypt up to 250 multiple domains and their subdomains on the multiple servers with a single SAN SSL certificates. Buy directly from ComodoSSLStore.com and get your certificate issued within minutes for as little as $18.81 per year.
Save 88% on SAN SSL Certificates
Certificate management, when done right, can be a breeze. When done poorly, it can be a nightmare for any IT professional. If you enjoy the complication of juggling multiple certificates needlessly, then a multi domain SAN certificate isn’t for you. However, if you like streamlining your certificate management processes, reducing costs, and increasing your overall efficiency, then a SAN SSL certificate is definitely the right choice for you.
When you’re managing multiple SSL/TLS certificates to secure multiple domains, it is far easier to manage one SAN certificate with one expiration date than keep track of multiple certificates with different expiration dates. Let’s say, for example, that you’re the owner of Perfectly Pretty Pets grooming supply store. You may choose to purchase the domains perfectlyprettypets.com, perfectlyprettypets.net, and perfectlyprettypets.biz to ensure that no one tries to create a website in your name with those domains.
A SAN certificate will secure one main domain, plus however many additional domains (referred to as SANs) you specify. There technically is an upper limit to the number of domains you can secure with a single certificate (2,000 in total), but it’s unlikely you’ll ever reach it!
When it comes to SAN certificates, there are many options to choose from, and some are better suited to meet your needs and budget than others. Unlike Comodo CA, many companies charge double or even triple the cost for a SAN certificate that offers the same (or, in some cases, fewer) benefits that you can receive from a less expensive certificate. This is why it’s best to purchase certificates directly from a Comodo CA site like Comodo SSL Store — you can get the most bang for your buck.
The most popular multi domain SAN certificates that we sell at Comodo SSL Store include:
An additional benefit is that each of these multi domain SAN certificates from Comodo SSL Store allows you to:
Here is a side-by-side comparison of some of the SAN SSL certificates we sell:
What’s Included | PositiveSSL Multi Domain (DV) | Comodo Multi Domain SSL (OV) | PositiveSSL EV Multi-Domain |
---|---|---|---|
SAN Certificate Validation Level | Domain Validated | Organization Validated | Extended Validated |
Price | Starting as little as $18.81/year | Starting as little as $116.82/year | Starting as little as $129.05/year |
Domains Included | One main domain, 2 SANs | One main domain, 4 SANs | One main domain, 2 SANs |
Issuance Wait Time | Minutes | 1-3 days | 1-5 days |
Server Reissuance | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Complimentary Scanning Services | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Site Seal | ![]() |
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Warranty | $10,000 | $250,000 | $1 million |
SHOP NOW | SHOP NOW | SHOP NOW |
Why pay more for a product that does the same thing as another at a higher price point? Buy directly from ComodoSSLStore.com and get your certificate issued within minutes for as little as $18.81 per year.
Save 88% on PositiveSSL Multi-Domain DV Certificate