Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) is a security protocol that provides an encrypted Internet connection. An SSL certificate is proof from an independent third party that your website belongs to the organization it says it does and that your users will be transmitting information via an encrypted connection. You should use an SSL certificate to protect any website or service that handles sensitive data such as login credentials.
Certificates can also be used to sign documents electronically or to sign code for distribution.
Free InCommon Certificates
OSU is now registered for the InCommon Certificate service. With this membership, OSU has unlimited access to SSL certificates at no additional cost to individual service providers. All OSU-owned domains are covered. The following certificate types are available: web server SSL certificates, extended validation certificates, code signing certificates, wildcard certificates and SAN certificates. The certificate authority (CA) is Comodo, an industry-standard CA trusted by most clients.
Through the Comodo certificate management interface, OSU has the ability to delegate certificate administration to departments on campus.
To request a certificate management account or to obtain a certificate through InCommon, please complete the InCommon SSL Certificate Request Form.