SSL — the basics

So, what actually is SSL — and why does your site need it?

Great question — and honestly, one we hear all the time. No judgement at all.

SSL is what puts the padlock in your browser’s address bar and the ‘https’ before your URL. It means anything passing between your site and a visitor — passwords, card details, contact forms — is encrypted. Scrambled. Nobody in the middle can read it.

Beyond the privacy side, Google has been using HTTPS as a ranking signal for years, and browsers actively warn visitors when a site doesn’t have SSL. So it’s not just about keeping data safe — it’s about looking like a trustworthy place to visit too.

SSL Certificates from €0.46/mo — DV, OV, EV and Wildcard - So, what actually is SSL — and why does your site need it?
Which type do you need?

DV, OV, or EV — here’s the honest breakdown

There are three levels of validation, and the right one depends on what your site does — not on what sounds most impressive.

DV (Domain Validation) is the quickest and most common. It just confirms you control the domain — no paperwork, no waiting around. Most personal sites and small business pages are perfectly fine with DV.

OV and EV add identity verification on top. Your business gets checked against public records, and that extra step shows up in the certificate details. It matters when you’re handling sensitive data or running any kind of shop.

And yes — when it’s time to renew, we handle the order automatically. No calendar reminders needed on your end.

SSL Certificates from €0.46/mo — DV, OV, EV and Wildcard - DV, OV, or EV — here’s the honest breakdown

What comes with an SSL certificate?

The padlock and HTTPS

Visitors see the padlock the moment they land on your site. That tiny symbol does a surprising amount of trust-building, very quickly.

Encrypted data in transit

Everything shared on your site — passwords, form submissions, payment details — is encrypted end to end. Nobody in the middle can read or interfere with it.

Privacy for everyone who visits

Privacy shouldn’t be a feature you have to switch on. SSL makes it the default for every single person who visits your site.

Safe for transactions

If you’re taking payments or collecting any financial information, SSL is the non-negotiable foundation. Without it, you really shouldn’t be asking for card details.

A gentle push in search rankings

Google prefers HTTPS sites. It won’t rocket you to number one on its own, but not having SSL can quietly hold you back.

Proof you’re who you say you are

The certificate carries verified information about you. Visitors can check it. That kind of openness builds real, lasting confidence.
Multi-Year SSL

Lock in your price, skip the renewal stress

Buy 2 or 3 years upfront and you pay less per year, lock in today’s rate, and don’t need to think about renewal for a good long while.

We handle the reissuance quietly in the background — browsers cap individual certificate validity at just over a year, so we refresh the cert automatically when needed. You keep full, uninterrupted coverage the whole time without lifting a finger.

Save more, the longer you go

The longer your plan, the lower your effective annual cost. Our way of saying thanks for sticking around.

No renewal panic

We’ve all had that ‘oh no, the cert expired’ moment. With multi-year, it just doesn’t happen.

Price locked in

What you pay today is what you pay for the full term. No surprises, no rate changes mid-subscription.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is an SSL certificate?

An SSL (TLS) certificate encrypts the traffic between your website and its visitors, shows the padlock icon in the browser, and is required for HTTPS — modern browsers mark any site without one as "not secure". TPC Hosting offers SSL certificates from €0.46/month across DV, OV, EV and Wildcard validation tiers, from RapidSSL, Comodo, Sectigo, DigiCert, GeoTrust and Thawte, with fast issuance and multi-year discounts.

Not sure which one fits your site?

Drop us a message. We’ll ask a couple of quick questions and point you straight to the right certificate — no sales pitch, just an honest answer.
Domain Validation (DV)

Just starting out, or keeping it simple?

Think of DV like getting a library card — the system just checks you’re you enough to use the service, nothing more involved than that. You prove you control the domain (a quick email or DNS check does it), and within minutes you’ve got a valid certificate. No business documents, no waiting days. If you’re running a personal site, portfolio, blog, or a small business page, DV is where most people start — and it works perfectly.
SSL Certificates from €0.46/mo — DV, OV, EV and Wildcard - Just starting out, or keeping it simple?
Organization Validation (OV)

Handling customer data? Let them see you’re verified.

OV is a step up — a bit like getting a driver’s licence. You prove you own the domain and that your organisation genuinely exists. That takes 1–3 business days, but once it’s done, visitors can click the padlock and see your company’s name right there in the certificate. It’s the kind of reassurance that matters on login pages, account dashboards, or anywhere people are handing over personal information.
SSL Certificates from €0.46/mo — DV, OV, EV and Wildcard - Handling customer data? Let them see you’re verified.
Extended Validation (EV)

Running a shop or financial service? Go EV.

EV is the passport of the SSL world — the most thorough check there is. Your organisation gets verified against company registers, contact records, and more. It takes 2–7 business days, but the result is clear: anyone who clicks your padlock will see exactly who they’re dealing with. If you’re processing payments or asking people to trust you with their financial details, EV is the right call.
SSL Certificates from €0.46/mo — DV, OV, EV and Wildcard - Running a shop or financial service? Go EV.
Wildcard

Multiple subdomains? One cert covers them all.

Wildcard SSL secures your main domain and every first-level subdomain under it — shop.yourdomain.com, blog.yourdomain.com, mail.yourdomain.com — all under a single certificate. Add more subdomains later? They’re covered automatically. No extra costs, no extra certificates to manage. It’s the tidy, cost-effective option for anyone building out a bigger site.
SSL Certificates from €0.46/mo — DV, OV, EV and Wildcard - Multiple subdomains? One cert covers them all.