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Setting Up an SSL Business/SSL Business Wildcard Certificate Managed by IONOS

For Web Hosting and MyWebsite packages

You can set up your SSL certificate easily right in your Control Panel. By doing this, the SSL certificate will be issued to the desired domain, installed in the proper webspace, and automatically activated.

Requirements

  • Your package contains an uninstalled
    GeoTrust True BusinessID (SSL Business) or
    GeoTrust True BusinessID Wildcard (SSL Business Wildcard) SSL Certificate
  • Your domain and the website you want to secure are in the same hosting package.
  • Your domain has been set up (Status: Active).

Guided Steps

  • Log in to IONOS and click on the Domains & SSL tile.
  • Click on the red lock symbol to the left of the domain you would like to secure.
  • In the tile for your SSL certificate, click Activate Now. If you still have several unused certificates in the same contract, this step is omitted, and you will be taken directly to the setup page.
  • In the Domain field, select the domain (or subdomain) to which the SSL Certificate should be issued.
  • In the Change Usage drop-down menu, select Use with my IONOS website.
  • Check the Organizational Details of your company and adjust them if necessary. Make sure that the company and technical contact details are correct, as the certificate authority will attempt to contact them during the authentication process.
    Please Note: Any change of name of the company that is made at this point will also be communicated to the WHOIS database and will therefore be publicly visible. Please always store the telephone number in international format. The country code is indicated by a + (plus) in front of it.
  • Read the terms of use and confirm them by selecting the checkbox. Then, click Set up SSL Cerfticate.

The SSL certificate will now be applied for at the GeoTrust Certification Authority, and after successful validation, it will automatically be installed in your webspace.

Stages of Validation - Overview

The validation by the certification body is performed in several steps:

  • Company Authentication: The certification authority (GeoTrust) matches the company name, registration, and clearance status of the company listed in the Certificate Signing Request with the appropriate registration authority in the appropriate country, state, or (in some cases) city jurisdiction. Public information on the Internet is also looked up.
  • Domain Authentication: The certification dauthority checks whether the domain name in question is registered in a publicly accessible WHOIS database for the registered company name. If the domain name is not registered for the registered company name, the following alternatives are available:
    - A legally valid proof can be provided
    - A proof of rights of use for the domain name can be provided, or
    - Additional documents can be provided
  • Telephone Verification: As the final stage of identity authentication, the certification authority calls the company contact specified in the domain's WHOIS information. The call can also be answered by another person in the company. If the certification authority does not reach anyone, either a voice message is left on the contact's answering machine or an email is sent from GeoTrust with further instructions. This includes information on how to contact the certification body to complete the verification.

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