Home / Services
/ How to Buy an SSL Certificate
Walk-Through of the Web Server Certificate Request Process
This page will provide step-by-step instructions on how to
obtain a cyberMIND Web Server Certificate. Print this page
and keep it as a guide to the request process.
Table of contents
- Step1: Get all your documentation together
- Step2: Generate a Key and Certificate Signing Request
(CSR)
- Step3: Submit this CSR to cyberMIND in the On-Line Enrollment
Process
- Step4: Get Your Order Number
- Step5: Subscriber Agreement
- Step6: Send Us Your Company Documentation
- Step7: We Process Your Request
- Step8: Install Your Certificate
Step 1: Get all your documentation together:
- Required
Documentation
Please note:
Only send your documentation through once you've completed
the enrollment and when you have received your order number.
You may send your Documentation to your nearest representative
or directly to one of the cyberMIND offices.
We need the appropriate documentation because before we can
issue your certificate we need to verify that:
- We are issuing it to the correct company.
- The company owns the internet domain name in the request.
- The company is registered in one or more countries.
- The registered company name is the same as the name on
the certificate request.
The precise documentation we need varies depending on your
country and type of organization. It's most important that
you get the documentation that proves your registration with
national or provincial or state authorities, because that
is the documentation that will determine the precise organization
name you ask for in the certificate.
Step 2: Generate a Key and Certificate Signing Request
(CSR)
- This
is what a valid CSR looks like.
If You Own and Manage Your Own Server:
- To generate your key and Certificate Signing Request
(CSR) you will have to follow the instructions that come
with your secure server software.
- The size of the key that you generate will be a determining
factor in the strength of the certificate that you purchase:
For a Supercert: You will have to generate a 1024
bit key.
SSL Server Certificate: We recommend that you generate
a 1024-bit key as well, although it is not a requirement.
This will enable 128 bit encryption between your web site
and some web browsers and 40 bit in others.
Sites Hosted by an ISP or Web Hosting Company:
Ask your ISP or web hosting company to generate a private
key and certificate signing request (CSR).
Please remember to provide us with the details of the organization
that owns the domain and not the details of the hosting
company.
Important Notes:
a) Organizational Details
The company name, state/province and country that you stipulate
in the request has to be identical to the details in your
documentation.
If your CSR matches your documentation, you will get your
certificate very quickly. If not, you WILL have a longer
wait.
b) Private Key
If you cannot access your private key, you cannot use the
certificate we issue.
We are unable to re-issue certificates if you cannot access
your private key.
A lost key may cost you US$125, so please be sure to make
backups!
For more information about key management and our certificate
reissuing policy, please go here.
PLEASE NOTE: When you generate your CSR you will also generate
a private key. Make a note of the password you used to protect
it, and make a backup of that key!
Step 3: Submit this CSR to cyberMIND in the On-Line Enrollment
Process
You will have to enroll for your certificate online. The CSR
that you generated in Step 2 must be e-mail to the address
provided during this online process.
During the enrollment process you will be asked for the following
information:
Organization details:
- Full company name
- Domain name to be secured
- Company Contact details
- Administrative, Technical and Billing contact
- Country
- Payment information
Contacts: You will be asked to choose an Administrative,
Technical and Billing contact. Please provide their full
phone number including the country and area code (e.g.
+27 21 917 8900) as well as their email address and job
title.
Please Note: During the enrollment you will be asked
to enter your domain name. Please include the full domain
to be secured e.g. www.joesoap.com
Step 4: Get Your Order Number
When you've entered all the information into the fields in
the enrollment process, you will receive an Order Number.
You will use your order number to track your certificate status,
generate your Letter of Authorization, and download the certificate.
Step 5: Subscriber Agreement
You will be asked to agree online to the terms and conditions
set out in our Subscriber Agreement. Use of your cyberMIND
Certificates is contingent on your online acceptance of this
agreement.
Step 6: Send Us Your Company Documentation
Click
here for a list of the required documents.
Please make sure to read all the relevant information pertaining
to each document.
cyberMIND Representatives
You can fax your documents to the representative of your choice
for faster processing. Otherwise, use a reliable courier or
delivery service.
cyberMIND Contact information
Step 7: We Process Your Request
We will process and issue your certificate when we have all
the information we need to authenticate your company and domain
name.
You will be assigned an account manager. You will find their
email address on your status page. Please contact your account
manager if you have any questions.
When we've verified all your information, we will issue
your certificate and you will receive and email with a URL
where you can download your certificate. (You will need your
Order number.)
Step 8: Install Your Certificate
When you've downloaded your certificate you will have to install
it on your server.
If your site is hosted by an ISP or web hosting company they
will have to do this step for you.
To install your certificate, you will need the private key
which first generated the CSR. If you cannot find this key,
or it cannot be accessed, you cannot use the certificate and
you will have to get a new one. You will be charged US$125
for a new certificate.
Once you have installed your certificate successfully, you
need to set up SSL on your server. Please refer to the documentation
which accompanied your software for exact details.
For more Information Please Contact Us:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 616/373-6680
|