FLEX SSL Certificates are an innovative solution in the field of SSL certificates, enabling flexible management of protection for multiple domains, subdomains, wildcard domains, and IP addresses using a single SSL/TLS certificate. Unlike traditional multi-domain (SAN) or multi-domain wildcard certificates, which often restrict usage to a single domain type (SAN or Wildcard), FLEX certificates allow for simultaneous protection of various domain types, including both fully qualified domain names (FQDNs) and wildcard domains.

During the FLEX certificate ordering process, administrators can precisely tailor the configuration by adding or removing Subject Alternative Names (SANs) throughout the certificate’s validity period, without the need to change the product itself. This flexible approach enables organizations to dynamically respond to changing needs while minimizing the costs associated with purchasing and managing multiple certificates. Implementing SSL FLEX certificates offers numerous benefits, including cost optimization by eliminating the need to purchase separate certificates for each domain, subdomain, wildcard domain, or IP address, simplified certificate management through centralization, and increased flexibility in adapting security measures to current business requirements.

From a technical perspective, FLEX certificates support advanced features such as protection for up to 250 domains, wildcard domain support, coverage for individual domains and subdomains, and protection for public IP addresses. This makes them an ideal solution for environments with complex domain structures, where flexibility and scalability are essential for ensuring the security and continuity of network services.

Domain Validation (DV) SSL Certificates represent the basic level of SSL certificate validation, confirming only the ownership or control of a given domain by the applicant. The validation process involves verifying whether the individual or organization requesting the certificate has the right to manage the specified domain. This is typically done through email confirmation, uploading a specific file to the server, or adding a DNS record to the domain’s zone. Due to the simplicity and speed of the process, DV certificates are often chosen by small businesses, blogs, or informational websites that require fast and cost-effective connection security. However, it is important to note that DV certificates do not authenticate the identity of the organization, which may be a significant factor for users who expect a higher level of trust — particularly in the case of e-commerce platforms or online banking services.