Secure Sockets Layer, or SSL, is a protocol used to encode the data exchanged between a web server and its users. The practical application of using an SSL is to preserve the data which customers submit on your site - a login page, a payment page if you run a web-based store, etc. Any data they enter in any box on the website will be submitted safely to the server, so their login or payment details shall be protected from being accessed by unauthorized people. In general, an SSL certificate requires a dedicated IP address to be installed, which suggests the overall cost for your web presence will be higher. While this might not be a problem for a larger company, it may matter for a non-profit organization or a small online shop which doesn't generate big earnings if additional money should be spent. This is the main reason why we have taken advantage of an extension referred to as Server Name Indication (SNI) and we've made it possible to use a shared server IP address to set up an SSL certificate.
