A Wildcard SSL Certificate is a special type of digital certificate that secures a primary domain and all its subdomains with a single purchase and installation. For example, a certificate for *.yourdomain.com would protect:

• www.yourdomain.com
• mail.yourdomain.com
• shop.yourdomain.com
• blog.yourdomain.com

and any other subdomain you create in the future.

This is a cost-effective and efficient solution for websites that manage multiple services or sections under the same main domain. Instead of buying and managing separate certificates for each subdomain, you handle everything with one. The certificate activates the HTTPS protocol and displays the padlock icon in browsers, ensuring that all data transmitted between your visitors and any of your subdomains is encrypted and secure.

Key things to remember:

• A Wildcard SSL only covers one level of subdomains. It secures *.domain.com but not *.sub.domain.com.
• It provides the same level of strong encryption as standard SSL certificates.
• It simplifies your server management, as you only need to install and renew one certificate.

If your hosting plan involves multiple subdomains, a Wildcard SSL is often the most practical choice for comprehensive security.