What is the difference between a Premium Extended Validation (EV) Certificate and a Deluxe SSL Certificate?
The main difference between Premium Extended Validation (EV) and Deluxe SSL certificates is the vetting process that must be completed in order for the Certification Authority (CA) to issue a signed certificate to the requestor. Additionally, Web sites secured with Premium Extended Validation (EV) certificates will be displayed differently in the new generation of Web browsers, starting with Internet Explorer 7. New versions of Firefox and Opera browsers will soon follow.
More comprehensive than the Deluxe vetting process, the Premium Extended Validation (EV) vetting process validates the requestor's domain control and verifies the requesting entity's legal existence and identity. The process authenticates the following information pertaining to the certificate-requesting organization:
- Legal existence: The Certification Authority (CA) must confirm with the Incorporating Agency in the requesting entity's Jurisdiction of Incorporation that, as of the date the Premium Extended Validation (EV) Certificate is issued, the organization named in the Premium Extended Validation (EV) Certificate legally exists as a valid organization or entity in the Jurisdiction of Incorporation.
- Identity: The CA must confirm that, as of the date the Premium Extended Validation (EV) Certificate is issued, the legal name of the entity named in the Premium Extended Validation (EV) Certificate matches the name on the official government records of the Incorporating Agency in the requesting entity's Jurisdiction of Incorporation. (And if an assumed name is also included, that the assumed name is properly registered by the requesting entity in the jurisdiction of its place of business.)
- Registration number: The CA must obtain the specific unique registration number assigned to applicant by the Incorporating Agency in the requesting entity's Applicant's Jurisdiction of Incorporation.
- Registered agent: The CA must obtain the identity and address of the requesting entity's Registered Agent or Registered Office (as applicable) in the requestor's Jurisdiction of Incorporation.
- Right to use domain name: The CA must take all steps reasonably necessary to verify that, as of the date the Premium Extended Validation (EV) Certificate is issued, the entity named in the Premium Extended Validation (EV) Certificate owns or has the exclusive right to use the domain name listed in the Premium Extended Validation (EV) SSL certificate.
- Authorization for Premium Extended Validation (EV) SSL certificate: The CA must take all steps reasonably necessary to verify that the entity named in the Premium SSL certificate has authorized the issuance of the Premium Extended Validation (EV) SSL certificate.