The critical difference between an Extended Validation (EV) SSL Certificate and a Standard SSL Certificate lies in the level of validation and trust they offer. EV SSL Certificates undergo a rigorous validation process where the Certificate Authority (CA) verifies the entity's legal, physical, and operational existence. This process ensures the exclusive rights to use the domain and confirms the entity's identity and status. As a result, browsers display the organisation's name in the address bar, offering a higher level of user trust.
In contrast, Standard SSL Certificates, often Domain Validated (DV) certificates, provide a basic level of encryption and are issued after verifying the applicant's control over the domain. They do not involve thorough checks of the organisation's identity, making them quicker and easier to obtain but offering less assurance to visitors than EV certificates. Standard SSL is suitable for securing connections but does not highlight the entity's verified identity in browsers.
Ultimately, the choice between EV and Standard SSL depends on the specific needs of your website and the level of trust you wish to establish with your users. EV SSL is preferred for businesses seeking to maximise consumer confidence and transaction security. At the same time, Standard SSL is ideal for sites that require basic encryption without the need to display verified organisational information.