The members of the Certification Authority/Browser Forum have expanded and approved the guidelines to make an additional 18+ million US-based businesses eligible to receive an EV SSL certificate for increased online shopping security for their e-commerce customers. Network Solutions®, a small business defender and Web solutions provider made everything possible. Until recently, unincorporated small businesses, sole proprietors and many other business entities were ineligible for the most advanced online shopping security available to businesses using e-commerce software, an Extended Validation (EV) SSL certificate.

    Jeff Grosman, senior vice president of Product Marketing for Network Solutions, said: "Thanks to Network Solutions' relentless championing of small business' concerns within the Certification Authority/Browser Forum, we are pleased that changes have finally been made to the official EV guidelines to open up eligibility for an Extended Validation SSL certificate to the 70-percent of small businesses that previously were not eligible. Now more than 18 million additional small businesses are eligible to compete on a level playing field with big box retailers without having to worry about being behind the eight-ball when it comes to providing their customers with the highest level of online shopping security available.”

    EV SSL certificates bring the highest and most advanced level of online shopping security currently available. The certificates have state-of-the-art encryption technology and rigorous validation criteria that applicants must meet to be eligible to qualify for the extended validation certificates. Small, unincorporated business owners with online storefronts have cause for celebration this summer, as the Extended Validation (EV) SSL certificate guidelines that had once placed them at a huge disadvantage against the “big box” e-tailers, have been modified to level the playing field. The Certification Authority/Browser Forum, whose members include certification authorities like Network Solutions® and leading browser vendors, decided that EV SSL certificates can be made available to more than 18 million US-based small businesses that were previously ineligible to qualify for this level of online shopping security.

    Earlier drafts of their guidelines prohibited unincorporated small businesses from obtaining EV SSL certificates. The Certification Authority/Browser Forum is a professional association charged with defining the guidelines and the means for implementing the e-commerce and security EV SSL certificates for increased online shopping security.As an industry-leading resource and advocate for online small businesses, Network Solutions raised concerns about the overly restrictive EV criteria and stepped up its call to action to quickly expand the guidelines. The guidelines for issuance and management of EV SSL certificates now offer applications the possibility to from government entities, private organizations and all business entities, incorporated and unincorporated, but not individuals.

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