An OV wildcard SSL certificate combines two ideas: organization validation (OV) and wildcard subdomain coverage. It is designed for organizations that want a commercially validated certificate for a base domain and eligible subdomains under that domain.
What does OV mean?
OV stands for Organization Validation. The certificate authority validates information about the organization in addition to confirming control of the domain. The exact validation process depends on the certificate provider.
What does wildcard mean?
A wildcard certificate is designed to protect a base domain and eligible first-level subdomains, such as app.example.com or shop.example.com. Confirm the exact coverage in the current certificate product before purchasing.
OV wildcard SSL vs standard wildcard SSL
The encryption function is only one part of the decision. OV products add an organization-validation process, while other wildcard products may use a different validation level. Choose based on the validation and coverage your business actually needs.
When should a business consider OV wildcard SSL?
- You operate several subdomains under one primary domain.
- You specifically want organization validation.
- You want one certificate strategy instead of separate certificates for every eligible subdomain.
When is a wildcard certificate the wrong choice?
If you need to protect several unrelated domains, a multi-domain SAN SSL product may fit better. See our Wildcard SSL vs SAN SSL guide for the difference.
Compare current wildcard SSL options
Review the live Wildcard SSL certificate page for current coverage, pricing, validation and checkout terms.