When navigating the landscape of digital certificates offered by a top-tier Certificate Authority like DigiCert, you might encounter various specialized products. Two such certificates are the Digicert Wildcard SSL and the Digicert VMC (Verified Mark Certificate). While both enhance trust and security under the reputable DigiCert umbrella, they serve fundamentally different purposes and operate in entirely separate digital arenas.
Understanding the distinction is crucial. A Digicert Wildcard SSL focuses on securing your website’s connections (HTTPS), protecting data exchanged between your server and visitors across multiple subdomains. In contrast, a Digicert VMC focuses on authenticating your brand identity within email clients, allowing your verified logo to appear next to your emails in the recipient’s inbox.
This guide will compare and contrast Digicert Wildcard SSL and Digicert VMC, clarifying their unique functions, use cases, and requirements, helping you determine which solution (or potentially both) aligns with your organization’s security and branding goals, leveraging providers like sslrepo.com for relevant certificate needs.
Key Takeaways
- Different Domains: Wildcard SSL secures website connections (HTTPS). VMC authenticates email sender identity visually.
- Purpose: Wildcard SSL encrypts data and authenticates servers for unlimited subdomains. VMC displays a verified brand logo in email inboxes to build sender trust and recognition.
- Technology: Wildcard SSL uses TLS/SSL protocols. VMC relies on BIMI (Brand Indicators for Message Identification) standards and DMARC email authentication.
- Validation: Wildcard SSL typically involves Organization Validation (OV). VMC requires strict verification of a registered trademark and DMARC enforcement (
p=quarantineorp=reject). - Trust Signal: Wildcard SSL enables the HTTPS padlock. VMC enables the display of your official logo in the email client’s avatar slot.
- Not Interchangeable: They solve completely different problems and cannot be substituted for one another.
- Availability: Wildcard SSL certificates are widely available from resellers like sslrepo.com. VMCs have specific prerequisites and may involve a more direct purchase/verification process.
Deep Dive: Digicert Wildcard SSL Certificate
What It Is
A Digicert Wildcard SSL certificate is designed to secure your main domain name and an unlimited number of its first-level subdomains using a single certificate. For example, a certificate for *.yourdomain.com would cover:
www.yourdomain.comblog.yourdomain.comshop.yourdomain.commail.yourdomain.com- Any other subdomain directly under
yourdomain.com.
How It Works
It functions like a standard SSL/TLS certificate, enabling HTTPS connections. When a user visits any covered subdomain, the Wildcard certificate encrypts the data exchanged between their browser and your server, protecting sensitive information. It also authenticates your server to the visitor.
Validation Level
Digicert Wildcards typically come with Organization Validation (OV). This means DigiCert verifies not just domain control but also the legal existence and operational status of the organization requesting the certificate, providing a higher level of trust than basic Domain Validation (DV).
Benefits
- Cost-Effective for Subdomains: Much cheaper than buying individual SSL certificates for numerous subdomains.
- Simplified Management: One certificate to purchase, install, manage, and renew.
- Flexibility: Easily add new subdomains without needing new certificates.
- Strong Trust: Issued by DigiCert, a leading CA, and includes OV for business validation.
Use Case
Ideal for businesses and organizations that operate multiple services or sections of their website under different subdomains (e.g., blogs, online stores, customer portals, mail servers).
Deep Dive: Digicert VMC (Verified Mark Certificate)
What It Is
A Digicert VMC is a unique type of digital certificate that enables organizations to display their registered trademark logo next to the “sender” field in emails within supporting email clients (like Gmail, Yahoo, Apple Mail, etc.). It acts as a visual indicator of authenticity for email recipients.
How It Works
VMCs operate within the email ecosystem and rely on several underlying standards:
- Registered Trademark: You must have a legally registered, active trademark for the logo you wish to display.
- DMARC Enforcement: Your email sending domain must have a DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance) policy published in DNS with enforcement set to
p=quarantineorp=reject. This proves you are actively combating email spoofing. - BIMI (Brand Indicators for Message Identification): You need a BIMI record published in your DNS. This record points to your logo file (in SVG format) and, optionally, to your VMC file.
- VMC Issuance: DigiCert verifies your trademark registration and DMARC compliance before issuing the VMC.
- Email Client Display: When an email is received, the supporting email client checks DMARC, finds the BIMI record, verifies the VMC (if present), and then displays the verified logo.
Benefits
- Enhanced Email Trust & Security: Visually assures recipients the email is legitimately from your brand, helping combat phishing.
- Increased Brand Recognition & Visibility: Your logo is prominently displayed in the inbox.
- Improved Email Engagement: Trusted emails with logos may see higher open rates.
- Demonstrates Security Posture: Shows your organization takes email authentication seriously (DMARC compliance is a prerequisite).
Use Case
Primarily for organizations (especially those sending marketing or transactional emails) that want to increase brand visibility, build recipient trust, and differentiate their legitimate emails from phishing attempts in the inbox.
Digicert Wildcard SSL vs. Digicert VMC: Direct Comparison
| Feature | Digicert Wildcard SSL | Digicert VMC |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Purpose | Secure Website Connections (HTTPS) | Authenticate Email Sender Visually (Logo Display) |
| Secured Asset | Website Domain & Subdomains | Brand Logo & Email Sender Identity |
| Environment | Web Servers / TLS Protocol | Email Ecosystem / BIMI & DMARC Standards |
| Validation | Domain Control + Organization Validation (OV) | Registered Trademark + DMARC Enforcement |
| Trust Signal | HTTPS Padlock in Browser | Verified Logo in Email Inbox Avatar Slot |
| Technology | SSL/TLS, X.509 Certificates | X.509 Certs, BIMI, DMARC, DNS |
| Interchangeable? | No | No |
Do You Need Both?
An organization might very well need both, but for different reasons:
- You need a Digicert Wildcard SSL (or other appropriate SSL/TLS certificates) if you operate a website with multiple subdomains that needs HTTPS encryption.
- You need a Digicert VMC if you send emails, have a registered trademark logo, meet DMARC enforcement requirements, and want to display that logo in recipients’ inboxes for enhanced trust and brand recognition.
They address separate security and branding challenges.
Where to Get Them
- Digicert Wildcard SSL: These are readily available through authorized DigiCert partners and resellers like sslrepo.com, often at significant discounts compared to buying directly from the CA.
- Digicert VMC: Due to the strict trademark verification and DMARC prerequisites, obtaining a VMC often involves a more direct process with DigiCert or specialized partners focused on VMC issuance. Ensure you meet all prerequisites before attempting to purchase.
Conclusion
While both Digicert Wildcard SSL and Digicert VMC leverage DigiCert’s reputation for trust and security, they operate in distinct worlds. Wildcard SSL certificates are essential tools for securing web traffic across multiple subdomains, enabling HTTPS and protecting data in transit. Verified Mark Certificates (VMCs), on the other hand, are a newer innovation focused on the email ecosystem, providing visual authentication of your brand directly within the recipient’s inbox via your logo. Choose the certificate type that addresses your specific need – securing your website infrastructure or enhancing your email sender identity and trust.
Need to secure your website and its subdomains? Explore Digicert Wildcard SSL options at sslrepo.com.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: Can a Digicert Wildcard SSL certificate display my logo in emails?
A: No. Wildcard SSL certificates are for securing website connections (HTTPS) and do not interact with email clients to display logos. You need a VMC for logo display in emails.
Q2: Can a Digicert VMC secure my website with HTTPS?
A: No. VMCs are specifically for email sender authentication and logo display based on BIMI and DMARC standards. You need an SSL/TLS certificate (like a Wildcard, OV, EV, etc.) installed on your web server for HTTPS.
Q3: What are the main requirements to get a Digicert VMC?
A: You need: 1) A legally registered trademark for your logo. 2) Your email sending domain must have DMARC published with an enforcement policy of p=quarantine or p=reject. 3) Your logo must be in SVG format.
Q4: Is a VMC the same as BIMI?
A: No. BIMI (Brand Indicators for Message Identification) is the technical standard that allows logos to be displayed. A VMC is an optional certificate that verifies the logo associated with the BIMI record, providing a higher level of assurance to the email client. Some clients might display logos with just BIMI+DMARC, while others (like Gmail) require a VMC.
Q5: Where can I buy a Digicert Wildcard SSL certificate?
A: Authorized DigiCert resellers like sslrepo.com are excellent sources, often offering better pricing than buying directly from DigiCert.
Q6: Is getting a VMC complicated?
A: The process involves meeting strict prerequisites (trademark, DMARC enforcement) and undergoing verification by DigiCert. It’s generally more involved than obtaining a standard SSL certificate.
