Service Summary

SSL certificates are used to secure communications between a website, host, or server, and end users that are connecting to that server. An SSL certificate confirms the identity of the domain name (e.g., www.gmu.edu) that is operating the web site, encrypts all information between the server and the visitor, and ensures the integrity of the transmitted information.

Key Features

  • Certificate types include:
    • Single domain: default.
    • Multi-domain: a host or application answers to multiple names.
    • Wildcard: for cases where a department has all of their systems under the same subdomain and chooses to protect them all with a single certificate (Note: Cannot be gmu.edu).
  • Certificates have a lifetime of 2 years maximum.
  • Certificates may be renewed.

Getting This Service

Submit a request to get a certificate.

  • The customer must use software to generate a Certificate Signing Request (CSR) which will be used to complete the certificate request form.
  • The request will be authorized by Mason and signed by our certificate provider, Sectigo, who will return an email with instructions for obtaining the certificate. The customer will install the certificate and any supporting certificates.

Availability

This service is available 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday – Friday.

Policy

  • This service is available to Mason Faculty and Staff that own or manage websites, applications, or servers. Customers may be required to prove that they are the owner or administrator of the website, application, or server for which they are requesting a certificate
  • This service is available to Mason Faculty and Staff that own a domain outside of gmu.edu. Prior to issuance of certificates to external domains, our certificate vendor will require proof of domain ownership by one of the available methods (see support.sectigo.com/Com_KnowledgeDetailPageFaq?Id=kA01N000000brbt).
  • Certificates will only be issued to Mason Faculty and Staff. Student organizations and external parties must make their request through a Mason Faculty or Staff member with authority over the system for which the certificate is being requested.
  • All users of the George Mason University network must adhere to University Policy Number 1301: Responsible Use of Computing.

Additional Information

Documentation regarding the certificate service and CSR creation can be found at support.sectigo.com/Com_KnowledgeProductPageFaq?c=CSR_Generation&k=&lang= .