• Secure Socket Layers (SSL) was developed by the company ‘Netscape’ in the nineties for transmitting private documents over the Internet. 
• SSL is a standard security technology for establishing an encrypted link, or a secure connection, between a server and a client. 
• SSL allows sensitive information such as credit card numbers, social security numbers and login credentials to be transmitted securely.
• The encryption is done using mathematical programmes or protocols which use logical reasoning.

SSL is the most widely deployed security protocol used today. SSL is used in today’s modern e‐commerce enabled / online workflow and service society in the following ways:

• To secure online credit card transactions.
• To secure system logins and any sensitive information exchanged online.
• To secure webmail and applications like Outlook Web Access, Exchange and Office Communications Server.
• To secure the connection between an email client such as Microsoft Outlook and an email server such as Microsoft Exchange.
• To secure the transfer of files over https and FTP(s) services such as website owners updating new pages to their websites or transferring large files.
• To secure internet based traffic file sharing, extranets.
• To secure network logins.  

Any website which uses SSL security has URL as https://www.xyz.com rather than http://www.xyz.com . Further as a proof that the website is secured by SSL, the SSL logo is placed at the bottom left of the website.