What are the key differences between a CA and a regular SSL certificate provider?

The key differences between a Certificate Authority (CA) and a regular SSL certificate provider are as follows:

1. Issuer of Certificates: A Certificate Authority (CA) is an entity that issues digital certificates, including SSL/TLS certificates, after validating the identity of the applicant. A regular SSL certificate provider, on the other hand, may refer to a service that provides SSL certificates, which could be either self-signed or issued by a CA. CAs are trusted third parties that authenticate the identity of the certificate holder, whereas a regular SSL provider might simply offer the technical means to obtain a certificate, which may or may not be trusted by browsers and users .
2. Trust and Recognition: CAs are recognized and trusted by browsers and operating systems globally. SSL certificates issued by these CAs are automatically trusted, and users see a padlock icon in their browser's address bar, indicating a secure connection. In contrast, a regular SSL certificate provider might offer certificates that are not automatically trusted, such as self-signed certificates, which would show a warning to users, affecting trust and security perceptions .
3. Validation Process: CAs undergo a rigorous process to verify the identity of the entity requesting the certificate, which includes organizational validation and, in some cases, extended validation. This process ensures that the certificate is issued to the rightful owner. Regular SSL certificate providers may not perform such extensive checks, especially if they are offering self-signed certificates .
4. Compliance and Standards: CAs must adhere to industry standards such as the CA/Browser Forum Baseline Requirements, which dictate how CAs operate and the level of assurance they provide. Regular SSL certificate providers may not be bound by these same standards, especially if they are not recognized CAs .
5. Certificate Types: CAs can issue various types of certificates, including SSL/TLS, code signing, and email certificates. A regular SSL certificate provider might focus solely on SSL/TLS certificates for securing websites .
6. Cost and Fees: Services provided by CAs often come with a cost, as they include identity verification and the assurance of a trusted certificate. Regular SSL certificate providers may offer free or lower-cost options, such as self-signed certificates, which do not provide the same level of trust and assurance .
7. Revocation and Management: CAs maintain a repository of all issued certificates and manage their revocation status. This is crucial for the security of the internet, as it allows for quick revocation in case a certificate is compromised. Regular SSL certificate providers may not have the same infrastructure or responsibility for managing the lifecycle of certificates post-issuance .