When you install an SSL certificate on your website—especially through cPanel hosting from govaio.com—you’ll often hear about public and private keys. These keys are the backbone of how SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) encryption works to secure data transmission over the internet.
Let’s explore what these keys are, how they work together, and why they are critical to protecting your website and its visitors.
🔑 What is a Public/Private Key Pair?
A public/private key pair is a set of two cryptographic keys that are mathematically linked:
- Public Key: Shared openly and included in your SSL certificate. It’s used to encrypt data.
- Private Key: Kept secure and confidential on your server. It’s used to decrypt data.
These two keys are asymmetric, meaning data encrypted with the public key can only be decrypted by the corresponding private key—and vice versa.
🛡️ How the Key Pair Works in SSL
SSL/TLS uses this key pair to establish a secure, encrypted connection between a website and a visitor's browser.
Here’s a simplified breakdown of the process:
- A user visits your HTTPS website.
- Your public key is shared with the browser through the SSL certificate.
- The browser uses your public key to encrypt sensitive information (like login data, form inputs, or payment details).
- Only your server—holding the matching private key—can decrypt that data.
- Communication is now secure and private.
Without the private key, no one can decrypt what was encrypted with the public key.
🧰 Where Are the Keys Stored in cPanel?
If you’re using cPanel hosting on govaio.com, your keys are managed in the SSL/TLS section:
- To generate a key pair, go to "Private Keys"
- To view or manage them, use "SSL Certificate Signing Requests (CSR)"
- To install SSL, go to "Install an SSL Website"
When generating a CSR for an SSL certificate, cPanel will automatically create a new key pair, unless one already exists.
🔒 Important: Your private key must never be shared or exposed. If it’s leaked or compromised, you’ll need to revoke your SSL certificate and generate a new one.
🔄 Symmetric vs. Asymmetric Encryption
- Asymmetric encryption (used during SSL handshake) = Public/Private Key Pair
- Symmetric encryption (used after handshake) = Shared session key
During the SSL handshake, the key pair helps create a temporary session key used for fast encryption during the browsing session. This combines the security of asymmetric encryption with the speed of symmetric encryption.
🧠 Why Is This Important?
Understanding how the key pair works helps you:
- ✅ Install SSL certificates confidently via cPanel
- ✅ Troubleshoot issues related to missing or mismatched private keys
- ✅ Maintain proper website security and encryption practices
- ✅ Comply with industry best practices and improve customer trust
✅ Benefits of Public/Private Key Pairs with SSL
- 🔐 Secure data transmission between clients and servers
- 👁️🗨️ Prevents eavesdropping, man-in-the-middle attacks, and data tampering
- 📈 Improves SEO, as HTTPS is a Google ranking factor
- 🛍️ Builds trust with users and increases conversions
With govaio.com, SSL installation via cPanel is streamlined and user-friendly—even if you’re new to web hosting or encryption technologies.
🧩 Summary
A public/private key pair is the foundation of how SSL protects your website and visitors:
- Public Key = Encrypts data (shared with the world)
- Private Key = Decrypts data (kept secret on your server)
- Together, they create the trust and security that power HTTPS and modern web encryption.
When hosting with govaio.com, you can easily generate, manage, and secure your SSL key pairs through your cPanel dashboard—no advanced tech knowledge required.