When you connect to a secure web server such as https://www.thawte.com or Archaven's https://www.securedom.net, you ask that server to authenticate itself. This authentication is quite a complex process involving public keys, private keys and a digital certificate. The certificate tells you that an independent third party has agreed that the server belongs to the company it claims to belong to. A valid certificate means that you can have confidence that you are sending information to the right place.

What role does Thawte play?

Thawte Consulting issues such certificates to organizations and individuals world-wide. We are the only CA that has representatives across the globe: in the US, Canada, the UK, Germany, Australia and many other countries. Our certificates interoperate smoothly with the latest software from Microsoft and Netscape, so you can rest assured that your purchase of a Thawte Server Certificate will give your customers confidence in your system and security.

Why choose Thawte over other CA's?

The Thawte business process is both efficient and secure. You are offered the fastest realistic turnaround time on certificate requests without compromising the integrity of our process.  You will find it is streamlined compared to some processes of identity authentication. Instead of calling halfway around the planet, contacting a security expert is either a local or a national call.

In short, Thawte is 100% focused on customer service in the certification marketplace. Thawte services a significant portion of the worldwide market for end user digital certificates.