UCC and Multi-Domain SSL Certificates Explained

Shoppers comparing SSL Certificates often meet three names for what looks like the same thing : Unified Communications Certificate (UCC), Multi-Domain SSL Certificate, and Subject Alternative Name (SAN) SSL Certificate. The short answer is that they are the same product under different names.

The difference worth understanding is not between those three labels, but between that single product and a Wildcard SSL Certificate, which covers names in a different way. Learn About the Unified Communications Certificate (UCC) Name 🔗

Three Names for One Product

Unified Communications Certificate (UCC), Multi-Domain SSL Certificate, and Subject Alternative Name (SAN) SSL Certificate all describe an SSL Certificate that lists several names in the Subject Alternative Name (SAN) field.

The Unified Communications Certificate (UCC) name comes from enterprise messaging servers, the Multi-Domain name describes the function, and the Subject Alternative Name (SAN) name points to the field that makes it work.

Because they are the same product, there is no feature difference to weigh between the labels. What does vary between individual products is the number of names allowed and the validation level offered. Learn About Multi-Domain SSL Certificates 🔗

Multi-Domain Compared to Wildcard

A Multi-Domain SSL Certificate lists each name explicitly, which suits separate domains and a mix of hostnames. A Wildcard SSL Certificate instead covers every first-level subdomain of one domain through a single asterisk entry, such as *.example.com.

The two are often combined, with a Multi-Domain SSL Certificate listing several domains while using a wildcard entry for one of them. Choose by your name pattern : many separate names point to Multi-Domain, while many subdomains of one domain point to Wildcard. Learn About Wildcard SSL Certificates 🔗

Differences That Matter in Practice

The first variable is how many names a product allows in the Subject Alternative Name (SAN) field, since each product sets its own limit and adds names in blocks. The second is the validation level, from Domain Validation (DV) through Organization Validation (OV) to Extended Validation (EV).

Both shape the price and the checks before issuance, not the underlying mechanism. Each name still passes Domain Control Validation (DCV) before the Certificate Authority (CA) issues the SSL Certificate. Learn About SSL Certificate Validation 🔗

Advantages of Consolidating Names

Covering many names on one SSL Certificate costs less than separate SSL Certificates and leaves one validity period and one expiry date to track. For a large estate, that is a real reduction in administrative work.

Consistent coverage is the other gain. One SSL Certificate applies the same encryption across every listed name, which removes the gaps that appear when separate SSL Certificates expire on different dates.

Choosing with Trustico®

The choice comes down to your name pattern, the number of names, and the validation level you need. Trustico® provides Multi-Domain SSL Certificates, also offered under the Unified Communications Certificate (UCC) name, with the SSL Certificate issued by the Certificate Authority (CA).

Compare the available products by name count and validation level before ordering, and add more names later as additional Subject Alternative Name (SAN) entries if needed. Explore the Trustico® Multi-Domain Range 🔗