Technical Capabilities and Limitations

From a purely technical standpoint, all certificate types provide identical encryption capabilities. The same algorithms, key strengths, and protocols apply regardless of validation level. This means organizations don't sacrifice security by choosing DV over EV—the encryption protecting data in transit remains equally strong. The differences lie entirely in identity validation and trust indicators, not in the cryptographic protection provided.

Certificate management complexity varies significantly between types. DV certificates, particularly those from providers supporting automation protocols like ACME, can be fully automated from provisioning through renewal. OV and EV certificates require manual processes for initial validation, though renewal may be streamlined for existing customers. This automation capability becomes crucial for organizations managing large numbers of certificates or implementing DevOps practices.

Multi-domain and wildcard certificates are available across all validation levels, though with some restrictions. Wildcard certificates work well with DV and OV validation but aren't available for EV due to the specific domain validation requirements. Subject Alternative Name (SAN) certificates supporting multiple domains are available for all types. Organizations needing to secure multiple domains should consider how validation requirements scale across their certificate needs.