What is an SSL certificate? Does your website really need one? How come you’ve never heard about this and why is it important?
If all these questions run through your mind, you’re on the right track to protecting your online presence. A website needs to be secure at all times, and an SSL certificate is what makes your website safe, to begin with.
All business owners need to have an online presence. And a small presentation website is the definition of your business card online.
Registering a new domain name from a reliable source is recommended. Setting up your hosting account with a reputable web hosting company is definitely a must. But these basic steps won’t protect your website and your client database though.
Although you can opt for a complicated password, your and your potential client’s data can be compromised if your website isn’t safe.
This is where an SSL certificate might come in handy. It acts as a protective shield between your website and a possible hacker or virus.
What is an SSL certificate?
There’s no need to be an internet guru to notice all website addresses begin with a specific syntax. Some websites begin with “http://”, while others begin with “https://”.
An extra letter might not seem important. After all, your website works just fine! But in reality, the “S” stands for Secure!
Each time a user enters their credit card information or any other kind of personal data, they need to make sure the website is safe first. This is where an SSL certificate comes into play.
The term SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer. It’s a technology developed back in the 1990s, that helps to safely encrypt your data.
Whenever you see the syntax HTTPS, you now know it stands for Hyper Text Transfer Protocol Secure. The “S” is an extra precaution, known as the internet standard for secure communication online.
The SSL security layer makes sure only your browser and the server accessing your data are able to decrypt the information. Although you can’t literally see this, what goes on behind the scenes is what protects your visitor’s sensitive data.
SSL certificates are no longer just a trend. If you care about your data and your clients’, you should definitely aim to make your connection secure.
Once your SSL certificate is installed on your server, you and your customers can be sure your website is safe. This not only will protect your visitor’s data, but it will help them trust your brand even more.
Why are SSL certificates important for a website
Today, the internet plays an important part in all our lives. It’s crucial that all our data be safe!
From virtual attackers to intrusive internet service providers, anyone can sneak a peek at our sensitive data we share on the World Wide Web!
Since many small businesses communicate with clients online, having a safe environment to do so is important for both parties.
A professionally designed website allows visitors to become familiar with your business. But when it comes to encouraging your visitors to take action, you need to let them know they can do so, in a safe way.
If you run a small business and would like to build your brand, you need to find a way to communicate and interact with your clients.
Some businesses sell their products and services directly on their website. Small online stores are well known for allowing their clients to safely purchase the products they need.
But when it comes to entering your credit card information, can you guarantee your client their data is safe?
SSL certificates don’t just affect e-commerce websites. Any information you may collect from your clients is subject to risk if your website isn’t safe.
From phone numbers and your customers’ address to simple email databases, all information is subject to risk. Securing your web forms is always important, even if think your website’s too small to be hacked.
But privacy, data integrity, and security is not all.
An SSL certificate can, potentially, determine your website’s search engine ranking within Google search.
Any small changes in your website’s structure can have an impact on your SEO factor. While there’s only a small percentage of websites that haven’t made the switch, others are already ‘milking’ some SEO benefits!
Although not all websites are required to install SSL certificates, those that do should expect a small boost in rankings. With Google adding HTTPS as a possible ranking factor, it may be safe to say installing that extra layer of protection should definitely be made a priority.