Having a website is one of the most cost-effective strategies to reach a large audience. However, with cybercriminals lurking around the interwebs, investing in website security is essential. Not taking this process seriously can lead to record-breaking financial losses, litigation, and a tarnished brand reputation. We recommend a security certificate for any website that collects sensitive information such as names, addresses, and credit card numbers. An example of this certificate is Secure Sockets Layer (SSL).
In addition to protecting consumers, search engine giant Google announced SSL as a ranking factor in 2014. Naturally, other search engines followed suit. This context will discuss everything you need to know about having a security certificate on your site What it is, why you should get one, and how to keep your customers safe. Let’s get right to it.
What is an SSL?
Until 1999, SSL was the gold standard for Internet communications. SSL is a type of technology that keeps internet connections secure. It protects the transfer of sensitive data between two systems by preventing cyber criminals from altering any data.
SSLs make it impossible for hackers to read user information during transfer with encryption algorithms that scramble data in transit. These systems can be server-to-client such as an e-commerce site and a consumer or server-to-server such as a cloud to a printer server.
What is an SSL certificate?
An SSL certificate is an online verification that authenticates the identity of a site, allowing a coded connection between a web server and a web browser. Companies should add such a certificate to their site to protect customer information.
Developers install these certificates on the server-side, but visitors will see visual cues that indicate the site’s security. Note these signs:
- A website with an HTTPS address instead of an HTTP one has an SSL certificate
- Look for the padlock before a website name. When you click on it, you will see this message: Connection is secure. This symbol means that a company guarantees that no one can intercept or modify the link between the sites. If it’s not a secure site, you’ll see a warning sign before the address.
- Your antivirus will prevent you from accessing an unsafe site. Most of the time, your software sends red flags for websites that have no SSL certificate, or are out of date.
- Brands probably won’t misspell their domain names. If you notice grammatical errors, it’s likely a scam attempt. For example, cybercriminals may attempt to steal data from amaz0n.com if they breach the platform’s security protocols.
Reasons to Get an SSL Certificate
Having a security certificate for website usage has taken the digital world by storm. According to the latest SSL statistics, an impressive 82.2% of websites use valid certificates — a huge jump from just 17.8% five years ago.
From being an added layer of consumer protection, it has become essential for most site owners Businesses of all sizes and industries will benefit from this certification. Below are some of the reasons why you should have one.
Ensure visitor protection
By providing websites with continuous encryption, SSL certificates ensure the safety of all site visitors Without one, hackers can easily target customers’ sensitive data. They eliminate a variety of threats, including man-in-the-middle attacks, phishing, and session hijacking.
Promote Subdomain Security
An SSL certificate called Wildcard enables site owners to protect their main site and all subdomains under it with one certification. This feature will greatly benefit organizations using multiple subdomains, eliminating the need to install separate certificates per site.
Provide authentication
Certificate Authority (CA) signs and issues online certificates with SSL With their signature, other relying parties can verify a site’s certificate. Some of their tasks include domain and business verification, which gives site visitors the confidence to navigate and interact with your platform.
Comply with PCI requirements
Sites that process credit card payments must comply with Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) requirements. The organization aims to improve standards for cardholders worldwide and has declared an SSL certificate a requirement for business websites. Non-compliance on your part may result in lawsuits, unnecessary fines, and loss of revenue.
Boost SEO Efforts
Like any business, Google wants the best for its customers. For this reason, companies have decided to make SSL certification a ranking factor. To increase your online visibility and stand out from unverified competitors, we recommend getting an SSL certificate.
Speed Up Your Website
Contrary to popular belief, SSL certificates do not slow down websites but speed them up. Recent technologies have given rise to web servers called HTTP2 that use a single connection instead of multiple parallel ones.
Your page load speed should be between one and two seconds. If it reaches three seconds, 53% of your site visitors will leave. Since page load speed is also a Google ranking factor, this feature further increases your search engine visibility.
Strengthen Brand Image
Few things in life can ruin a brand image faster than a company that doesn’t care about the safety of its clients. While SSL certificates can’t protect sites against all cyber attacks, they protect your customers’ names, addresses, and card information. If you plan to inspire consumer trust, keep it professional by using an HTTPS site. Reinforce your brand image now with high-safety standards.
How to Get an SSL Certificate
You can get an SSL through your hosting company! These are the SSL Certificates that we offer at A2 Hosting:
Free SSL: Our plans come with free SSL certificates that provide basic website security, allowing you to establish HTTPS on your website. Although they are as secure as the services offered, many of our clients go on to enjoy the benefits of the latter such as warranty, extended validity (EV), and organization validity (OV).
Premium SSL: With our OV certificate, you can get up to 256-bit encryption for your site. The verification process for this SSL type is more tedious than applying for a DV certificate However, you can enjoy more benefits like third-party vouching and trust badges for your site.
Enhanced SSL: EV certificates provide the highest level of trust and security for consumers — a feature that helps increase sales. If you’re looking for a top-of-the-line security option for your enterprise-level or multiple sites, EV certificates are ideal for you. With these certifications, you can enjoy the most recognized trust indicators.
Wildcard: This SSL type protects one domain and an unlimited number of subdomains with one certificate. They work like other SSL certificates, using the same encryption and validation process. In addition, you can upgrade your wildcard SSL to include domain authentication and organizational validation.
Activating an SSL certificate provides a wide range of benefits for your website. The best part is, there are so many options to choose from now Don’t miss the HTTPS revolution to enjoy all the benefits these certifications bring.
Secure Your Site Now
From visitor protection to domain security to PCI DSS-compliant, a security certificate for website usage is one of the most convenient ways to take your business to new heights. It is one of the best investments you can make to stand out in the sea of competition. You can Buy an SSL certificate for your website from us!
