Why you need a SSL Certificate

Secure Socket Layer certificates, commonly known as SSL certificates, were originally developed by Netscape in 1994 with the primary purpose being to provide web traffic security between communications on the internet. These include data confidentiality and privacy, data integrity, and proper authentication. To achieve all these security elements, the secure socket layer must apply cryptography technology and use digital signatures.

The cryptography technology enables the SSL certificate to safeguard sensitive data and information. The certificate combines with the HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) to bring the HTTPS (HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure) to life, securely transferring all communications between web servers and web visitors’ browsers.

SSL certificates remain a significant part of every website owner’s security and we’ve put together reasons why they are an essential part of keeping your website secure.

Increase the Security of your Website

Websites carry a lot of sensitive data that need protection. User data such as credit card numbers, debit card numbers, social security numbers, health records, financial information, among others, should be protected from cyber security vulnerabilities. Hackers are looking to get access to these sensitive data and use them for their malicious purposes.

Having a SSL certificate helps to protect this. Usually, information your users share with you will pass through several computers before it reaches your servers. As data travels between two points on the internet, hackers can easily lay their traps to try and access the data. Without proper security tools and measures, the information will be vulnerable to cyber-attacks.

The SSL certificates will encrypt all sensitive data as it travels between your servers and users’ browsers. Encryption turns the data into obscure gibberish. It will be useless for intruders to try and access such communication because they will not understand it.

Safety for All Subdomains

SSL certificates should provide security to all your website segments, including your primary domain and subdomains. A SSL certificate called the wildcard SSL certificate is better placed to provide the required encryption levels to your primary domain and an unlimited number of subdomains.

With the wildcard SSL certificate, you do not have to purchase different SSL certificates for every subdomain. A single wildcard will secure all your first-level subdomains. If you decide to include more subdomains within your main domain in the future, you can be sure to have the wildcard SSL certificate to cover your new subdomains automatically. Wildcard SSL certificate has, therefore, made security a cost-effective and straightforward task. It is, without doubt, the most cost-effective and cheap SSL certificate option that you can ever think of.

Increase Customer Trust and Credibility

SSL certificates play a significant role in enhancing trust and proving the credibility of a business.

Apart from just encrypting sensitive data and information on the internet, the SSL certificates are of great essence from a customers’ perspective. If a website is genuine, website visitors will look at the URL of the website. A website with URLs starting with HTTP is insecure, while HTTPS websites are secure. Additionally, the secure website will have a padlock icon. Users can click on the padlock icon to learn more about your business and establish a genuine business.

Before certificate authorities issue SSL certificates, they will first take you through a comprehensive validation process. The certificate authority will validate your identity before they can issue the SSL certificate. Once you prove your identity, your website will receive trust indicators to vouch for your integrity. Such verification ensures that no imposter creates a fake website that pretends to be your website.

SSL Certificate and Search Engine Optimisation

In 2014, Google announced that HTTPS websites would receive an upper hand in search engine results pages. It meant that websites with an SSL certificate would rank higher than those websites without an SSL certificate. It is the wish of every website owner to be visible on search engine results pages.

The SSL acts as a tiebreaker in a situation where two or more websites have tied in all the other ranking factors. Previous studies prove a positive correlation between the presence of an SSL certificate and high ranking in search engine result pages.

SSL Certificate Improves Website Speeds

Page speeds are critical in SEO and user experience. Website owners must ensure that they improve their page speeds. One of the most significant benefits of the Secure Socket Layer is that it works with HTTP/2, whose focus is to increase website performance. By installing an SSL certificate on your website, the website will use HTTP/2, which will lead to improved loading speeds.

User Experience Becomes Better on HTTPS Websites

How safe would your users feel if their browsers warned them that their connection is not secure? “Your connection is not secure” is the error message your web visitors receive if your website does not have an SSL certificate.

Such a message will discourage your users from browsing through your website. Users will not have the confidence they so much require browsing comfortably through your site and share their sensitive details, all because they fear being victims of data breaches and cyber threats.

User experience is an important factor that determines the success of your business. To increase user experience, you need to ensure that your users are confident in your website; therefore, you should have the SSL certificate.

If you’d like to discuss your website security get in touch now.  

Source: iLounge