Have you ever noticed that some websites begin with an “http” and others “https”? Have you ever wondered what that extra “s” means? This means that the website you are visiting is using SSL or Secure Sockets Layer. SSL is a web technology that establishes a secure encrypted connection between a web server and a user’s browser. This helps prevent hackers from gaining access to your or your users’ data and cuts down on cybercrime significantly.
Until recently, you only needed SSL if your website required users to enter sensitive data such as credit card information. Earlier this year, Google posted a blog post titled “A Secure web is here to stay”. In it they stated that beginning in July 2018, with the release of Chrome 68, Chrome would mark all HTTP sites as “not secure”. Google is hoping this new feature will help users better understand which sites they can trust and which ones they cannot, as well as push website owners who have not already transitioned to HTTPS to make the move. If this was not enough motivation, having SSL now plays a large role in Google’s search ranking algorithm.
Some other benefits of adding an SSL certificate to your website include proving your business is authentic. When you get an SSL certificate you must go through a validation process that proves you or your company are legitimate. Without this validation, a certificate would not be granted. This will make it harder and harder for fake phishing sites to exist. It assures the customer that your website is trustworthy and any information they enter is safely guarded. An SSL certificate also helps you satisfy PCI compliance as it is one of the 12 requirements needed to gain compliance.
Acquiring an SSL certificate used to require extensive business background checks, installing one would require special knowledge and would be extremely expensive. Now, getting an SSL Certificate is easier and cheaper than ever. Most hosting providers even include one for free with a process that takes no more than a couple clicks to get installed.
If you would like to learn more about installing an SSL certificate on your website or have anything else to discuss, please contact us here.
