Secure Sockets Layer or SSL Certificates are not negotiable if you have a website, particularly if you collect people’s sensitive information on your site. Why, you may ask? Here are six reasons why you need SSL Certificates. But first, let’s explain what SSL Certificates are.
SSL Certificates, what are they?
As noted above, SSL is short for Secure Sockets Layer Certificates that act like security guards for your website, protecting it from cyber attacks. They are small data files that authenticate websites by activating the https protocol and the padlock. This is the certificate’s way of providing secure connections from a web server to a browser. The encryption provided by the SSL Certificates helps prevent hackers from stealing data. Every time you send information across the internet, SSL certificates scramble it and ensure only the intended receiver sees it. Without SSL certificates your username, password, address, credit card or banking information are up for the taking by anyone who wants it, because there is no data encryption.
What do SSL Certificates offer?
It guarantees website users that their personal data will be protected, when they are required to enter it online, by scrambling the information when it’s sent and then unscrambling when it gets to the intended receiver. SSL certificates also offers security by triggering the padlock and the https protocol on a website’s browser.
Types of SSL Certificates
There are three types of SSL Certificates that Certification Authorities (CA) provide. Which on e you choose to use is dependent on what your website does, because it is a well known fact that website security is not a ‘one size fit all’ process. Websites therefore have the option of choosing among:
- Domain Validated (DV SSL).
- Extended Validation (EV SSL)
- Organization Validated (OV SSL) Domain Validated Certificates Small to medium-sized businesses that don’t handle sensitive data, but want to secure their sites, should choose the Domain Validated (DV SSL) Certificates. It is less expensive and the application process is fairly simple. All you have to do is prove that you own the website for which you’re applying for the certificate, through a simple email validation process.Extended Validation Financial institutions, corporations or any other type of business that collects users’ personal information are advised to use the Extended Validation (EV SSL) Certificate. It is best suited for these sites, because it’s the easiest to recognize and provides the highest level of security.Organisation Validated The Organization Validated (OV SSL) is recommended for governments, companies and any other business looking to add some extra security to their websites.
Why do you need SSL Certificates?
1. Security
Providing security is the key purpose of SSL certificates and this security is two-fold. Not only are the website secure, but visitors to those sites also get a level of security that allows them to trust the organizations linked to those platforms. And while SSL certificates don’t stop hackers and other cyber criminals from try to attack you site, they block those efforts.
2. Validation
SSL certificates validate or authenticate your website. It tells users that your site is not a fake; that you are indeed who you say you are. This validation gives website users the peace of mind to know that they are accessing a legitimate site and not one lurking around to steal their information.
3. Protects information from a data breach
Speaking of protecting information, SSL certificate acts like insurance. While SSL aims to prevent the interception of information, this is not always one hundred percent guaranteed. But it doesn’t just stop there. It encrypts information sent from one user to another. So in the event that a cyber criminal intercepts that message before it gets to the receiver, the hacker would not be able to view the information, because he or she does not have the key to unscramble the data.
4. Google ranking
Users’ ability to trust a website is a major deal. It is actually one of the major factors that Google considers when ranking websites. Businesses are aware of this, so they spend a lot of money to ensure they do well in this area, by securing their sites with SSL certificates. Google wants all websites to make security one off their main priorities and so it rewards those who do as a means to encourage them while encouraging others to do the same. This reward comes in the form of giving these secured websites an automatic boost in status. This is done through Google’s HTTPS everywhere initiative. With this small enhancement SSL certified websites get an edge over their competitors without encryption.
5. For Online Payments
SSL encryption comes in handy in the event that you sell services or products on your site. If your user performs any kind of financial transactions via your website, it must be SSL secured. Based on the rules governing the financial industry and the Payment Card sector, SSL certification is non-negotiable for e-commerce and other similar sites.
6. It’s Mandatory
All in all, encrypting your website is a must do. Remember, encryption is all about securing your site so that you can in turn provide a greater level of security to the visitors to your site. The rules governing each industry may be different, but they all echo the same sentiment – ensure your online platform is protected with SSL certificates. Failure to do so, will lead to Google outing you. Since 2018, Google has been using a special feature in its Chrome browser to tag websites without SSL certificate as “not secure”. In fact, it alerts anyone who tries to access your website that it is not secure. This serves as a telltale sign to back off.
Summary
Using SSL certificates on your website could mean the difference between your business crashing of thriving. If you do not secure your site properly, people will choose your competitors who are SSL certified. SSL enabled websites show visitors that they care about protecting them and their information. Whatever your website or business needs and goals are, there is an SSL Certificate that’s right for you. Choose one and get SSL Certified.
