SSL certificates have been around since the 1990s. While HTTP lays down the foundation of how data is transmitted around the internet, hackers and cybercriminals can gain unauthorized access to this data. When this information is sent over a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), then the security of the data increases. Users can identify if a website uses an SSL certificate by looking at its URL. If the URL starts with HTTPS, then the site has an SSL certificate installed.

When you launch a website and purchase web hosting, you try to ensure that the host deploys the latest security tools to keep the server and your site secure. However, without an SSL certificate, the data being transferred between your server and user terminals can be easily hacked, causing a security lapse.

Site owners can purchase an SSL certificate from a Certificate Authority (CA). While the Comodo SSL Certificate is the most popular one, there are many others available to choose from. There are different types of certificates and paid and free certificates too. Ensure that you choose the right SSL certificate for your site.

Today, we are going to talk about SSL certificates and look at the reasons why you need to install one on your website.

1. Security of site data

Many websites collect sensitive information about their visitors like name, address, contact details, and financial information. While the server and website are secured by the latest tools and constant monitoring, when the information is being sent from the user’s device to your server, a hacker can gain access to it. When you install an SSL Certificate, the information exchanged between your server and every user is encrypted, making it very difficult to crack. This adds to the security of the data.

2. Customers feel secured

When a user sees HTTPS in the URL of a website, they know that the information being sent to the site is being transmitted over an encrypted channel. Therefore, they feel more secure. This helps in establishing trust and nudging your customers to share information with you without having to worry about it being hacked and misused by a cybercriminal.

3. Boosts SEO

In today’s times, search engines are one of the primary drivers of site traffic. For a website to succeed, having a good SEO score is almost as important as having a high-quality basket of products/services. With Google announcing in 2018 that sites without an installed SSL certificate will be tagged as Not Secure by its browser, Chrome, and deducting points for such sites, too, not having an SSL certificate can harm your site’s SEO. Further, Google has also modified its crawlers to index HTTPS sites more than HTTP ones. Hence, with an SSL certificate, your site stands a chance to gain visibility online.

Summing Up

As you can see, SSL certificates offer many benefits. Running and managing a website is an uphill task. Right from ensuring an impactful design to updating content regularly, constantly optimizing the site for search engines, handling technical glitches, managing traffic spikes, etc., making the site successful requires a lot of effort. Without the SSL security, you are entering the battle with one arm tied behind your back. If you haven’t already, then buy an SSL certificate and get it installed on your website today!

The following video will guide you on how to choose the right SSL for your website: