SSL Certificate: the additional “s” means your connection to that website is protected, secure, and encrypted; any data you enter is safely shared with that website. The technology that powers that little “s” is called SSL, which stands for “Secure Sockets Layer.”
As a website visitor, you always see https:// when visiting any site you trust with your basic information. It is your responsibility as a marketer to ensure that your website has an SSL certificate.
What is an SSL Certificate?
SSL certificates are small data files that cryptographically secure an encrypted link between a web server and a browser. This link ensures that all data transferred between the web server and browser remain private.
SSL stands for Secure Socket Layer. These are digital certificates that are the basis for strong internet security. It shields sensitive data from being exchanged when it’s not warranted.
This process is done by placing an encrypted connection between an individual’s computer and your website. These are growing more and more important in the digital era and are a must to have for new businesses.
What Google Says About HTTPS/ SSL Certificate
In July 2018, Google stated they would start marking all sites without SSL certificates as “HTTP” and “not secure.” This identifier notifies website visitors whether their personal information is safe and secure while they’re browsing sites on the internet.
When an SSL certificate is already on a site, the site’s URL will display as ‘HTTPS,’ and you’ll see a green lock next to the words ‘Secure’ in the URL window.
HTTPS implies that the site keeps user data and assures that the user is connected to an official site.
The bottom line, Google requires a more secure web and is making HTTPS the standard for all websites going forward.
Google places a high level of trust on SSL certificates for both individuals and corporations. It has rolled out a feature in its Google Chrome browser that advertises websites without SSL certificates as “not secure.” This can make you come across as suspicious and will not assist in building good relations with your visitors.
These certificates are required, as they are used to secure data transfer, credit/debit card transactions, individual logins, and other valuable information. They present a sense of security to clients and make visitors more likely to visit a website for a longer duration of time.
What is HTTPS?
HTTPS stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure. HTTPS is the secure variant of HTTP, the standard used for communication between your website and the internet browser a visitor is using. If your website is safe, it will have “https://” in front of the web address instead of “http://”. Obtaining an SSL certificate will change your website’s URL to HTTPS.
Example: A website with SSL certificate looks like “https://www.abc.com,” and a non-SSL certificate site looks like “http://www.abc.com.”
Is SSL good for SEO?
Many ask, “Is SSL essential?” or “Is SSL good for SEO?” Yes, SSL matters in SEO. SSL’s main purpose is to secure data between a visitor and your site, but it also benefits SEO. According to Google Webmaster Trends analysts, SSL is a component of Google’s search ranking algorithm.
In interest, let’s assume two websites are similar in the content presented, but one has SSL approved, and the other doesn’t. That first website may take a slight rank boost because it’s encrypted. As a result, there is a clear SEO benefit to allowing SSL on your website and across your pages.
Reasons to Secure Your Website With SSL Certificate
1. Authentication
Authentication assists in verifying ownership of your website. Whether you like it or not, some people copy websites and redirect traffic to steal from you.
2. Data Integrity
Data integrity is regarding whether the data on your site has been tampered with while it’s in transition. If your website is not secure, people who are technologically willing can tamper with the data relayed from your server back to the customer. That means that the meeting form a potential client just filled out on your website could go to a hacker rather than to you.
3. Encryption
Encryption applies to the security of communication between the client and the server, and it assures no one else can see the information being transmitted.
This is a crucial point for commercial and e-commerce websites since those businesses are often trading with a customer’s data. While it’s essential to encrypt the communications, it’s relatively necessary to encrypt the data presented using forms.
Types Of SSL Certificates
- Extended Validation (EV) SSL Certificate
- Organization Validated (OV SSL) Certificate
- Domain Validation (DV) Certificate
- Wildcard SSL Certificates
- Unified Communications (UCC) SSL Certificate
- Single Domain SSL Certificate