SSL Certificates authenticate your business and encrypt information to keep it safe from hackers. They also meet PCI/DSS requirements for businesses and websites that accept credit card payments online.
SSL certificates verify a website’s identity with a trusted third party, which gives customers confidence to enter personal and financial data.
What is an SSL Certificate?
An SSL Certificate is a small file that authenticates your website’s identity and enables an encrypted connection. It communicates to users that your site is secure, protecting their sensitive information from hackers and online fraudsters. SSL certificates also authenticate your company’s identity to show customers that they can trust your business with their personal information.
The primary reasons for obtaining an SSL certificate include data protection, customer confidence and search engine optimization (SEO). SSL protects data that is transferred between a server and browser so that cybercriminals can’t intercept it. Additionally, customers will see a padlock icon in their browser and HTTPS in the URL to indicate that your website is secured. This is important because some browsers will flag non-secure websites with a warning that they could be hacked. This can deter potential customers from visiting your website.
How do I get an SSL Certificate?
Getting an SSL Certificate is no longer a luxury for businesses but a necessity. With recent data breaches putting personal information at risk, it’s essential to protect your users as they browse pages, comment on posts, submit inquiries or make purchases.
There are three different kinds of SSL Certificates: Domain, Organization and Extended Validation (EV). Each has its own set of validation requirements to ensure that a website is legitimate.
The quickest and easiest way to add SSL is to purchase a domain validated certificate from a trusted Certificate Authority. You’ll need to generate a Certificate Signing Request (CSR) on your server, which contains some important details that are later used in the encryption process. You’ll also want to choose the right SSL certificate for your business, which will depend on how many sites you need to secure and if they require user logins. This will determine whether you need a Single or Multi-Domain certificate, or a Unified Communications or Wildcard certificate.
What are the Benefits of an SSL Certificate?
When you have an SSL Certificate, all the connections between your website and its visitors are encrypted. This means that information sent between them cannot be intercepted by cybercriminals and used against the visitor in any way.
This is especially important for pages that require users to submit confidential information, such as account login pages, payment forms, and security services. It also protects your website from hackers trying to intercept that data and steal information.
Moreover, SSL certificates show the green padlock symbol in web browsers (the exact appearance depends on the type of SSL you choose). This symbolizes trust and reassures customers that they are doing business with a legitimate, secure company.
Another benefit of SSL is that Google now considers site security a ranking factor when evaluating websites. This makes it an essential security feature for all sites, whether they are e-commerce or not.
What are the Cons of an SSL Certificate?
SSL certificates are an excellent way to bolster visitor confidence and help satisfy PCI/DSS requirements. However, they do come with a few minor cons which should be considered before purchasing one.
The most obvious drawback of an SSL Certificate is the cost. Because SSL encrypts information sent to and from your website, it must be paid for in order to be effective. This can be offputting to small businesses that may not have the budget to invest in this security measure.
Additionally, some certificate authorities have been criticized for shady practices which can lead to their trust being revoked by browser makers. This can render any SSL certificates they’ve issued to be invalid. If this happens, a “SSL error” will be displayed to visitors of your site. This can be a frustrating experience for anyone visiting your website.