SSL Certificates are a great way to increase the value of your company, by adding an extra layer of security to your customers and boosting the website’s SEO. It is especially important to have HTTPS since 2014, when Google announced that it would affect companies’ search engine rankings.
What Exactly Is an “SSL Certificate?”
Don’t know what an SSL certificate is? Let me explain. SSL stands for “secure socket layer”. This means that a secure connection exists between your domain, the internet browser and the web server. This allows websites to safely transmit private data online. You can tell what websites have an SSL because the HTTP will end with an S, making it an HTTPS (“HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure”).
So what are the advantages of obtaining an SSL certificate for your site?
Encryption/ Verification
This is probably the biggest benefit of owning an SSL. The extra layer of encryption shows your visitors that your website is safe for them to submit their credit card number and other personal data. Your visitor’s data will now be transmitted over an encrypted connection to the site and others won’t be able to see what is being sent.
The SSL also checks that the information it receives is coming from the expected domain. So when your customer sends personal or private information, the SSL certificate guarantees it is being sent to the secure site, and not to a potentially malicious one.
Assures Data Integrity
When data is sent in a plain text format it can be read when it is sent between the server and the browser. This means that someone can get access to the information and then change it before it ever gets sent to the browser. The user is none the wiser, but the hacker now has manipulated the data for their benefit. With an SSL certificate, this becomes much harder as the data is not sent in plain text, but is sent in an encrypted, unreadable format.
Boosts SEO
The Google machine wants to make sure they send users to sites that are secure and safe to use. Because of this, they are making the HTTPS connection a ranking signal. So now if a site has an HTTPS it will rank higher than a site with a simple HTTP.
Though this is not a trade-off for high-quality content and the right keywords, it is still helpful. What I mean by that is if there are two sites that are equal in every way, except one owns an SSL certificate, that site will rank 1, while the other ranks 2.
Gains Your Customers Trust
When you use an SSL, your domain shows up with an HTTPS and a lock icon, signifying the site is secure. This helps customers feel safe when they are on your site and makes them feel comfortable handing over sensitive information, like credit card and social security numbers.
SSL certificates range in price from $70 for a Quick SSL to $450 for Wildcard. You can learn more about what each certificate does and how you can purchase an SSL certificate today on our website.