Have you ever come across the term ‘SSL Certificates’ while developing your website?
SSL certificates are one of those key factors in website making that are almost indispensable, and yet strangely unpopular enough to be missed out by many. If you have been wondering what the hype is all about and why the SSL Certificate is required for websites, we bring all the answers to you through this blog post.
In this article:
What is SSL?
SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer. Technically, SSL is a cryptographic protocol that provides secure communication between the browser and the server. We can use SSL certificates in websites, mobile applications, e-mails, messaging, and any such channel that requires secure communication.
Generally speaking, SSL is the most common type of secure connection that almost every online business owner needs to own today.
How Does an SSL Certificate Make a Difference?
While browsing on the internet you may have noticed that some sites have ‘https’ while some sites have ‘Http’ preceding them. Have you ever wondered about the difference between the two?.
To understand this better, let us check the website of Icon Technology. We can see that in the URL of the website, there is an additional ‘s’ with the Http or HyperText Transfer Protocol. The lock icon beside the URL symbolizes security. This means their website protected with SSL Certificate.
For a user or website visitor, that lock symbol is an assurance that whatever transactions you carry out on this website would be safe, your sensitive information including your passwords and bank details will remain protected.
The SSL Certificate makes all the difference.
The SSL certificate adds the ‘s’ to make it https where ‘s’ stands for Security. An SSL certificate secures the communication between the computer and the webserver of the https enabled website.
Scope of SSL Security: Simplified and Explained
Let us consider an example. T Garments is online clothes selling website. T Garments has its website ready with a domain, hosting, and design. They are all set to sell their products online. What remains is a security verification to provide their customers with a safe and secure shopping environment. In order to do that, T Garments needs to purchase an SSL Certificate, which will serve the purpose of an online identity that can be purchased from the authorized web service provider.
An authorized web service provider is an organization that authenticates the identity, checks references, and conducts background checks on the company. Additionally, they encrypt the data to and coming from the website, thereby keeping it secure from outsiders.
Let us now consider a customer, A, who wants to buy a dress from T Garments’ website. There are generally two sorts of computers involved in this transaction. The server hosting T Garment’s website and the computer that A is using to shop from. T Garment’s computer connects with the server, which in turn, verifies the identity with the SSL Certificate.
After setting up of a secure connection, both the servers virtually shake hands and the transaction is ready to proceed.
The above process takes place each time a transaction is made and an SSL certificate makes sure the information is encrypted and decrypted only and only to the intended person’s server.
Importance of an SSL Certificate For Your Website
Now that we have understood what SSL is and how it works, let us delve into the main reasons why an SSL certificate is required for your website, besides basic security and encryption:
1. Prevent web browsers from blocking your website:
Security has become a prime concern in this digital age, and as a result, more and more browsers are taking action against websites that do not have an SSL certificate.
If your site isn’t secure then google chrome has started labeling sites with a red icon along with notifications. They warn users before the site even loads completely, warning that it can be unsafe.
A website without an SSL certificate can be blocked and when visitors come to your website they see a warning. They have to click around to get to the site, which not only makes visitors wary of hazards from your site but also makes it inconvenient and time-consuming and they prefer to leave the site instead.
2. An SSL Certificate helps you to built trust among visitors:
When visitors visit your website and see an SSL Certificate at the top of the browser with a green lock, it conveys that your site is secure and good to go. Besides making your website look more professional, it eases the worries of a customer who’s making transactions for the first time on a new website. In the end, the fundamental value of running a business online is the trust of your customers.
3. Websites with SSL Certificates enjoy SEO benefits:
Since 2014, Google has been pulling up sites with SSL Certificates to higher-ranking positions. Keeping in mind that most sites have SSL certificates, any website lacking it will be pushed down in rankings, which means not having the certificate can be detrimental to your brand positioning.
Essentially, having an SSL Certificate has become a standard requirement for setting up any website. Having an SSL Certificate helps you improve user experience and gain more traffic.
4. SSL Certificates ensures basic security:
An SSL Certificate protects against hacking by ensuring that the information shared between the server and the user is encrypted. Several websites use different tools to add more security during transactions.
However, According to the new up-gradation, GDPR roughly states that protecting user’s data should be the primary priority of a website and https is an easy place, to begin with.
5. A website with an SSL Certificates loads faster:
Websites that have an SSL Certificate load faster than a website without an SSL Certificate. Having an SSL Certificate directly affects your SEO ranking and it is general knowledge that high-ranking websites generally load faster. In transverse, websites that load faster and are mobile-friendly, get more preference and recognition on Google search engine. Basically, it provides a co-related advantage.
Each of the above points confirms that an SSL certificate is essential for your website. Not only from the user’s perspective but also from a seller’s perspective. SSL certificate is the easiest solution to make the internet a safer place. Google considers SSL certification as one of the most important factors in its ranking of websites.
