If you’re a website owner, you’ve probably been told again and again to buy an ssl certificate. If you haven’t been convinced yet for some reason, this is the article for you! By the time you’re finished, you’ll know that SSL is more than just a nice, convenient addition to your site, it’s a security must.
Let’s find out three key benefits of SSL.
- It keeps your site safe for you and your users
Who doesn’t like feeling safe online? SSL certificates bring an extra sense of safety and security through its encryption capabilities. This is the key function of an SSL. When you install an SSL on your site, it encrypts the connection of any user visiting your site via a web browser. Sounds fancy, but what exactly does “encryption” do?
Simply put, encryption scrambles any data sent over the connection, making it unreadable to anyone but the intended recipient and the person sending it. This protects you and your website users from cyberattacks like man-in-the-middle attacks. It makes it safe for users to share personal data, like credit card numbers and banking information, without it being stolen by malicious actors.
- It creates trust
With security breaches and online fraud becoming so unfortunately commonplace in recent years, Internet users are becoming savvier about where they spend time online. They are learning more and more about what to look for when they visit a new website for the first time, particularly key trust markers. Trust markers encompass a broad array of factors, from social proof like generally favorable website reviews online to professional organization membership badges, such as being a member of America’s Better Business Bureau.
Another key trust marker? You guessed it; SSL. There are several signs that indicate SSL on a website. The trusty padlock logo in the address bar for one. You can also add an SSL site seal from your SSL provider. SSL can also help users learn more about you and your company. Depending on your SSL’s validation level, when a user clicks an SSL, they could potentially find out anything from your site’s admin email to your organization address. Knowing there’s a real person behind a website helps elevate user trust.
3. Search engines and browsers will love you
SSL has been a key SEO indicator for a while now, meaning that websites with SSL will rank higher on search engine results pages than sites without. In recent years, browsers have joined the SSL-love club. Sites without SSL can expect to be penalized in the form of loss of users. For example, when a user tries to visit a site without SSL, browsers send them a warning message, flagging the site as potentially “not secure”. As you can imagine, most users will not end up visiting such a site.
Conclusion
While SSL may not be the be-all and end-all of website security as some people would have you believe, it plays an important function all the same. Secure your site with SSL today to strengthen your site’s security, bring users peace of mind, and keep search engines and browsers happy.
