When you own a website, having an SSL certificate is among the most crucial aspects of keeping your website safe & secure. SSL certificates are the small files of data that bind a digital key around the details & information on your website. When in use, these certificates enable a secure connection between browser & web server; this implies that communications like credit/debit card transfers and member logins are protected. In this digital age, data privacy & security is paramount. Any lack of strong security measures for your website can end up in data breaches causing you to lose valuable business & customer information that might erode confidence in your website.
When a website has an SSL certificate installed on the server, a small padlock icon SSL padlock will be displayed to the left side of your website URL in the browser & HTTPS will appear as well. Moreover, an SSL certificate provides security to customers & makes visitors more likely to stay on your website for longer periods of time. In this article, we’ll walk you through the top five reasons why an SSL certificate is important for your website. But before that, let’s take a look at what an SSL certificate really is.
WHAT IS AN SSL CERTIFICATE?
SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate secures data integrity by creating a secure link between the browser & the website. This security certificate uses a cryptographic key to bind the data together. It ensures that all the transactions & data go to the intended recipient. Since the web has various hosts & servers, it is vital to obtain an SSL certificate as it’ll ensure the safety of your data. An SSL certificate needs to be issued by a Certified Authority. You can choose this website security certificate from a variety of options available, depending upon your volume of transactions, price range & its compatibility with other browsers.
5 REASONS WHY SSL CERTIFICATE IS IMPORTANT FOR YOUR WEBSITE
Some of the important reasons why you need an SSL certificate for your website are:
END-TO-END ENCRYPTION
The primary reason for getting an SSL certificate is to ensure that the data is secured. As any entered information travels through a chain of computers, it is possible that any other website may access that data & misuses it. As a business, your users/customers entrust you with their personal/financial information & you would not want this information to be stolen in any way as it can hamper your business’s image & credibility. This will also question the trustworthiness of your business. This is where an SSL certificate ensures safe communication between you & your users by ensuring that no other party can access the information. This security certificate makes the information unreadable to other servers, and only the intended recipient can access it.
INEVITABLE FOR ONLINE BUSINESS
It is imperative to get an SSL certificate from a trusted provider if you wish to run your business online. Business websites typically have an attractive call to action button which redirects users to a page where they can make purchases; this boosts conversion rates. A user is then asked to enter their credentials, such as debit/credit card numbers, CVV, etc. For any site to be able to accept such kind of confidential information, it needs to comply with the Payment Card Industry’s standards, one of which is having an SSL certificate for your website. Thus, having an SSL certificate is considered a basic requirement if you provide such services on your website. There can be no online transactions without an SSL security certificate.
ENSURES AUTHENTICATION
The multiplicity of the users on the internet makes it imperative to authorize the website. Whenever a user enters any information, it goes through various computers. It is likely that any other website may choose to replicate your identity & demand confidential information from the user. These websites can further go on to misuse the user’s information. As a business, you would never want your reputation to be tarnished in this way. This not just hampers your user’s privacy but will also affect your brand’s reputation. Thus, obtaining an SSL certificate for your website will enable you to authorize the communication between your website & the visitor’s browser.
PROTECTS YOU FROM CYBERCRIMINALS & HACKERS
In the past few years, cybercrime has been increasing rapidly, and more & more imposters are using the internet to hide & exploit the information and freedom provided on it. With an SSL certificate, you can protect your website’s data from being stolen by cyberbullies. If you have any password-protected pages, it is always the best option to obtain an SSL certificate. Cybercriminals & hackers always look for these minor loopholes in a website and use this as a chance to hack the website. This is increasingly making the web unsafe for users; therefore, it is your responsibility to protect your users from such kind of theft and violation of privacy.
BOOSTS YOUR CREDIBILITY
In this tech-savvy age, the average user is quite informative. Since there are so many options/alternatives available on the internet, it is important for your website to stand out. An SSL certificate can help you to achieve the trust of your users as it will ensure them that your website is legitimized & their data is safe in your hands. This will also help in improving your websites’ ranking. The idea of any website should be to provide safe & easy access, and getting an SSL certificate is the key step towards it.
ENDING NOTE
These were some of the key reasons that will help you make an informed decision about your website. Due to various security reasons, it has become mandatory to obtain an SSL certificate for any website. Of course, this involves an investment on your part, but even if you’re a small, emerging business, then you would never want to risk your business’s reputation. SSL certification is an investment that will help you maintain your credibility &, most importantly, be in the business.
