Updated August 10, 2023
Introduction to SSL Certificate
To establish a secure connection, the browser and the server need an SSL certificate, sometimes called a digital certificate.
This certificate is installed on the web server and serves two functions:
- Authenticating the identity of the website meaning, it guarantees the visitor that the website is not fake.
- Encrypting the data which is being transmitted.
SSL stands for Secure Socket Layer. It is a security technology for establishing an encrypted server and client link. A client could be a web browser or a mail client, and a server could be a web server or a mail server. Millions of businesses and individual users worldwide use SSL to decrease the risk of stolen sensitive information. SSL allows a “Private Conversation” between two intended parties.
Importance of SSL Certificate
- Nowadays, everything has gone online. Businesses are making more money by being virtual. The Internet is the biggest platform for social media, shopping, knowledge sharing, and many more. It has taken a boom since the smartphone hit the market. Everybody wants to be on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Whatnot. Banking transactions are also now happening online. There is thousands of shopping website to shop from. But it’s big but do you trust each of them to shop? Do you feel safe when you open any random website for shopping, or do you feel safe doing any banking transaction? Where is this trust factor coming from? How are you so sure that you won’t be getting robbed?
- The very first factor is security. What kind of security has been provided by online businesses such that your data won’t be stolen? Another is popularity. When does any business become popular? From his customer/users, right? And how it gets popular? Again by the services provided by it. Take an example of shopping from amazon.com and any unknown website you have never heard of. What will you choose? Today every firm spends a hell lot of money on security. Nobody wants their sensitive information to be stolen.
- SSL certificate is a step towards security. When SSL is installed on the server, it activates the padlock, and the HTTP protocol allows secure connections from the webserver to the browser. When you install the certificate, the application protocol, known as HTTP, will change to HTTP where ‘S’ stands for ‘Security’. So when you visit the website, you see a padlock or green HTTPS in the address bar.
- Usually, site owners should spend less on purchasing an SSL certificate. Moreover, there are different SSL providers available in the market to offer SSL certificates at low prices. Such cheap SSL certificates offer the same level of security and protection similar to other SSL certificates.
- So the next time you see a padlock or HTTPS, you can say your connection is secured.
Why do we Need an SSL Certificate?
Below are the key reasons why SSL is essential:
1. SSL Protects Your Data
The first and most important is the “protection of data”. The core functionality of SSL is to protect communication. With SSL, every bit of data will be encrypted. Simply put, the data is locked, and only the intended recipient can unlock it. SSL helps in protecting your sensitive data like passwords, credit/debit card details, etc.
2. SSL Affirms Your Identity
- Identity verification is a crucial aspect when web security is a concern. There have been thousands of cases where people have lost a lot of money on fake websites.
- If you are hosting a website, you must go through a validation process set by a third party called Certificate Authority (CA). CA will verify your certificate and your organization. Once proven, your website will get trust. Users will know who they are talking to when visiting your website.
- An imposter creates a fake website, pretending to be someone they are not, for phishing. Here SSL helps the user drive to the real website, which helps you enhance your reputation and also saves the user from fraud.
3. Boost SEO Ranking
As we all prefer Google as our first choice of a search engine, we want our website to come on the first page of the search. To give power to the https-enabled website, Google changed its search algorithm. Studies have shown a strong relationship between HTTPS and higher search engine rankings. So do you want your website to be on the first page of a search engine?
4. It Helps in Satisfying PCI/DDS Requirements
- Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standards (DSS) is an information security standard. An organization formed in 2006 to manage the security of credit cards. PCI/DSS applies to companies of any size that accepts card payment.
- If your company accepts payment through cards, you must host your data securely with a PCI-compliant hosting provider. The PCI sets 12 primary requirements, one of which is installing SSL.
5. It Helps Improving Customer Trust & Revenue
Apart from encryption and authentication, SSL certificates play a vital role in gaining customer trust. Users can also see your organization details if you have installed the Organization Validation (OV) or Extended Validation (EV) certificate. Once your users know you are a legit organization, they will likely do business with you. So an increase in the customer number, an increase in the revenue.
Benefits of SSL Certificate
We have seen all the importance of having an SSL certificate in the above points. We could say that having your website on SSL helps gain trust, gain popularity, maintain reputation, protect data, and ultimately, the revenue. Also, the cherry on the cake is the PCI/DSS, which helps in regulatory compliance. This compliance mandates a website organization to provide a private connection on a page where the customer must enter personal information. SSL also protects against Phishing attacks because it is almost impossible to clone an SSL certificate.
Conclusion
Now we know how important for us to have an SSL, so why not have one for our website? Save yourself from being hacked and gain the trust of your customers. If you consider yourself, would you buy anything from a website that doesn’t have SSL? Think twice.
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