What is an SSL Certificate and why does your website need one?

If your website has an SSL certificate it means there is a bit of code on your web server that provides security for online communications. When a web browser contacts your secured website, the SSL certificate enables an encrypted connection.

It’s kind of like sealing a postcard in an envelope before sending it through the post.

You can find out more here:  https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/6073543?hl=en

On 8th February, 2018, Emily Schechter, Chrome Security Product Manager posted on the Google Security Blog:  “For the past several years, we’ve moved toward a more secure web by strongly advocating that sites adopt HTTPS encryption. And within the last year, we’ve also helped users understand that HTTP sites are not secure by gradually marking a larger subset of HTTP pages as “not secure”. Beginning in July 2018 with the release of Chrome 68, Chrome will mark all HTTP sites as “not secure”.

You can find out more here:  https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/6073543?hl=en

It means that it will be safer to surf the web because you can tell which websites are secure and which aren’t.  Safe websites will have a little green padlock in the address bar like this:

Once your website has an SSL Certificate it will rank higher in search results because Google search engines prefer encrypted sites.

What is SSL?

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is the standard security technology for establishing an encrypted link between a web server and a browser. This link ensures that all data passed between the web server and browsers remain private.  To be able to create an SSL connection a web server requires an SSL Certificate. If you visit a website without SSL your data can be traced and Google want to ensure that their web browsers’ data is safe. So, very soon, any website that is not secure will not rate high in Google searches – so your website is unlikely to be found unless people specifically search for your domain name – and spell it correctly.

If you have a basic, fairly up-to-date website, you shouldn’t be charged more than £120 to encrypt it, make it secure, and provide the initial SSL certificate. Renewal of your certificate thereafter should not be more than £50 per year.

If your website has not been updated in the last year there may be some security issues that also need addressing and, if you rely on your website for online sales, the sooner you get an SSL certificate the better.  Contact us for more information.