SSL certificates are seen as the standard for any website requiring credit card information. But when building your website, you may wonder if SSL is a good fit for you; Let’s break down what SSL is, its uses, and the benefits it may offer to your website.
What is SSL?
SSL, Secure Sockets Layer, is a type of encryption for your server and visitors. The data transmitted between site visitors and your website’s server is encrypted using SSL technology. SSLs work by creating a public and private key. These keys are required to access and transmit information between you and visitors, keeping any of their potentially sensitive information safe with encryption. These are particularly important for websites that take credit card information, social security numbers, passwords, and other text-based sensitive information. Without some form of encryption, like that provided through SSL, this data will be stored as plain text rather than encrypted text that requires a key to decrypt.
When your website is secured with SSL, a lock will display in the web browser before your URL. Sites secured with SSL certificates have URLs beginning with HTTPS instead of HTTP. This HTTPS provides security features to visitors. The HTTPS ensures visitors that the site they are on is authentic, that their data is being encrypted, and that their data will retain integrity after entry.
SSL certificates must be issued by Certificate Authorities (CA). When requesting an SSL Certificate, you will create a Certificate Signing Request (CSR) that creates a private and public key for your server. The CA then retains the CSR and creates data to pair with your key without seeing the key itself. They will then issue you an SSL certificate which can be installed on your server.
SSL Benefits
SSL is beneficial to you and visitors for a number of reasons. First, SSL certificates establish credibility and trust for your visitors. If a visitor accesses your site and sees it has an SSL certificate, they know they are on the correct site for your organization. Additionally, they feel more secure in providing personal information, knowing it is not only the correct website but that their data will be encrypted.
SSL certificates are also preferred by search engines, so having an SSL certificate is a crucial element of SEO strategy. Search engines rank secure and legitimate sites much higher, and SSL certificate status is one easy tell of whether or not your website is legitimate and secure.
Should I get an SSL certificate?
Almost any website can benefit from having an SSL certificate. If your website takes personal information such as payment information or logins and passwords, it is recommended to have SSL, so this collection of personal information is encrypted and so that visitors feel safe typing this information into forms on your site. Even if you are not collecting personal information, SSL provides necessary security features and is favored by search engines. SSL is likely a good choice for your website, regardless of the information you collect.
