What is SSL and Why Do I Need It?

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is the gold-standard technology for keeping internet connections secure and protecting sensitive data on the web.

When a website has a valid SSL certificate, that means user data is nice and secure, the ownership of the site has been verified, and it also prevents attackers from creating a fake version of the site.

But for marketers and people who own small businesses, SSL is a lot more important than just making sure hackers don’t get users’ passwords.

SSL makes your site trustable

HTTPS is the secure form of HTTP, which means that HTTPS websites have their traffic encrypted by SSL. When a user sees https:// in their address bar, it’s usually accompanied by a cute little padlock icon, a green check, or other trustworthy symbol.

This reassures users that your site can be trusted with their important information. Most people still aren’t au fait with technological security – words such as “hackers”, “cyber attacks” and “secure socket layers” can be otherworldly and confusing to your average internet shopper, and they aren’t interested in how it works: they just want to know their browser’s safe. That’s why SSL packages in owner verification as well as in-site security to let people know the website is good to go.

Hackers target small businesses

$133,000 is the average cost of a ransomware attack according to SafeAtLast. Could your business withstand that?

Small businesses make up 99% of all the businesses in the United States. And for hackers, it’s much more profitable and successful for their end goals to target small businesses – which spells trouble for anyone who makes money from their website.

After all, if you can target anybody in the world online, why would you go up against Facebook’s Fort Knox-level cyber security forces for a miniscule chance at $1billion in ransom, when you could target the mom n’ pop hair salon down the street for a virtually guaranteed $20,000?

All of this means small businesses – and the people who make websites for them – need to take cyber security seriously. And getting SSL is a good first step.

How SSL protects your site

If a website is asking users to sign in, enter personal details such as credit card numbers, or view confidential information such as health financial or membership information, then it is vital you keep the data confidential. SSL certificates help keep online shenanigans private and assure users that the website is authentic and safe to share their deepest, darkest secrets with.

For example, an SSL certificate helps to secure information such as:

Login credentials
Credit card transactions or bank account information
Personally identifiable information — such as full name, address, date of birth, or telephone number
Intellectual property (such as digital products) hidden behind a paywall or membership

You don’t need to know all about the different types of SSL, all the abbreviations involved, or how exactly they protect your site to benefit from this kind of secure technology. Just get in touch with your website host to arrange SSL protection, and you’re good to go.

Your website host can help you install SSL.

Oh – and it’s great for SEO

Heads up, marketers and those engaged in the dark arts of marketing – having SSL on your site will improve your SEO.

While the primary purpose of SSL is securing information between the visitor and your website and keeping everything locked up nice and snug, Google loves that you’re doing it. A lot. According to Google Webmaster Trends Analysts, SSL is part of Google’s search ranking algorithm.

That means if any two pages have the exact same amount of traffic, information, and everything else – the one that has SSL will rank higher. Just because it’s safer. Google knows that browsers on this site will be less likely to have their data stolen, and that’s a good thing for everybody.

How to get SSL

The first step to getting SSL is to ask your website host. They should have it as a free option, an add-on, or otherwise be able to add it to your plan. You will need to enable it manually, because getting SSL requires you “signing” a contract – basically giving consent for SSL to be on your site.

Alternatively – use Convertri! Free SSL is included for every site you make, on every plan. Find out more here.