When it comes to setting up your business’s website, one of the most important things you can do is provide adequate encryption for information that your site collects — and the way to do that is with an SSL (secure sockets layer) certificate.

This security technology is a digital certificate that verifies and authenticates website ownership, encrypts traffic, and verifies the identity of the hosting server. An SSL certificate also enables websites to use HTTPS as part of the domain name.

While the average customer might not understand the nuances of an SSL certificate, many understand whether to look for HTTPS in the address bar of their web browser before entering any sensitive information.

Here’s a closer look at why every website owner should make SSL domain validation  a priority.

Do I absolutely need to have an SSL certificate for my website?

Yes. If your website collects sensitive information from users such as credit card numbers, email addresses, and other contact information, you should definitely invest in an SSL certificate. Encrypted links are also essential when users are required to enter a username and password to use your website.

Having an SSL certificate helps promote trust between you and your website visitors and proves your company’s authenticity. It also verifies the identity of the website. SSL certification ensures that all information entered on your site is secure.

Aren’t SSL certificates only necessary for e-commerce sites?

This used to be true. With the increase in cyber crime and in an effort to make the internet a safer place, having an SSL certificate provides your customers and audience with confidence and a visible sign of security when they are using your website. An SSL certificate ensures that any data or web activity can’t be read by hackers.

On the other hand, if you don’t have an SSL certificate, Google may rank your website lower because it believes your website may not be trustworthy. Some browsers tag HTTP sites and actually prevent users from visiting them in an effort to keep user data secure. Even if you don’t collect or store sensitive information on your web server, these browser protocols could keep visitors from accessing your site in the first place.

How can I tell if my website has an SSL certificate?

If your website has an SSL certificate, the URL prefix will display as HTTPS instead of HTTP on the URL in the address bar. Your browser will also show a green lock next to the URL showing that the website is secure.

Click on the padlock next to the URL bar to see additional information, such as the type of SSL certificate being used. Clicking on the padlock icon also gives users the option to expand the certification information so they can see more details about certificate authorities.

Is an SSL certificate expensive and how can I go about purchasing one?

SSL certificates are very affordable and well worth their associated cost. In fact, you can even get free SSL certificates for WordPress sites through different plugins. You can also purchase an SSL certificate, with costs averaging around $60 per year.

Just like with domain names and web hosting providers, there are no shortage of options to obtain an SSL certificate — in part because there are different types of SSL certificates. SSL certificates are purchased through a Certificate Authority (CA).

What type of SSL certificate do I need?

There are six primary types of SSL certificates. The right kind will vary depending on how you use your website:

  • Extended Validation certificates (EV SSL): This is the most expensive type of certificate, and is typically used for websites that process online payments and collect sensitive data. To set up an EV SSL certificate, you need to verify your identity.
  • Organization Validated certificates (OV SSL): This SSL certificate purchase is required for commercial or public-facing websites that collect customer information. These also require identity verification.
  • Domain Validated certificates (DV SSL): Blogs and informational websites that don’t collect user information typically use DV SSLs, with very basic ownership validation.
  • Wildcard SSL certificates: Wildcard SSL certificates allow the SSL to be applied to subdomains such as “login.domain.com” or “payments.domain.com.” Wildcard certificates allow you to secure all subdomains that are linked to your main domain.
  • Multi-Domain SSL certificates (MDC): MDC certificates allow multiple domain names to be secured, including sub-domains with different top level domains.
  • Unified Communications Certificates (UCC): These allow multiple domain names to be secured with a single SSL certificate.

Get an SSL certificate and secure your website

Building a strong reputation with your online presence is crucial for success in today’s business world — and part of that is ensuring that your website is safe to use. If your website isn’t encrypted with an SSL certificate, contact Site Rockstarand we’ll help get you set up so you can deliver a secure, reliable browsing experience.