The Learning Center

If you are on Google Chrome, pause what you are doing right now to look at the URL of this page. See the green lock that says “secure”? It may be easy to overlook and appear unimportant, but the reality is that lock may be more powerful than you think. So why is it there? The green lock is more than just for looks. It actually informs webpage visitors that the site they are visiting is secure, meaning any personal information they share cannot be stolen. However, the only way you can obtain that “secure” label is by having an SSL Certification. If you are not sure if you have one, go to your website and see if it says HTTPS in the URL or has the green lock. If your site has neither, keep reading.

Why Should You Care?

With Google Chrome currently holding 55.5% of mobile and tablet browser market share, it’s no wonder they stress the importance of making sure websites that hold personal information are private and secure. Chrome has been a longtime advocate for ensuring user safety, even launching a global campaign called #NoHack which raised awareness about the importance of making sure your sensitive information is kept safe. They provided tips and tricks on how to do this, including making sure the site you visit has an SSL Certification.

In January 2017, they took it a step further by labeling any website without an SSL Certificate as non-secure. It may not seem like much, but having a website, especially one that draws in paying customers, flagged as something that cannot be trusted can really affect business. On the flip side, if you do have a certificate, your website will have a small green lock icon in the web browser that guarantees that your site can be trusted. Without trust, which is key in any customer relationship, you can almost guarantee your site won’t be as successful as it could be.

Now that I have thrown the word SSL Certificate around enough, you are probably wanting to know more about it. Although it was introduced briefly at the beginning, let’s break it down even further.

What Is An SSL?

An SSL, which stands for Secure Sockets Layer, is a small data file that, once installed onto your server, allows for sites that collect sensitive information such as passwords, credit card information, and personal data to be exchanged safely. If that sounds like a bunch of jibberish, don’t worry. I’ll explain even further.

A standard website that does not have an SSL Certification is typically labeled with an HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) at the beginning of the URL address. To those who are not tech-savvy, the HTTP may not be alarming. In reality, you are actually risking the possibility of an unauthorized party observing the conversation between your computing device and the website. To clarify, when you put in your personal information on a non-secure website, it is sent in form of plain text which makes it easy for a hacker to eavesdrop on and misuse intercepted information. See the problem? However, when the site gains an SSL Certification, it basically gets the thumbs up approval by Chrome as a secure site and switches from HTTP to HTTPS.

You may be thinking, it gains an extra letter, so what? Although that it technically true, the website gained a lot more than another letter. It has also gained visitors’ trust. Why? Let’s take a little look at what SSL does itself.

What Does An SSL Do Exactly?

So you already know that an SSL is a small data file that allows for sites that collect sensitive information such as passwords, credit card information, and personal data to be exchanged safely, but how does it do that? When personal information has been safely encrypted, SSL is essentially the hero that ensures the informations stays encrypted in the original website and no hacker can get ahold of it.

Why Should I Get An SSL Certificate?

Although it is great for your website to have an SSL Certification, it is also becoming mandatory. Chrome announced that after January 2017, all websites that do not have SSL Certification will be openly labeled as non-secure. That way when you go to a non-secure site, you cannot pass blame on Chrome for giving you a faulty website. Instead, you have been warned that your personal information is at risk. Having a website that doesn’t guarantee safety will not be appealing for potential clients and with Chrome hosting the majority of online businesses, you don’t want to be the one without a green lock on your page. On the other hand, if you do have an SSL Certification, you could be facing these benefits:

Provides Safety

You can rest easily knowing that your website won’t risk being hacked by an intruder. Anything that seems fishy will be intercepted by SSL which is great news for both you and your clients. Even if your site does not handle personal information, an SSL certificate is still good for you to have so that your information is not taken.

Ensures Trust

Putting your personal information into a website is not something to be taken lightly. When placed in the wrong hands, it can really be harmful. However, your clients will feel safe knowing that your site is secure. When they feel safe, you earn their trust, which then helps business even more. Your clients will appreciate that you go the extra mile for their safety.

Get A Boost

In 2014, Google tried to persuade sites to make the switch to HTTPS and said that they would start giving preference to sites with an SSL. Since then, sites that are secure through an SSL have earned a boost in rankings over their unsecured counterparts. That added boost will help you be noticed, which could potentially benefit your company.

Look Good

Without the SSL Certificate, potential clients will be informed by Chrome when entering your site that it is not safe. Chances are when this sort of message pops up, they won’t want to stay and risk anything. Don’t be penalized for not having an SSL Certificate.

How Do I Get An SSL?

Now that I have stressed the importance of having a certificate, you might be wondering where in the world you get one. In order to enable HTTPS, you must obtain the certificate from a certificate authority, or CA. There are several options on how to obtain an SSL Certificate through a CA, but not all are the best option. You could go and obtain the certificate on some websites for free, but by doing so you risk having outdated encryption technology. If you want to completely ensure your site’s safety, you should stick with going to the professionals.

Titan Web Marketing Solutions

At Titan Web Marketing solutions, we’ve got you covered. An SSL Certificate is included in our packages with SHA-2 and 2048-bit encryption, the strongest encryption on the market. Not only will we build you a website that will draw in potential clients, but we will also ensure their safety which will keep them coming back. Our goal is to make you and your clients happy, and there is no better way to do that than by getting you SSL Certificate with Titan today.

Titan Web Marketing Solutions based in Murfreesboro, TN provides Website Design Services to businesses throughout the United States. If your company needs website design help Contact Us today.