The Importance Of Using An SSL Security Certificate On Your Site​

SSL is vital in protecting sensitive information, but there are other lesser-known advantages of using it.

SSL is a protocol that allows secure (encrypted) communications between a browser and the server. Its importance is evident when a website deals with sensitive information such as payment data and personal data, among others, but there are other lesser-known advantages in its use. When your website has an SSL security certificate installed, most browsers show a security icon next to the address bar.

SSL, important in calculating ranking and relevance

Google

1. Advantages in terms of SEO

Since 2014, Google has considered using an SSL in the ranking and relevance calculation algorithm. The content of a website remains one of the most important factors, but in the event of a tie, a website with SSL is placed above a site without SSL in the search results.

Source: https://googlewebmastercentral.blogspot.pt/2014/08/https-as-ranking-signal.html

 

2. Protection of Users

SSL makes man-in-the-middle attacks very complicated.

 

The primary purpose of an SSL certificate is to encrypt information so that it can only be read and understood by authorized parties. Information sent on Internet forms often passes through more than one computer before reaching its final destination, and the more “turns” you take, the higher the chance that third parties will gain access.

 

An SSL certificate makes the original information incomprehensible to anyone who has access to it if they do not have the appropriate encryption key.

 

3. Provide Authentication

It is important to make sure that the information that circulates from your website, including customer data, will go to the correct server without being intercepted!

 

When obtaining an SSL certificate, another type of protection called a Server Certificate is also issued.

 

It acts as a mediator between browsers and SSL servers to show that the SSL certificate provider can be trusted. Customers can view these documents to validate that their website’s SSL certificate is up to date and that the page they are about to enter information on is actually theirs, not an imitation.

 

4. Secure Online Payments

The existence of SSL security protocol is a reinforcement of confidence for a potential customer to make an online purchase.

 

Implementing payment methods on your site requires attention to security protocols. To meet the standards of the payment card industry, an online business needs an SSL certificate with the proper encryption. Without a certificate that meets the standards, a website will not be able to receive credit card payments.

 

5. Protection Against Phishing

Phishing emails often contain links that lead uninformed customers to a convincing replica of a particular website. Often disguised as announcements or shipping confirmations, these emails attempt to gather credit card information for malicious purposes. However, the people who create these fake websites will have a hard time getting an authentic SSL certificate. When customers do not detect security signs on a website, they will be more reluctant to enter any information.

 

6. Better Customer Trust

All of these elements work together to generate greater levels of trust between a customer and a company. Providing your users with security for all your information and giving them forms of verification, increases confidence, and helps ensure a positive shopping experience.

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About Luís Horta

He has been a teacher in Portuguese Public Education for over 25 years. So far, he has helped create and develop more than 700 businesses in different areas in his career.

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