Whether you are about to launch a new website or have had your site live for years, SSL is an important add-on for your website. There are a number of reasons why this is the case, but we have put together a list of some of the top reasons every site should consider having an SSL. Although SSL is only a requirement for sites with a login or those that pass credit card info, all of the big players are telling us that SSL should be a priority.
Before I jump into the reasons why SSL is important, it is important to understand what SSL actually is. SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is the standard security technology for establishing an encrypted link between a web server and a browser. This link ensures that all the data passed between the web server and browsers remain private and integral. SSL adds an “S” onto the end of the HTTP of your web address. HTTPS stops confidential information from being easily intercepted and interpreted.
SSL is important because the number of data breaches has been on the rise this year. Yahoo was one of the breaches where 500 million user accounts were stolen from their database. Any information you send on the Internet is passed from computer to computer to get to the destination server. Any computer in between you and the server can see your credit card numbers, usernames and passwords, and other sensitive information if it is not encrypted with an SSL certificate.
Google Considers SSL a Top Priority
Google is calling for all websites to switch to HTTPS. Google announced in 2014 that SSL was going to be a ranking factor and is one of their top priorities. Since security is a top priority for Google, it needs to be a top priority for every webmaster. Google has stated that if your website was HTTPS, it will give that site an additional ranking signal in search results. This is extremely important to achieve higher rankings on search engine results pages, and quite frankly, not to risk being penalized.
WordPress is Moving Towards SSL
WordPress, the leading CMS for websites, is moving towards SSL. WordPress has alluded to the fact that we are “going to see features in WordPress which require hosts to have HTTPS available.” They go on to say that “SSL just makes sense as the next hurdle our users are going to face.”
- This image shows what visitors to your website will see if you do not have an SSL certificate. In October, all sites that collect data (contact forms, signup forms, etc.) will show a “not secure” message without an SSL.
Trust is Key
People want to feel safe on the web. Having SSL on your website helps give visitors peace of mind. If you are selling anything or collecting any type of information SSL is really important. If your site has SSL, people will be more likely to buy your products or give you pertinent information about themselves.
Let’s face it, SSL is becoming even more important in 2017. Not only will having an SSL certificate give your website more credibility, security, and higher SEO rankings, you will also be doing your part to help make the web a safer place.
Contact Robb Digital today to learn how we can help get SSL installed on your website ASAP as well as learn about our new hosting and maintenance options perfect for your business.
