7 Reasons Why Sites Need an SSL Certificate

You can see the top of this page. In the address bar, you will see "HTTPS" that "S" indicates the admin has a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificate, meaning your connection is secure. SSL certificates are important, especially if you run your own website. It doesn't matter whether you have a small blog or a full-fledged e-commerce site, you need an SSL certificate. Here are some reasons why sites need an SSL certificate.

1. Protection Against Hackers

Hacker Protection

HTTP is a text protocol that sends information between your device and the websites you visit. While HTTPS is the secure version. Because it encrypts the information between the two, so anything sent between the pair is scrambled, making it nearly unreadable.

This is important if you're entering sensitive details like passwords, or credit card info. But equally, it protects you from man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks, it's a hacker's way of intercepting transmissions between two clients.

You may not think this is a big deal. However, without encryption, cybercriminals can display fake web pages. Links on this fake site can download something harmful to your computer, such as malware.

2. The site will be more trusted by users

The site will be more trusted by users

No reader wants to have their device damaged by an unsafe site. Hope you guys always check if a site is safe by checking URLs, especially e-commerce pages. Some users will even use a virtual private network (VPN) to ensure a good level of security is maintained.

A few years ago, relatively few people knew about SSL certificates. Now, many more recognize the need for such security. We can probably thank Google for raising awareness.

With a certificate, you send a message to your readers and subscribers, proving to them that you mean business. You take their privacy seriously. And by doing so, you are confident.

Without an SSL certificate, you are raising red flags to your readers, which may make them delay their visit.

3. Chrome Displays Site Properly

Chrome Shows Site Properly

This is a warning displayed by Google Chrome. Readers who try to visit a site that doesn't have an SSL certificate will see a page informing them that the connection is not private.

Remember that Google Chrome is the most popular main browser. People like the interface and most people like very secure sites. Chrome has loaded an encrypted page marked with a padlock and a green “Secure” message is displayed.

In 2018, Google changed its stance on this issue. Rather than seeing HTTP as the default model for sites, Chrome will expect HTTPS as the default and only show insecure sites reluctantly, i.e. after updating the user they are insecure.

4. Improved Search Engine Ranking

Improved Search Engine Ranking

Chrome has determined that they will not like sites without SSL. Many rely on search engine optimization (SEO) to achieve higher rankings on Google. But search anything on google, and chances are most of the results on the first page will have sites with HTTPS addresses.

Ask any SEO expert, and they will tell you that it is important for a site to be on the first two pages of results. Relatively few have seen more than that. Prioritizing security on your site is very important for improving your site's SEO.

With an SSL Certificate, not only will readers trust you more, but search engines will too. This results in more readers, and the more popular your blog is, the higher it will rank on Google.

5. Improved Site Speed

Site Speed Improvement

Your site ranking is also partly determined by site speed. The faster your website is, the more people will visit it, and the higher you will appear in search results.

So it would be nice to switch to HTTPS as well as improve page loading speed, despite what you've heard. It's a myth that adding an SSL certificate slows things down. What's more, there is a site dedicated to showing how fast HTTPS is, compared to HTTP.

Except that's not the whole truth. The margin between HTTP and HTTPS is slight, but the latter is often, in fact, a relatively new protocol called HTTP/2. And HTTP/2 is really faster than the HTTP and HTTPS standards.

You will benefit from increased performance, and so will your audience. Users are more likely to come back if they know everything loads up fast.

6. Does not cost a lot

Doesn't Require a Lot of Costs

Adding an SSL certificate is a costly task for you, which is why smaller websites often don't do it. And why other people are happy to charge big money for typical technical requests. You have to tread carefully because there is always someone who wants to exploit other people, especially when it comes to technology.

Indeed, some web hosts make it sound really complicated and penalize anyone who doesn't use the platform's own SSL service.

But it doesn't have to be a burden on the wearer. The prospective fee is greater, and the more certificates you need, but you don't have to hand over cash. Just look for services that do this cheaply or for free. Compare what they offer and which one is the best for your position.

7. Future Checking

Future Check

Web security is forever evolving. An SSL certificate isn't the main defense against hackers, but it's a good start. Because SSL has evolved too.

Specifically, it is being upgraded to Transport Layer Security (TLS). You may have seen SSL and TLS used interchangeably, but there is a difference. TLS is more robust because of more thorough verification, newer algorithms, and better key generation. This authentication occurs before any data is passed, so it happens very quickly.

Here's what you should take away from this: TLS is the successor to SSL, so it's more secure. When many companies talk about having an SSL certificate, it often means TLS is used.

During this HTTPS, pages are encrypted between endpoints. Look for TLS, but also know that many services like Let's Encrypt and Symantec's Encryption Everywhere already implement it.

Conclusion

Big or small, e-commerce or blog, it doesn't matter, every site needs good security measures. You really shouldn't underestimate the reach of your site or your responsibility as the owner. Similarly, you shouldn't underestimate the power of HTTPS addresses, or encryption as a whole. It is an essential part of the internet. If you don't already have one, it's time for you to use an SSL certificate for your site.