What You Need to Know About SSL Certificates

SSL Certificates defined/What is an SSL Certificate?

If you have a website, chances are you've heard the term "SSL certificate." If you haven't, you've definitely seen it before without even knowing it.

Have you ever noticed what happens in your address bar when you type in a web address? On sites with SSL certificates, you may see the organization name turn green, the entire address bar turn green, or you'll see a closed lock appear somewhere in your address bar. You will also notice the first part of the web address change to "https." This means that this site is secured by SSL certificates. Otherwise, the address bar may turn red, the lock will appear open, a warning page will appear, or the beginning of the address will read "http," which all warrant a web address that is not secure with SSL certificates.

SSL certificates allow secure connections between the web server and your browser with small digital files that bind a cryptographic key to the details on your website. This means that details on a site with an installed SSL certificate are safe from all those pesky hackers. (You'd be surprised how many people want your sensitive information!)

Why are SSL Certificates necessary for businesses?

SSL certificates are very important for business websites in particular. It is essential to understand that any information you send on the internet moves from computer to computer until it reaches its server destination. SSL certificates provide encryption, so that all information passed on the internet through your site remains secure from hackers. This includes usernames, passwords, and any other sensitive information that you may request on your site.

Not only do SSL certificates keep your data secure, they also show your customer that your site is authentic and secure, enhancing trust in your customer relationships. Additionally, Google will flag any website without SSL, meaning that customers that search your company will be unable to see your website come up in their search, which could drastically affect your web traffic.

We want to help!

Want to keep your site secure and not have to understand cryptographic keys and encryption? Let Dovetail Digital Marketing do the hard work for you. Let's start a conversation.