In a technologically driven society, our personal details are more at risk than ever. That’s why we need to be sure that our networks are secured. This is where SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) comes in handy, it’s the backbone of our secure internet and it protects your sensitive information as it travels across the world’s computer networks. It provides privacy, critical security and data integrity for both your website and user’s personal information. For a small price to pay on an annual basis, installing a SSL certificate is highly recommended not only for you but for your stakeholders.

Why do I need a SSL Certificate?

URLS that end with “https://” and not “http://” indicates the website is SSL certified and secure to use.

There are three main reasons why you should install a SSL certificate:

1. Encrypts Sensitive Information: It keeps sensitive information safe from any potential hackers and identity thieves when you are sending information from computer to computer. Any computer in between this process can see your credit card information, usernames and password so it’s vital to secure this network.
2. Provides Trust: To ensure visitors know their connection is secure, browsers will provide visual cues such as a lock icon or green bar accompanied by (Secure) in brackets. Instilling more trust with your customers will make them feel confident in making purchases.
3. Provides Authentication: A proper SSL certificate provides authentication for both parties, so that means you are sending information to the right server and to the right person.

What if your Website isn’t SSL certified?

Effective from October 2018, a new update from Google Chrome browsers will mark non-HTTPS sites as ‘not secure’. For visitors, a lack of verification, trust and authenticity within the website can severely affect your engagement.

Now that you have a good idea about what a SSL certificate is and why you need it, what are you waiting for? It’s a small price to pay in return for protection, trust and loyalty amongst your visitors. Check out some of the following WordPress plugins to help you install SSL such as: Really simple SSL, Insecure Content Fixer, WP Force SSL. These are just a few options to get you started but if you’re looking for a helping hand, we encourage you to book a consultation call with us today to take care of it for you!