SSL Certificates Are Now Mandatory To Secure Your Domain
Cybercrime has forever changed how we access use and store data. Effective July 2018, with the launch of it’s latest Chrome Browser 62, Google wanted to help ensure the authenticity of websites and credibility of domains. This is done through the use of SSL Certificates. As the Internet evolves, the need for increased security features for websites grows as well. Since Google dominates more than half the market via Internet Browsing, they wanted to help decrease the rate of browsers hijackings and mass spamming taking place. This extra layer of security is welcome by IT Professionals but might not seem significant to those that do not own their own website domains or rely on the use of internet traffic to drive business to their organizations, but this SSL Certificate requirement is essential for success.
Fighting Cybercrime requires everyone’s help and maintaining a safe browsing experience and reliable business practice online is as essential as locking your car these days. HTTP is now obsolete as HTTPS is the new norm and the only way to ensure that you are visiting a secure website. The HTTPS protocol ensures all data sent from a user’s device to a website is is encrypted and safely transmitted. If website/domain owners have not installed an SSL Certificate for a website, that website will immediately show as “Not Secure”. This should be taken seriously and here is why…
SSL Certificates Protect Data
The main function of an SSL certificate is to protect client-server communication. An SSL encrypts the data into an undecipherable format in order to protect it from hackers and skimmers. With a specific type of SSL called a Wildcard you can also protect any subdomains.
SSL Certificates Authenticate Your Identity
The second task of an SSL certificate is to provide confirmation of your identity to the website. Identity verification is extremely important as far as website security. In order to install an SSL you must go through a validation process. This authenticates the identity of you and your organization. Which in turn get trust indicators vouching for your integrity. Users will know that they are in fact talking to your company and not a ‘fake’ website.
SSL Certificates will Provide Better Rankings in Search Engines
Another benefit of having an SSL certificate installed is the SEO improvement in rankings that your site will receive. Google has changed their algorithms to ONLY optimize those websites that are enabled with HTTPS. Therefore, more visibility = more business!
SSL Certificates Will Satisfy PCI/DSS Requirements
If you accept online payments, you must be PCI compliant. Having an SSL certificate is one of the requirements set out by the payment card industry (PCI).
SSL Certificate Improve Credibility and Customer Trust
Another significant benefit to having an SSL Certificate is that you will gain the trust of your online visitors. Your website will display the security padlock icon in the address bar of the browser. This indicates that the connection is safe and that you value their privacy. If you do not have a certificate, many browsers will label your website “unsafe”.
As part of our ongoing commitment to providing superior service to our clients, we can secure an SSL Certificate and install it on your hosted website with us. There are different types of SSL’s based on whether you have a personal, business or multiple sites. We will help you choose the appropriate one for your needs. Contact a member of our sales team by calling (949) 522-7709 or email us today.