Yeah, it is!
SSL stands for “Secure Sockets Layer”. It’s a virtual handshake between a web browser and a web server.
It’s not mandatory to have on your web server but it has been highly recommended. In 2018, Google stated that if your website doesn’t have a security certificate, visitors will see a warning in the browser window.
What is an SSL Certificate?
An SSL Cert (certificate) is necessary to create an SSL connection. It provides a Private Key and a Public Key, unique to your website and your company.
The next step is the submission of the CSR (Certificate Signing Request), which is a data file containing your details as well as your Public Key. The CA (Certification Authority) then validates your details. You will then be issued an SSL certificate that’s matched to your Private Key. Then an encrypted link will be established between your website and the customer’s web browser.
This technology ensures that all the data transmitted between the webserver (website) and browsers is, and remains, encrypted so you and your visitors are protected. SSL ensures online activity or transactions remain confidential.
Visitors will see that encryption is in place if the URL is prefixed with “https” instead of “http” and a padlock is shown on the address bar.
A website should use encryption anytime users submit confidential data, including personal information, passwords, or credit card details. All web browsers can interact with secured sites so long as the site’s certificate is issued by a trusted CA (Certification Authority).
I’ve head about AutoSSL?
Some hosting companies offer AutoSSL Certificates which is an SSL certificate that is included free of charge with a hosting plan. You can find out more in our post on AutoSSL.
Once your website is capable of HTTPS, a trusted developer should configure your website so that visitors who access the site get automatically directed to “HTTPS”. If you already have an SSL Certificate installed on your site, you can use a free online SSL checker to see if it is correctly installed, valid, and not causing any problems.
Contact us if you’d like us to help you install SSL on your website so your site visitors can feel confident that the activity on your site is secure and improving your organic SEO.