Do you need an SSL Certificate for your website?

The short answer is yes and we recommend that all businesses acquire a valid SSL certificate. Google has started contacting website owners directly through their search console with a message about Google Chrome security warnings and SSL Certificates. If you manage your own website, you may have received one like our clients have.

Initially, getting an SSL Certificate was important for mostly e-commerce websites who collect customer payment information online. However, SSL (Secure Socket Layer) has become a validating sign that your website is not only secure, but legitimate and safe to visit. Not having a valid SSL for your website also now impacts your website’s ability to rank on google organic searches. This is because Google has stated those that have SSL on their websites will get a slight boost to their search ranking.

Another reason why we recommend acquiring an SSL certification is because it provides a sign of trust and validity for your business. This is because of the data breaches and security rising to the list of top concerns for businesses.

For most businesses, you can simply reach out to your website hosts for the SSL certificate. Often, they will offer you an SSL certificate for a low annual cost or even free entry- level SSL certificate.  However, you should be careful not to be over sold on the service.

If you’re not comfortable installing or setting up SSL for your website, feel free to reach out to us at happier IT for assistance. We’d be more than happy to chat with you on the topic.

For more information on SSL and how it functions, Wikipedia provides a great primer on the subject.