Google is undoubtedly one of the biggest search engines worldwide. It will therefore come as no surprise that they take their users security very seriously and made a pledge to flag all unencrypted websites by the end of 2018. If you don’t have an SSL certificate on your website, Google will flag to users that it is ‘Not Secure’ in the URL bar and reduce your SEO score and rankings within the Google algorithm.
By doing this your website will become hard to find and notify users of how unsecure their connection to your website is. This will actively discourage them from sharing information or even viewing the content.
But what is an SSL Certificate and why is it so important?
Here’s everything you need to know.
What is an SSL Certificate?:
An SSL Certificate is an important part of a websites security protection. SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer and is a standard security protocol for establishing an encrypted session between a server and a web browser. This link ensures that all data exchanged between the browser and the server remains secure and protected from any external hostile attacks.
An SSL Certificate allows your website and your visitor’s browser to transmit private, sensitive information without the worry of hacking, data tampering, forgery and eavesdropping.
Why is an SSL Certificate important?:
1. Improves user trust & brand power
- The little green padlock displayed in the URL bar and green ‘Secure’ symbol assures users that any information they share will be protected
- Ultimately adding brand power and boosting the credibility of your brand
2. Protects against hostile online practices
- Hackers and fraudsters are only getting smarter and without an SSL Certificate they can easily identify weaknesses within your network to gain access to any information being transmitted
- Having an SSL Certificate provides a vital layer of defence against transit-based attacks
3. Encrypts sensitive information
- With an SSL Certificate any information being transmitted becomes unreadable to anyone except for the server you are sending the information to
- This prevents any sensitive information from being easily accessed by external sources
4. Better search engine rankings
- Google now considers HTTPS to be a ranking signal
- So, if you’re trying to improve your internet ranking and SEO score then getting an SSL certificate will significantly help that
Simply ensure your website has an SSL Certificate to prevent Google from flagging it.
Feel free to contact us if you would like any further help or advice in regards to this topic, we would be more than happy to help.
