Let’s face it: the internet is the lifeblood of modern businesses. Even so, it can be scary, especially given the several cases of data breaches and other cyberattacks hitting news headlines every other day.
Cybercriminals usually target confidential information such as passwords, bank account numbers, and social security numbers. This information can do a lot, like holding businesses at ransom. But the good news is that you can take preventative measures to avoid such breaches. Using an SSL certificate is an example of such a measure. Continue reading this post to find out what it is and why it is a big deal.
What Is an SSL?
An SSL (Secure Socket Layer) is a digital certificate that allows you to use HTTPS in the address bar, thereby enabling you to encrypt the traffic between visitors and your website. Basically, it’s the security encryption used to protect data on websites.
A website needs an SSL certificate to confirm website ownership, ensure the security of user data, prevent threat actors from creating a dubious version of the site, and portray trust to users. Simply put, an SSL certificate assures users that a website is genuine and, therefore, it is safe to share confidential information.
What Are Some Benefits of SSL?
Here’s an outline of the ways you can benefit from SSL:
1. Protects Sensitive Information
The main function of an SSL is to safeguard server-client communication. When you install SSL, all the data is locked and will only be accessible by the intended recipient, since they are the only ones who have the key to open it. When dealing with sensitive information like credit card numbers and passwords, SSL helps keep your website secure against cybercriminals—it encrypts the data that your website users send you and then decrypts it once you have received it.
2. It Enhances Customer Trust
Where transactions are involved, nothing scares customers more than the idea of their personal data being breached. An SSL certificate is a crucial tool for building customer trust, since it assures them that the data they send will be safe. There are even SSLs that allow customers to view your business’s information. Once they know that your organization is genuine, they are more likely to revisit your site and do business with you.
3. High SEO Ranking
In 2014, Google made adjustments to its algorithm, making SSL security one of the key SEO ranking factors. This change has given HTTPS-enabled websites an upper hand when it comes to SEO ranking. In fact, according to Search Engine Journal, there’s a strong correlation between HTTPS and higher SEO rankings. 4. It Affirms Your Business Identity
Identity verification is among the crucial aspects of web security, especially given the increasing rate of deceptiveness on the internet. There have been cases of individuals and businesses losing a lot of money on fake websites.
Before installing an SSL, you must undergo a verification process by Certificate Authority (CA). The CA will verify the identity of your organization depending on the type of certificate you want to acquire. 5. It Helps You Comply With PCI/DSS Regulations
Suppose your business accepts online payments; your website needs to be PCI/DSS compliant. An SSL certificate is among the 12 requisites set out by this regulation.
6. Protection From Cybercrime
Not all publicity is good publicity. Installing SSL can help you prevent legal action and scandals by ensuring that your users and your organization are secured.
SSL Plans Through NameSilo
NameSilo offers three levels of protection. The most secure, the Extended Validation (EV) SSL, is recommended for industries where security compliance is essential, such as:
- Healthcare: EV SSL ensures that healthcare websites adhere to HIPAA regulations. As such, every medical website owner must ensure that they install it on their website.
- Public Sector: Players in the public sector often obtain and store large volumes of personal information online. Organizations in this sector should install SSL on their websites to keep customer information private and secure.
- Education: Education institutions require EV SSL to protect personally identifiable information of faculty and students along with other potentially sensitive information such as academic records.
- Financial Institutions: Banks and other financial institutions face a huge risk of security breaches, particularly since they collect large volumes of data and process online payments. An EV SSL helps build trust in your organization, secures financial transactions, secures sensitive customer information, and helps protect your website from cyberattacks.
Are you looking to enhance the reliability of your security with SSL certificates? NameSilo can help. We offer flexible and cost-effective SSL plans. Contact us to get started. 
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