You’ve spent months designing the perfect website, getting all the features and functionalities on it that you want and need. Just as you are about to go live, a friend asks if you have SSL certification.

You don’t.

And now, you start to panic. What is it? Do I need it?

Here are all the nitty gritty details you need to know so that you head into 2018 ahead of the curve.

What Is SSL?

The first thing you need to know is that SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer. In simple terms, it establishes a more secure connection between your website and the people viewing it. SSL ensures that any information exchanged safely reaches you without any breach along the way.

How Does It Work?

SSL certificates create an encrypted connection between your server and a viewer’s browser. The information your website receives is then encrypted, which means it is hard for hackers to pick up and decode. Since there is a “handshake” process between your server and a viewer’s browser, your server can easily decode it. All of this happens on auto-pilot.

How Do You Know If A Website Has SSL Certification?

It’s very easy to tell whether a website is secured or not. All you need to do is look at the URL structure. A certified website’s URL starts with an “HTTPS” rather than an “HTTP.”

Do I Need SSL Certification?

Yes. Starting in 2018, whenever some tries to visit a website without an SSL certificate, a “Not Secure” box will appear. Google has just upped the ante to ensure people can browse safely, and an SSL certificate is your only “call” to their raise in the coming year. Also keep in mind that this applies to ALL websites, not just ecommerce sites.

What’s The Big Deal?

By having an SSL certificate on your website, you are showing people that you value their trust. Identity theft is increasingly more common these days, so people are much more vigilant about where they share their information. SSL certificates let people browse and submit information with ease.

Thanks to Google, an SSL certificate is a mandatory part of websites and rightfully so. In a day and age where hackers are lurking at every turn, keeping information secure is important.

If you’re in need of an SSL certificate for your website, contact us today.