Google is now paying close attention to building the web atmosphere safer. The website is marked “Not Secured” which did not have an SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate and can exchange data. It is now becoming important to secure your website with HTTPS/SSL to secure your visitor’s data. In other words, showcasing your brand’s care about your data security. SSL is the backbone of the secured web environment and it protects your sensitive private information as it travels across the world’s computer networks.

What is SSL (Secure Sockets Layer)?

SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer, an encryption technology that was originally created by Netscape in the 1990s. SSL establishes an encrypted connection between a web server and a browser. An SSL certificate is a necessity to establish an SSL connection.

For securing your website with SSL, you need SSL certificates installed on your website web server. The websites having an SSL certificate it usually displays a padlock icon. But it may also display a green address bar with HTTPS before their web address. Once you have installed an SSL Certificate, you can access a website securely by changing the URL from HTTP:// to HTTPS://.

An SSL connection ensures that all data transmitted between the two servers is private and no others in the middle have access to it. As data is encrypted end-to-end, if someone tries to tap connection, the data will be of no use for them. SSL is even essential for the websites not handling sensitive information like credit cards, as it provides privacy, critical security, and data integrity for both the website owner and user’s personal information.

What are the different types of SSL Certificates?

Broadly speaking, there are 3 types of SSL certificates. All three certificates differ in their security and validations levels and the cost.

1) Domain Validation Certificate

This is the most basic form of an SSL certificate, It is the least expensive, and covers basic encryption. The validation process for the Domain Validated Certificate is quite simple, the user needs only to verify the ownership to the certified authority (CA). Likewise SSL authority requires email verification, file-based verification, or can check the website’s web registrar’s information to validate the domain.

2) Organization Validation Certificate

In this certificate apart from basic encryption and verification of ownership of the domain name registration, certain details of the owner (e.g., name and address) are verified. This type of certificate usually takes a few hours to several days to receive.

3) Extended Validation Certificate

This certificate provides the highest degree of security. It is because of the strict examination conducted before issuing this certificate (as per strict guidelines set by the SSL certification industry’s governing consortium). Apart from authentication to ownership of the domain name registration and entity authentication, the legal, physical and operational existence of the entity is verified. This certificate usually takes a few days to several weeks to receive it.

The Benefits of SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) Certificates

SSL is a simple medium to transmit the data securely. Apart from securing the websites, SSL also provides various benefits like improving the SEO ranking in Google.

1. Encryption and Keeps away from Hackers

   An SSL secured website helps to protect sensitive and private information such as logins, passwords, credit card information for e-commerce websites during data transmitting. The internet is a network of computers and every computer is connected with each other. Every computer which takes part in data transfer from source to destination can read and recognize unencrypted information. SSL makes this sensitive information encrypted so that, the information becomes unreadable to everyone except for the server you are sending the information to. Thereby SSL protects from hackers and identity thieves.

2. Boosting Ranking and Increase Brand Values

   As I discussed earlier in this article, a Safer web environment is the top priority for Google. On 6th Aug 2014, Google announced that HTTPS as a ranking signal. Therefore it means websites having SSL will have increased ranks in Google as compared to the websites having no SSL.

   Having an SSL in your website makes a positive perception to your users about your brand. When they visit your website having a trusted SSL certificate, they feel very secure that they are on a valid and trusted site. And hence they will engage your brand more effectively and help in increasing brand values.

3. SSL is a must for Shopping and Payment sites

   No one wants to enter their credit card, banking information, and any other sensitive information on a simple HTTP shopping and payment website. Furthermore by implementing SSL, the user feels your website is more trustworthy and experience secure payments while shopping. As per guidelines issued by PCI Security Standards Council, it is mandatory for all shopping and payment sites  be HTTPS ( i.e. SSL Secured).

   Conclusion

   In a nutshell, we can say that we should always visit to HTTPS website for making ourselves safe for hacking from hackers as visitors.  Similarly it even make our website secured with the help of SSL as a website owner. And hence our endeavor is to make the web environment safe.

Found interesting, to know more information regarding your digital presence write your queries to us at: info@aaranyaadvertising.com