WHAT IS AN SSL CERTIFICATE?
In a nutshell, SSL (Secure Socket Layer) certificates are small packets of data that are used to encrypt important information (like passwords and credit card numbers) as they pass over the internet. In short an SSL means that data passing between your website and another server can’t be read.
If you have an online store an SSL certificate can protect your customers and you and they have been an important requirement for e-commerce stores for a long time.
A larger percentage of Aussies are shopping online than ever before and that number is growing all the time.Online shopping in this country is a billion dollar business and this makes it a growing target for scammers.
BUT I DON’T SELL ONLINE, SO I HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT RIGHT?
If you don’t sell online having an SSL isn’t a requirement and therefore many sites don’t have one.
BUT here is what has changed. As of August Google have stated that they will be using SSL as a ranking factor for websites, this means that the Secure / NOT SECURE status of your website will now play a small but significant part in how your site ranks in search results. The reasoning is that businesses that have an SSL are considered a higher quality and therefore return better results in search.
Even if you don’t care about that, Google will be displaying the status either SECURE or NOT SECURE in the address bar. There is absolutely no doubt that this NOT SECURE message will turn prospective website visitors away so regardless of the security or SEO concerns this alone is really compelling reason to make the switch if you haven’t already.
To see if your website has an SSL certificate, simply view your website’s URL to see whether it contains HTTP or HTTPS.
If you do not currently have an SSL We can install, configure and test it for you for $199
Just shoot us a quick message below and we can get started.