If you’re creating a website for your business and you’ve never had one before, then you may find that some terminology used frequently is completely new to you. As all industries do, website design and development has its own jargon that isn’t common knowledge to anyone outside of the industry.
One thing that is often discussed and not known by new website owners is an SSL certificate. To help anyone trying to find out more about this certificate and how it is related to websites, JustHostMe has put together an easy to understand guide covering all of the basics in this regard. Keep reading today to get to grips with SSL certificates.
What is an SSL certificate?
SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layers and put simply, it is a form of security that is used by websites. It allows data to be transmitted securely from a web browser to a web server. You can physically see whether a website has an SSL certificate and if it does have one, you will see a little padlock in front of the domain name in your address bar. If a website doesn’t have an SSL certificate, then the majority of modern browsers will now mark it as ‘Not Secure’.
Why should I have an SSL certificate?
Without getting overly technical, when you use a website communication takes place between the web browser (your computer) and the webserver (the website), information is then passed between both of these and if the site has an SSL certificate, then this information will be protected. In short, an SSL protects information by encrypting it. So, you can use websites with an SSL certificate without having to worry about confidential data being accessed by cybercriminals. As a website owner, you can trust that your users’ information is safe when you have an SSL certificate.
Do I need an SSL certificate?
The shortest answer to this question is yes, the majority of websites do need to have an SSL certificate, but it does depend on what information your website collects from its users. Even if you don’t collect any information from your users, search engines are now cracking down on what are perceived to be ‘non-secure’ website and if you don’t have an SSL certificate then you fall into this category. Google, in particular, uses SSL as a ranking signal, so if you don’t have a certificate, your site will be harder for clients to find.
Are there different types of SSL certificates?
There are three different types of SSL certificates and ultimately, three levels of vetting that these certificates are based on. These are; Domain Validated (DV), Organization Validated (OV) and Extended Validation (EV). The encryption levels are the same for all of these certificated but the main differences are the verification processes undertaken to get the certificate as well as the look of it in the address bar. Different SSL certificates are best suited to different websites, there isn’t a ‘one-size-fits-all’ answer to this.
Is it easy to get an SSL certificate?
You can get an SSL certificate for your website in a number of different ways however, some of them are much easier than others. The easiest, quickest and sometimes cheapest way to get an SSL certificate for your new website is to turn to a professional company who can help you. Often all you need to do is purchase the certificate and they will take care of the rest for you, it makes sense to use a middle man like this is you don’t have much knowledge and understanding of these certificates.
How much is an SSL certificate?
When you buy an SSL certificate, how much you pay can also differ quite dramatically depending on which type of SSL you choose and also how you go about getting the certificate. To give you a rough idea of cost, these certificates can range from £16.50 per year to £1109.00 per year so, it is really important to ensure that you purchase the best SSL certificate for your business/website’s needs.
Getting an SSL certificate for your new website
Now that you know more about SSL certificates and why they are important to anyone who owns a website then it is beneficial to purchase one today. If you would like assistance doing so then, please don’t hesitate to contact the team at JustHostMe today. We will gladly assist you with an SSL certificate for your new website and you can trust that our experienced team will also be able to answer any questions that you may in this regard.
Wednesday, March 25, 2020
