What Is an SSL and Why Do I Need One?

Running your website can quickly put you at risk of being a victim of today’s leading threat in the digital world: a devastating data breach. In recent years, more and more businesses have been in the news for various types of security problems associated with sensitive information. More than 4 billion data records were stolen globally in 2016.

Industries like healthcare, banking, and education, among others, have all been victims of computer hacking schemes. Cybercriminals have stolen personal information, financial data, passwords, and even private photographs.

With privacy at risk from multiple data breaches, businesses have to work harder to protect their corporate information and details about their customers. One method of protection that has been in effect since the early days of web browsing is called SSL, or Secure Sockets Layer. SSL was developed in 1995 by Netscape to help protect information transmitted through the web.

SSL protects information by encrypting it. When a browser connects to a website that has SSL protection, it secures and hides the plain text data that is sent back and forth through webmail, forms, and other websites. This transaction helps users avoid being “eavesdropped on” during their browsing sessions.

If you decide to protect your website with an SSL certificate, you could benefit in many different ways. Here are 7 reasons why SSL can give your website some major advantages.

1 Protect Sensitive Information
SSL is designed to keep all types of sensitive information private. Millions of users throughout the web are constantly sending private details about their lives to others through websites and email messages.

With an SSL certificate, you can help keep this information private and inaccessible by cybercriminals. Additionally, businesses that send proprietary or confidential information through the web can feel more confident about sharing it. SSL keeps hackers from virtually looking over web users’ shoulders to see what information is being transmitted.

2 Keep Financial Data Secure
SSL plays a major role in protecting financial data. If your website involves any type of financial transaction, you can prevent criminals from lifting account numbers and other financial data with this wall of protection. Without an SSL certificate, every entry that is submitted could potentially be viewed by an ambitious computer hacker.

Additionally, your site users’ account credentials or login details are secure with SSL. If you have individuals entering logins and account numbers online without an SSL, someone could be watching and tracking a user’s every move. Then hackers can simply enter the correct details and access an entire account history fraudulently.

3 Maintain Password Security
Even if your website doesn’t involve financial information or conduct commercial transactions, it’s important to make sure your user database is protected. Letting users log in to your site without an SSL protocol may leave them vulnerable to data theft.

If a hacker finds your users’ login details and passwords, that could lead to a host of problems. For example, individuals could wreak havoc in your online community by logging in as a registered user and posting inappropriate messages or worse.

This could put your network of users in a panic and potentially ruin your site’s reputation. A better idea is to make an investment into SSL technology to avoid this scenario.

4 Ensure Information Goes to an Authentic Server
SSL ensures your data is being sent to the right server. Entrepreneurs who run their own website must choose a server to host their online presence. Any type of information that goes to and from your website must also pass through your server.

Cybercriminals have caused problems by impersonating servers online and redirecting web traffic to the wrong place. If sensitive information is being sent, it could potentially be released to people with bad intentions.

An SSL certificate can help prevent this problem from occurring. Instead of worrying about your users being trapped and led to a wrong and fraudulent server, an SSL certificate makes sure that your traffic is going to the correct destination. This is called authentication.

5 Meet the Requirements for Credit Card Transactions
For online businesses that want to conduct credit card transactions, you must demonstrate a certain level of security to meet the requirements of the industry, known as PCI compliance. One way to do this is to pay more money to outsource your credit card transactions and let your vendor worry about data security. Another possible solution is to set up transactions on your own website with SSL.

If you choose to process credit cards yourself, you may end up saving money in the long run. You’ll also have a more seamless method of keeping track of your payment information and invoices, and your customers can be assured their credit card numbers won’t be viewed by an outside third party during their checkout process.

6 Earn a Reputation of Trust
Investing in an SSL for your website can help position your company and your site as trustworthy. When your site is secured by SSL, you can display the iconic security certificate image that ensures privacy. Customers, users, and other internet surfers may view your company in a better light than your competitors.

More websites than ever are using SSL for basic tasks. If web surfers have enabled some of the recommended security settings for their browser and if their browser detects an unsecured site without SSL, those users may be interrupted while surfing the web. For sites that don’t have the extra layer of SSL protection, this may mean lower traffic and fewer site visitors.

7 Maintain Your Google Ranking
Without the extra security shrouding your website from an SSL certificate, the world’s largest and most recognizable search engine will all but completely shun it. In 2014, Google announced that unencrypted sites would be marked as such for web surfers and warn them of a site’s lack of safety.

The average internet user doesn’t know the ins and outs of web security and generally trusts that their information is safe when they submit personal information or login credentials and passwords. But as we’ve already learned, there are lots of ways hackers can steal your users’ information if it passes through your site unprotected.

The bottom line: no one wants to be penalized by the internet giant.

SSL has been keeping data safe for more than 20 years and continues to evolve as the threats change each day. Whether you process credit card transactions; store user logins, passwords, and financial account details; or manage other personal information that passes through your website, it’s a good idea to use a top security solution to keep everything encrypted and out of the wrong hands.

Are you ready to secure your website and protect your users’ information? SkyToaster offers a few options for SSL certificates, from basic domain validation to high-level business validation that involves business background checks. and Get started by contacting us today so we can help you find the best security solution for your website.