What is SSL?
You may have heard of the term SSL before but aren’t exactly sure what it is. SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer and is used to secure the data sent over the internet from your computer to the destination servers. This type of information includes logins, credit card information or personal information you enter into a website form. When a website enables an SSL certificate any information transmitted from the website is encrypted making it unreadable to everyone except the intended destination server. This means when you enter you information on a website with an enabled SSL certificate it is nearly impossible for hackers to steal your information.
You have probably already noticed that many websites are starting to utilize SSL certificates. It is pretty easy to see if a website is using SSL just look at the address bar in your browser, if you see a padlock and the word secure located at the beginning of the address bar or the protocol https:// at the beginning of the URL the current site you are visiting is using SSL. The use of SSL is becoming more common across the internet to ensure the security of a website’s users.
Should My Site Be Using SSL?
The simple answer is yes, if you have a website then you should be utilizing SSL on it. You should especially be using SSL if you are gathering any type of user information, this includes something as simple as a contact form. If a user is providing you with something as basic as a name and email address it is still your responsibility to protect this information for them. If you are collecting user information and are not using SSL the user will be notified. Google Chrome will display a Not Secure message to a user when presented with a form on a website that isn’t using SSL.
Even if your website is not collecting any user information you should still install an SSL certificate on your website. One great reason to do this is because it is now free, thanks to Let’s Encrypt it is easy and cost free to implement SSL on your website. Another reason to install SSL on your website is because it can have an affect on how Google ranks your website on its search engine.
Does SSL Affect My Website’s SEO?
SSL does affect SEO and we know this because Google has come out and said it does. According to Google the use of HTTPS is now a ranking signal for its search engine. Google incentivizes websites that have SSL implemented by giving them priority in their search rankings. We need to keep in mind however that this is one among 200 other ranking factors, so the impact on SEO while noticeable can be somewhat minimal.
Given the fact that SSL is now free and easy to install thanks to Let’s Encrypt it is a no brainer to install SSL on your website purely for SEO purposes. Even though the effect is small now it has potential to become a bigger factor in years to come. Also if SSL is the difference between ranking one position higher for certain keywords it is still worth the effort.
How do I Install SSL on My Website?
The experts at Konstruct Interactive can handle the installation of SSL on any type of website. We have developers that can quickly and correctly implement SSL on your company’s website to ensure the security of your users information. If you would like more information on how we can help secure your website please contact us at (587) 331-6223.
