Do you want to know what an SSL Certificate is? Then you’re in the right place. As part of our web security series, this article will teach you about SSL.
If you’re a website owner, visitors to your website will typically have to submit data. It could be their payment card information, email address, username & passwords. Any kind of data you’re collecting from your users must be protected. An SSL Certificate will provide the additional security needed to maintain data integrity on your website.
In this post, we will be explaining the SSL Certificate and how it works.
What is an SSL Certificate?
SSL refers to the Secure Sockets Layer. SSL Certificates use cryptographic keys to encrypt data. When it is installed on a web server, it activates the padlock icon seen on the address bar of a web browser. This indicates a secure connection is being made from a web server to the browser
For every online business, trust is a core value. Security is a must for any site and those that ensure the safety of users will retain & attract more site visitors. Hackers can spot opportunities to exploit through different techniques. So sites that are unable to guarantee the safety of visitor’s information, will potentially lose users.
Whether you run an e-commerce business where visitors have to enter credit card details or an online forum where passwords are a prerequisite for sign-ups, user data should be encrypted to avoid attacks. With an SSL Certificate, only the intended receiver can understand a request. This makes it impossible for hackers to intercept data exchanged between a web server & web browser
How Does an SSL Certificate Work?
SSL Certificate encrypts data and stops intruders from accessing sensitive information while users are communicating with a website. Every major web browser has SSL capability. They also ensure that the identity of a site owner is verified by creating an additional layer of trust. For the certificate to be issued, the identity of the website owner is checked thoroughly. With SSL, website visitors are sure the person at the receiving end of their data is legitimate.
Do I Need an SSL Certificate for My Site?
Without mincing words, yes. You have to build trust and reliability with your visitors. Since having several levels of encryption can reduce page speed, it may not be recommended to encrypt all of the pages on your website.
