There are several benefits to protecting your communication channel, especially if you collect personal data, user credentials, or any other confidential information.
Encrypt confidential data and prevent data manipulation
Encryption refers to the encoding of data after passing it through an encryption algorithm. This scrambled data (also known as ciphertext), in an unreadable form, is transmitted to the web server. Even if an attacker is listening to the connection, they will not be able to understand the data without their corresponding decryption key. In addition to ensuring the confidentiality of the conversation between the client browser and the server, encryption also preserves the integrity of the message by preventing data manipulation.
Build trust with your online customers
Having a website that displays a security warning not only can reduce your conversion rates, but your brand reputation can also be affected. By installing an SSL/TLS certificate, you eliminate warning messages and can take advantage of other visual trust indicators such as the padlock symbol in the address bar and the secure site seal. This communicates that you care about your customers' security needs and increases your business credibility and brand reputation.
Improve your Google ranking to increase your site traffic
HTTPS has been used as a ranking factor since 2014. Using a digital certificate will help you gain visibility in Google, which will generate more traffic to your page. Do not expect a significant impact because most websites already use HTTPS. Without an SSL certificate, you should expect your rankings to drop.
Authenticate the identity of your website.
How can you be sure that the website you are communicating with is genuine and not simply impersonating another legitimate site? Identity verification is a key aspect of using an SSL certificate. These certificates are issued by a CA (Certificate Authority) that, depending on the validation level of your SSL certificate, will perform a verification of your business identity. There are three levels of validation: Domain Validation (DV), Organization Validation (OV), and Extended Validation (EV). Of the three, EV certificates have the most exhaustive verification process, while DV certificates undergo the least rigorous validation. You can see this information by clicking on the padlock and viewing the certificate details.
Comply with PCI DSS requirements
Depending on the country where your business is registered and the type of data you collect, store, process, or transmit, installing an SSL may be a mandatory compliance requirement, especially if you process card payments. The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) recommends using TLS 1.2 or TLS 1.3 to protect cardholder data in transit.
Finally, we want to reflect on whether you should opt for a paid SSL certificate from a trusted CA or a free one from an authority like Let's Encrypt. Both options offer encryption, but free SSL certificates come with no warranty or customer support. In addition, they have a validity period of 90 days (even with automatic renewals they can have errors), and they only offer domain validation certificates. These certificates have zero cost, which is a great benefit, particularly if the alternative is to forgo any type of encryption. However, if cost is not the only factor, consider looking for other options that come with the benefits of customer support, warranty, and site seals, to name a few.
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