Installing SSL on Your Site

Updated January 11, 2023

Data Protection

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is an internet standard security technology for creating an encrypted link between a web server and a web browser. Once created this link makes sure that all data passed between the web server and browsers remain private and integral. If you’re taking online transactions, you need to have SSL running on your site.

What is it?

If you’re requesting customers financial information via your website you need to make sure your site and all the data you have is fully secured. One way of doing that is by certifying your website as SSL. This means that any data you save or send, from your site will be secure while you’re transmitting it. For example, if you’re sending payment information from your site to a POS machine to take payment when SSL certified, the data will be safer than if you were not. Another benefit of SSL certification is that Google sees SSL as a sign of a quality website, so it will also improve your search ranking.

How Does it All Work?

When you are using the internet your browser (and in turn your server) requests that the Web server of the site you want to use identifies itself. So the web server sends the browser/server a copy of its SSL certificate. Your browser/server checks to see whether or not it trusts the SSL certificate. If it is approved then the web server sends back a digitally signed acknowledgment to start an SSL encrypted session.

How Can You Set It Up?

You can pay to set up SSL for your website, but, if you have some technical knowledge you can also set it up yourself. This great step-by-step guide from Sucuri will walk you through how to set up SSL, for free, on your own website.

Can You Ignore SSL?

If you’re not using SSL potentially any computer between you and the server can see credit card numbers, usernames, passwords, and other private information if it is not encrypted by SSL. When an SSL certificate is used, the information becomes impossible to read to everyone except for the server you are sending the information to. So, protect your customers, and yourself, by setting up SSL now.

Photo credit – Bottom: Pixabay