Most websites have ‘HTTPS’ written right before their domain names today. While the HyperText Transfer Protocol or HTTP defines how messages are formatted and sent across the internet, HTTPS is HTTP over a Secure Sockets Layer. This signifies the safety and security of the website. Any site that has HTTPS in its URL tells the visitor that it has an SSL certificate. But, why is the SSL certificate important? What are its benefits? Today, we will share five reasons why you should buy SSL certificate on your business website.
- Protects site data
As technology has evolved, cyber-attacks have also grown in frequency and complexity. Hence, advanced solutions have been developed to counter them and keep websites safe. A Secure Sockets Layer protects your site data by encrypting all data that flows between the web server and the user’s device. Think about it as locking a box of data that can only be opened with a key that lies with the intended recipient of the data.
Business websites usually collect sensitive information about their users, like personally identifiable information or financial details. In the wrong hands, this data can be misused. SSL ensures that a hacker cannot gain access to this data while it is being transmitted between the web server and the user’s device.
- Boosts site speed
When you install an SSL certificate, you can make use of HTTP/2 that can boost the performance of your site. HTTP/2 reduces latency, enables server push, and compresses headers to help your site load faster.
- Establishes Trust
Apart from safety and speed, an SSL certificate plays an important role in establishing trust in the website. Today, most online users are aware of the relevance of HTTPS or the green padlock icon and correlate them with a secured website. They instantly know that your business takes security seriously and values the privacy of its customers. This is a big step in the direction of establishing a trust-based relationship, and users are not sceptical about sharing their personal/financial information on such sites.
- Improves SEO
Some important aspects of a good SEO rank are site speed and security. Since July 2018, Google has started marking all websites that don’t have an SSL certificate installed as ‘Not Secure’ on its Chrome web browser. It also gives a ranking boost to HTTPS sites. In fact, Google has modified its crawlers to index more HTTPS pages than HTTP pages. Hence, the possibility of a user finding your HTTPS website is greater.
- Boosts your business
If a user feels secure on your website, trusts your brand, finds your site easily through search engines, and has a great experience due to fast loading speeds, he tends to prefer giving his business to you. A website is an indicator of how a business treats its customers, and most users are quick to stop buying from brands that don’t offer a good site experience. Hence, an SSL certificate helps boost your business in the long-run.
Summing Up
In today’s times, with competition standing at its peak, businesses leave no stone unturned to gain a slight edge over their competitors. If your site is still on HTTP, then maybe it’s time to install an SSL certificate and reap its benefits.
