Come July 23rd, 2018 Google’s Chrome web browser will notify your visitors with a “Not Secure” warning message prior to entering your website. You ask why? Simple, your website is not secured by an SSL Certificate. Not only will this deter visitors from entering your site, but it will also impact your search rankings on Google. Yup, a double whammy just cause you weren’t informed by this update Google has released.

Looking to learn more please continue reading.

What is an SSL Certificate?

SSL stands for Secure Socket Layer. Sounds complex, but it’s really not. These certificate validates your website’s identity, and encrypt the information visitors send/receive on/from your website.

In other words, it’s like an online ID card, it simply tells your website visitors (customers) you are who you say you are, via authenticating your identity.

The SSL Certificate will transform your URL from http://yourwebsite.com to https://yourwebsite.com and have a Green Lock.

How Does It Work?

Short Behind the Scenes Answer: The SSL certificate creates a unique scrambled connection between your server and the customer’s browser (i.e. Google Chrome).

The Long Shakespearean Answer: You apply for an SSL Certificate. The SSL Certificate issuer conducts research prior to the approval of the SSL Certificate, references get checked to ensure you are who you say you are, then your identity becomes secured after the SSL is installed onto your web server and then the data becomes encrypted (think the SSL as a “digital handshake”), all without interrupting the user’s browsing experience.

How Do I Know If a Website is Secure?

You will see some or all of the following:

• Green padlock;
• Browser bar turns green;
• You’ll see “HTTPS” in the URL, or;
• The secure website seal (green padlock).

Why Do I Need an SSL Certificate?

SSL Certificates help protect sensitive information such as credit card information, usernames, passwords, etc.

Google flat-out said they would start giving preference to sites with an SSL all the way back in 2014. So now that we’re already in 2018, Google wants to flag about 2/3 of the Internet as unsafe by the end of 2017 (Have you seen “Not Secure” in the browser yet?). Google has “encouraged all website owners to switch from HTTP to HTTPS to keep everyone safe on the web.” Based on Google tests, the HTTPS signal showed “positive results” in terms of relevancy and ranking in Google’s search results.

HTTPS sites also load significantly faster.

In a test on HTTP.com vs HTTPS.com, the unsecured version of the page loads 334% slower than HTTPS.

Food for thought: Global cybercrime costs could reach $2 trillion by 2019. That’s up to 3X from 2015 (which was only a paltry $500 billion by comparison).

Why Should I Care, I Don’t Collect Credit Card Information

Brand Image

Here’s why you should care, even if you do not take personal information, like credit cards, users are warned not to do business with you. It can be as simple as not sending you an email in your Quote Request/Contact form.

Search Engine Optimization

All of your SEO, lead generation tactics and overall marketing efforts become ineffective when Google is telling your potential customer not to interact with your website.

At the end of the day, HTTPS (encryption) makes the Internet more secure, protects the integrity of your website, business and protects the privacy and security of your users, above all else, it’s the future of the Internet.

Which Type Of SSL Certificate Do I Need?

We’ll help you every step of the way so you can make the right decision for your business (as it is a case by case basis depending on the needs and desires of each company). Reach out to help@ankitdesigns.com

Benefits

• Protects sensitive information
• Keeps data secure between servers
• Safely accept credit cards
• Increases Google Search rankings
• Builds customer confidence and trust
• Improves conversion rates
• Improved page speed

Cost

Kiss Hosting Client

• Free SSL Certificate (1 Year) – we can offer our free shared SSL with your hosting plan. We can also purchase a dedicated SSL
• $200 Installation – setting up the site to be SSL compatible (one-time fee per website)

Non-Kiss Hosting Clients

• Purchase SSL through domain provider
• $200 Installation – setting up the site to be SSL compatible (one-time fee per website)

Certificates can be purchased through a domain provider:

Example Go Daddy

• Standard SSL DV 1 year term / $89.99
• Standard SSL DV 2 year term / $79.99

Renewal pricing subject to change.

Takeaway

HTTPS is the right choice for the reason that insecure websites are simply at a disadvantage. No website is too small or large to get hacked and become compromised. Security is a necessity in this day and age and not an option. After all, is said and done, if people don’t feel safe, they simply won’t want to do business with you.