Is it necessary to use SSL? Is SSL required?
SSL is required if you maintain a website or blog in 2021. That’s all there is to it. Nowadays, having an SSL certificate isn’t a luxury; it’s a requirement.
The following are the five most important advantages of using an SSL certificate.
1. SSL Encryption Provides Data Security
An SSL certificate’s primary purpose is to protect server-client communication. When SSL is enabled, every bit of data is encrypted. Because no one else has the key to open it, the data is locked and can only be unlocked by the intended recipient (browser or server). SSL protects you against the nefarious army of hackers and skimmers when dealing with sensitive data such as IDs, passwords, credit card numbers, and so on. Because SSL converts data into an unreadable format, a hacker’s skills show to be a pointless weapon against SSL certificates’ unbreakable encryption technique.
2. Secure Socket Layer (SSL) Verifies Your Identity
The second major function of an SSL certificate is to authenticate a website. In terms of web security, identity verification is one of the most critical factors. There is no denying that the internet is becoming increasingly misleading. In 2009, a man drove 400 miles to meet a girl he met on Facebook, only to find out that he had been deceived by two men who backed a rival football team. However, not every one of these stories is entertaining. People have lost tens of thousands of dollars as a result of bogus websites. This is when an SSL certificate is useful.
When you want to install an SSL certificate, you must go through a validation process set up by a Certificate Authority, which is an independent third party (CA). The CA verifies your and your organization’s identity, depending on the type of certificate. Once you’ve proven your identity, your website will receive trust indicators that attest to your honesty. Users can tell who they’re talking to when they see them.
Consider these to be verified Twitter accounts. The only difference is that instead of a Twitter account, you must verify your identity for the website. This type of verification ensures that no imposter creates a fake website posing as yours. Phishing is the technical name for this. As a result, SSL directs users to your real website, protects them from fraud, and improves your reputation.
3. Improved Search Engine Positioning
In 2014, Google improved its algorithm to give HTTPS-enabled websites the upper hand. This has been proven in a number of studies carried out by SEO experts all over the world. Brian Dean, the founder of Backlinko.com, conducted a study that found a strong link between HTTPS and higher search engine rankings.
Who doesn’t want to be on Google’s top page?
4. SSL Assists in Meeting PCI/DSS Requirements
You must be familiar with PCI/DSS requirements if you accept online payments. Your website must be PCI compliant in order to accept online payments. One of the 12 primary requirements set forth by the payment card industry is the installation of an SSL certificate (PCI).
As a result, SSL is required, whether you want it or not.
5. SSL Enhances Customer Confidence
If we had our way, SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) would be renamed TTL (Time To Live) (Trust Transmitting Layer). It isn’t, thankfully. But that won’t stop us from singing the TTL —err, SSL certificate’s praises. SSL certificates are important for customer trust, in addition to encryption and authentication. The easily identifiable signs inform users that the information they send will be protected. They can also see your organization’s details if you’ve installed an OV or EV SSL. They’ll be far more likely to do business with you or even return to your site once they realize you’re a legitimate company.
In 2018, Google will make SSL mandatory.
To provide a safer web browsing experience, Google has decided to flag websites that do not have an SSL/TLS Certificate installed on their website starting in 2018. If someone does not follow this rule, all of the world’s most popular web browsers, such as Google Chrome and Firefox, will be disabled. Mozilla will punish them by displaying a ‘Not Secure’ warning notice in the URL bar. It’s probable that in the near future, websites will be banned from loading in browsers. SSL is required for any website, from a personal blog to a retail portal, and failure to comply may result in a loss of visitors, which is the last thing a website owner wants to happen.
