Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) is a security method by which data is transferred over servers gets encrypted such that the website’s vulnerability to hacker attacks and phishing is reduced considerably. When people access an SSL-secured website, they feel confident that their sensitive data (credit card number, address, phone number, social security number, etc.) is secure and will not be hijacked by unscrupulous websites.
Table of Contents
Why Get SSL?
Although getting SSL certification is not mandatory for all websites, the benefits you and your end-users get from SSL are many.
- SSL certification can build customer’s trust on your website
- Your website becomes less vulnerable to hackers as all its data is encrypted
- SSL certificates can protect your website against phishing schemes
- Some SSL certifications add HTTPS in your URL that may get your site to rank higher in Google than HTTP sites.
- Warranty in SSL certificate covers damages incurred to end-users who experience fraudulent, unsecured websites. We’ll talk about the warranty a bit later.
- SSL certification is a mandatory requirement for all websites in the ambit of Payment Card Industry (PCI)
What about Free SSL certificates?
Many website makers try to get around paying for SSL certificate by opting for a free certificate. This strategy has more cons than pros. Free certificates or self-validated SSL certificates do not offer any kind of reassurance to visitors. When people try to access such websites, most web browsers will issue an error message that reads- “This connection is
Free SSL certificates are virtually unregulated. Even if your website is compromised, it will appear secure and invite visitors. On the other hand, if you purchase certificate from a trusted vendor, you can revoke the certification and alert users of potential threats, thereby avoiding disputes later.
What is SSL certificate warranty? How much warranty do you need?
Warranty of an SSL certificate plays an important role in your final certificate purchase decision. Just like all insurances, SSL certificates also come with a warranty period and conditions. A point to note is that SSL warranties protect end-users for damages incurred on an unsecured website, not the warranty purchaser!
For example, an online shopper suffered a monetary loss the SSL provider should pay compensation to the shopper since they failed to alert users that the website is not secure. But this happens rarely since most users approach their credit card company or the website’s customer care instead of claiming damages from the SSL provider.
Final Thoughts
Getting an SSL certificate for your website is a smart move to cultivate visitor trust and make your website safe from a data breach. When people trust your website, it makes them come back again.
