What is an SSL Certificate?

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is the standard technology for keeping an internet connection secure and safeguarding any sensitive data that is being sent between two systems. It prevents criminals from reading and modifying any information transferred, including potential personal details. The two systems can be a server and a client (for example, a shopping website and your browser) or server to server.

When you see a padlock icon next to the URL in your address bar, that means SSL is protecting the website you're visiting. The URL will also start with https:// instead of http://.

How Does SSL Work?

SSL works by encrypting (or scrambling) data that is transmitted across the web. This means that if a hacker were to intercept the data being sent between your website and your visitor's browser, they would only see a jumble of nonsensical characters.

To create this secure connection, an SSL certificate is required. The certificate is a small data file that is installed on a web server. It does two main things:

1. Authentication: It verifies the identity of the website, ensuring your visitors are connected to your actual server and not an imposter's.
2. Encryption: It encrypts the data in transit, so only the user's browser and your server can understand it.

Why Do I Need an SSL Certificate?

In today's digital world, having an SSL certificate is essential for any website. Here’s why:

• Security: It protects your users' sensitive information, such as login credentials, credit card numbers, and personal details.
• Trust: The padlock icon and https are universally recognized symbols of trust. They show your visitors that you take their security seriously, which can increase conversions and user confidence.
• SEO: Search engines like Google favor HTTPS-encrypted websites and may rank them higher in search results. In fact, Google Chrome marks sites without SSL as "Not Secure."
• Compliance: Many industry regulations (like PCI compliance for e-commerce) require an SSL certificate to handle sensitive data.

How SecureDot Helps

SecureDot makes it incredibly simple to get a free, trusted SSL certificate for your domain using the Let's Encrypt service. We handle the technical complexities of issuing and verifying the certificate so you can focus on what matters most: your website and your users.

Ready to secure your site? Get started today!